New-York tribune., 1896-02-01
THE JEWS IN EARLY AMERICA
\ DIFFICULT TASK IN COLONIAL HIS
TORY
rHn AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
UNDERTAKES IT-DoCUMENTs IN HOLLAND
AND PORTUGAL TO BE UNEARTHED
AND TRANSLATED - PROSPECTS
OF SUCCESS,

The American Jewish Historical Society Is setting
shout an investigation OF the Jews IN America at
the earliest colonial period. Though this organizG
Non was formed IN June 1892 little has been heard
OF II, for tho reason that It has neither sought
members proceeded with a flourish OF trum-
pets at every discovery. Already, though its work
has been small heretofore IN comparison with
what II proposes 10 accomplish. historical data
OF much value have been unearthed and put into
permanent published form. This, nevertheless.
Is q mere scratching OF the ground besides what
is soon to be done and the multitude Of documents
that will later be examined. Hitherto Jewish
history, 80 far America is concerned. has gone
back in authentic records TO about 175o only
Traditions referring periods much earlier than
this exist, but FOR the first time a beginning
has been made in putting these together and In
searching for links TO get full and complete
record OF the Jews In the earliest American davs
The society's aim, notwithstanding the nagnltude
Of the task and the expert researches It will en-
tall is 10 complete detailed and connected his
tory the materials for which are known to exist
though they hidden in old Dutch and old Portu-
guese documents that II Will take time, learning
and money to examine,
The nucleus Of a fund for this purpose Is now
in the society's treasury O1azarus Straus. the ia
ther OF oscar S. Straus. the ORGANIZATIONS pres-
dent having contributed 800 last year.. and 1t is
confidently anticipated that thousands will soon
fow In. Though no limits have been set or even
suggested for this fund, It Is certain that It will
have 10 be large adequately to prosecute this
work Only the most skilled OF linguists will be
able 10 translate and read the curious. musty
half -illegble documents OF quaint legal phrasing
In the Dutch and Portuguese tongues OF two three
and even four centuries ago. and the most OF these
documents lie besides in out OF the way places
in the West Indies. Brazil Holland and Portugal
q few OF them being here In New-York.
BUSY SCHOLARS To BE ENGAGED.
The scholars that will have 10 be employed FOR
this sor, OF work OF many affairs. whose
.me can only be had great expense and the
cost Of travelling and clerk hire besides VIII bs
heavy AS these researches must necessarily be
prolonged, extending months at a time, the
need OF an almost unlimited purse is readily ap-
parent An instance OF what Il costs TO turn
back these pages OF 'he past for links In the
historical chain is worth relating. Dr. Eayserlng,
OF Budapest. published last year book which
brought out the fact clearly and beyond quiD0le
that there were Jews aboard COumbus's shlp-that
Columbuss physician, in fact, was Jew. 10
gather the data upon which this remarkabe as
covery was based Il necessary for DR.. kayser-
Ing 20 visit and spend some months IN Spain and
Portugal lie found and dcclphered documents
that were never before known to exist. oscar
S,raus paid the bills OF the research. amounting
10 nearly $4,000.
II New York the records that must be trans
lated 20 get the history OF the earliest Jews in
America lie mostly " thin the archives OF :he old
Dutch Reformed Church. the hrst In the New