Aaron Michael Barker papers, 1905-1979 and undated, bulk 1917-1944

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Summary

Creator:
Barker, Aaron Michael, 1886-1943
Abstract:
This collection includes two scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, letters, receipts, family photographs, and the written memories of Jewish, Lithuanian-American merchant A. Michael Barker (1886-1943) of Wilson, North Carolina. Topics represented in the scrapbooks include family life, relief efforts for Jewish victims of World War I in Europe, the Zionist movement, Nazi atrocities against Jews in Europe, and the speeches of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Barker's approximately 49 pages of memories (circa 1942-1943) detail his financial troubles, family updates, and feelings on the treatment of Jews in Germany.
Extent:
1.4 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials are in English and Yiddish
Collection ID:
RL.11034

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of two scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, letters, receipts, family photographs, and the written memories of A. Michael Barker (1886-1943) of Wilson, North Carolina. Additional items not contained in the scrapbooks include family photographs, a letter, and a ketubah. The scrapbooks were named for World War I and World War II according to the approximate time of the creation of their contents and the subject matter of the newspaper clippings. Topics represented in the scrapbooks include family life, relief efforts for Jewish victims of World War I in Europe, the Zionist movement, Nazi atrocities against Jews in Europe, and the speeches of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Barker's approximately 49 pages of memories (circa 1942-1943) detail his financial troubles, family updates, and feelings on the treatment of Jews in Germany. Most of the correspondence is between Michael Barker or Anna Harris Barker and immediate and extended family members.

Barker created the scrapbooks from financial ledgers of his businesses in New Jersey and Wilson, North Carolina, and the financial entries are largely obscured by scrapbook inserts. While he created a majority of the content of the scrapbooks, some items were added after his death, presumably by another family member.

Biographical / historical:

Aaron Michael Barker (1886-1943) was a Jewish, Lithuanian-American merchant of Trenton, New Jersey, and Wilson, North Carolina. Born in Kovno, the Russian Empire, Barker was known by his middle name, "Michael." He immigrated to the United States in 1900 and moved to Wilson, NC, in 1907. Barker married Anna Harris Barker (1890-1968) in Trenton in 1912, and the couple settled in Wilson, where they owned and operated a dry goods and shoe store. Barker's business failed during World War II, prompting him to seek assistance from friends and relatives before his death in 1943.

Acquisition information:
The Aaron Michael Barker papers are a gift of Michelle Leder. They were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as part of the Jewish Heritage Foundation of North Carolina Collection in June, 2014.
Processing information:

Processed by: Mary Mellon, June 2015

Accessions represented in this guide: 2014-0138

Arrangement:

The materials in this collection are arranged chronologically. Loose inserts within the scrapbook were removed to preserve the bindings and arranged in folders according to their original order within the scrapbooks.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Aaron Michael Barker Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1rw2t