W.A. Matthew collection, 1929-1979.

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W.A. Matthew collection, 1929-1979.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/79459181

The Wentworth A. Matthew collection relates primarily to the financial and real estate concerns of Rabbi Matthew and the Commandment Keepers. Included are deeds, contracts, architectural drawings and invoices for property purchased in Wyandanch and Babylon, Long Island where Matthew intended to establish a resident community; and insurance policies for property leased by the congregation in Brooklyn and Manhattan. There are also personal insurance policies for Rabbi Matthew; as well as correspondence, and wills deeding property to Rabbi Matthew and the synagogue. Of interest are a 1931 letter from Rabbi Arnold J. Ford, musical director of Marcus Garvey's UNIA, to Matthew discussing the latter's certificate of ordination and urging him to encourage Black Jews to settle in Ethiopia. Matthew's death certificate from Harlem Hospital and letters to his daughter are included in the collection.

.4 linear ft.

New York Public Library System, NYPL

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8233115

New York Public Library System, NYPL

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation (Harlem, New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vx592d (corporateBody)

The Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, one of the oldest and largest communities of black Hebrews in the United States, was founded in Harlem in 1919 by Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew (1892-1973). Though this congregation traces its origin to the activities of those who came to New York during the first waves of black migration and immigration, it was in the post World War II years that the community took root. Rabbi Matthew created a number of auxiliary organizations, and today ...

Matthew, Wentworth A. (Wentworth Arthur), 1892-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cc1r5r (person)

Chief Rabbi Wentworth A. Matthew was born in the British West Indies, and began his ministerial career in a black Pentacostal church which had endorsed the Universal Negro Improvement Association founded by Marcus Garvey. The first black rabbi in New York City, Chief Rabbi Matthew founded the Commandment Keepers of the Living God. He trained and ordained many of the black rabbis who later founded synagogues in various cities in the U.S. and the Caribbean. Rabbi Matthew b...

Ford, Arnold Josiah, 1877-1935

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69s2gc1 (person)

Born in Barbados, Arnold Josiah Ford was one of the first black rabbis in the United States and an early leader of black Judaism in America. He was also the founder of the Beth B'nai Abraham Congregation at 29 West 131st Street in Harlem, New York City. Ford was a musical director of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association and he wrote many of the pieces in The Universal Ethiopian Hymnal . "Arnold Josiah Ford." Rel...

Royal Order of Aethiopian Hebrews (Harlem, New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jq5ttm (corporateBody)