News
Events
Blogs
Samuel Simeon Fels papers
Seven series of papers including: correspondence, publications, Fels and Company, financial records, legal papers, biography, and miscellaneous. Samuel Simeon Fels, youngest son of Lazarus and Susanna Fels, was born in Yanceyville, N.C., on February 16, 1860. His family moved north to settle in Ph...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Samuel Simeon Fels Papers |
| Collection Number: | 1776 |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Physical Description: |
23.0 Linear feet 23 linear feet, 44 boxes |
|---|---|
| Summary: |
Seven series of papers including: correspondence, publications, Fels and Company, financial records, legal papers, biography, and miscellaneous.
Samuel Simeon Fels, youngest son of Lazarus and Susanna Fels, was born in Yanceyville, N.C., on February 16, 1860. His family moved north to settle in Philadelphia, where in 1876 Samuel joined the soap manufacturing business established that year by his older brother. The firm, Fels & Co., was incorporated in 1914, and Samuel became its first president, holding the office until his death in 1950. (The company was sold to Purex Corporation in 1964.) While remaining active in the affairs of Fels & Co., he also became one of Philadelphia's most prominent philanthropists. He took an active interest in, and gave generous support to civic, scientific, cultural, and educational causes. In 1936 Fels established the Samuel S. Fels Fund to continue financial support in these areas.
The correspondence series, 1889-1957, is comprised primarily of Fels' personal letters and business correspondence. The letters reflect Fels' philanthropic services as well as his interests in civic affairs and government reform. Financial concerns as well as Fels' interest in the medical field, in scientific research, and in music and musicians are also documented in this series. There is also a section in this series for the Samuel S. Fels Fund.
There is Fels & Co. Executive Committee and Board of Directors correspondence, 1952-1965; Board of Directors minutes, 1914-1965; and annual reports 1951-1964.
The publication series contains notes, drafts, correspondence, and comments concerning Fels' book This Changing World (Boston, 1933), his pamphlet, "A Layman's Program for Peace" (reprint from the New York Times Magazine, 1943), and some miscellaneous writings, mostly about education, and war, and plans for peace.
Financial records, 1904-1954, consist of Fels' personal tax returns and related papers; his personal and business bank books; bills and receipts; miscellaneous stock and insurance certificates; and estate papers.
A small group of legal papers, 1916-1952, contain miscellaneous deeds, agreements, and estate papers.
The biography series, 1950-1973, includes groups of letters on the death of Fels, as well as correspondence and some working papers concerning publication of a Fels biography written by Dale Phalen in 1969.
The miscellaneous series contains clippings, photographs, blueprints, printed material, records, and scrapbooks concerning various projects and interests of Fels. |