The Rothschild Archive was established in 1978 to look after the records of a family recognised for the contribution it has made to world economic, political and social history. The collections reflect the banking, finance and merchant trading activities of the Rothschild businesses, together with the family's private interests in politics, science and nature, the arts and philanthropy. See here for further information about research with us »
Jewish businesses
Important collections of records of the banking houses of the Rothschild Family in London and Paris survive, documenting not only their own histories but also a network of other businesses they dealt with. Series of correspondence with agents and other business houses include:
- Davidson Family
- Daniel Weisweiller & Ignacio Bauer
- S. Bleichröder
- M.M. Warburg
- Oppenheim Family
- Worms Family
The Archive holds a vast series of letters in Judendeutsch written by the Rothschild brothers to each other between 1811 to 1868. The correspondence, written in the German language and committed to paper in Hebrew letters, remains impenetrable to most people. The Archive aims to open them up to the wider world of scholarship. The letters date from 1811 to 1868, and Judendeutsch letters are scattered among some 142 boxes of correspondence in the Archive. No precise assessment of their number has yet been made, though an estimate suggests a total of some 20,000. In 1989 work began on the transcription of the letters. So far, some 2,500 letters have been fully translated.
Prominent Jewish individuals
The Rothschild family’s social status enabled them to forge close connections, especially through marriage, with other notable Jewish families that went beyond business. Extensive series of the Rothschilds’ own correspondence and other personal papers can provide an insight into Jewish social life and community issues. The Archive includes a number of private letters sent to members of the family by Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfield.
Family correspondence, photographs and other papers
The series of private business and personal correspondence written between members of the Rothschild family reveals much about their daily lives and their impressions and experience of the world around them. Collections of Rothschild family photographs include photographs, salt-prints and albumen prints, studio portraits and cartes du visite, depicting the Rothschild family, their relatives, friends and associates, including notable Jewish financiers and politicians. The Archive also includes material relating to family events such as weddings and funerals, including a collection of papers and commemorative albums for the marriage of Leopold de Rothschild (1845-1917) to Marie Perugia (1862-1937) in 1881, an event which was notable for the presence of the Prince of Wales at his first Jewish ceremony.
Jewish community
Material documenting Jewish emancipation is also to be found in the Archive, particularly with regard to the campaign by Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) to become the first Jewish MP to take a seat in the House of Commons. These include a small amount of correspondence, an illuminated address from the vestry of the Great Synagogue, London, to Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild on the occasion of his entry into the House of Commons, a City electors list, 1847 (a private record of votes cast in the 1847 election), and a large collection of contemporary printed material including tracts, pamphlets, and press cuttings together with printed prayers for Baron Lionel. Other sources relating to the wider Jewish community include:
- A small amount of largely printed material relating to United and Great Synagogues, London
- The Dreyfus Affair of 1894-1906: these events are recalled in business letters between the French and English business houses
- Russian Jews Persecution and papers relating to the Conjoint Foreign Committee of The Board of Deputies of British Jews, 1904-1917
- Minutes and papers of the Jewish War Services Committee (largely co-ordinated through the efforts of Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942) fron New Court) and enlistment of Jews in the First World War
- Papers concerning the support for Jewish refugees co-ordinated from New Court in the Second World War under the aupices of Anthony Gustav de Rothschild (1887-1961)
Philanthropy
Brought up in the Judengasse in Frankfurt, Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836) and his brothers were imbued with a strong sense of the tradition of Zedaka, which places expectations on members of the community to work for social justice. The Archive holds a few papers (mainly printed material and secondary sources) relating to some of the institutions created or endowed by members of the Rothschild family. Administrative papers and records created by such institutions would naturally remain with the institutions or their successors, but in many cases where institutions are defunct or no longer in operation, few papers survive. The Rothschild Archive holds very few papers concerning support or patronage by the Rothschild family of individuals.
Collections of related material include:
- The Jews' Free School, London: Founded as a charity on the philanthropic initiative of the more wealthy members of Anglo-Jewry in 1817, the School was supported and financed by benefactions and subscriptions, notably from the Rothschild family. The Archive holds a small amount of printed material relating to the school, together with a very few pieces of correspondence
- Papers relating to Jewish philanthropy in Frankfurt and Vienna, found in series of papers seized from the Rothschild family during the Second World War and later returned;
- A collection of testimonials and votes of thanks received by Nathaniel, 1st Lord Rothschild (1840-1915) on the occasion of his 70th birthday from the committees, trustees and boards of organisations that enjoyed support. A gallery of them can be found here »
- The Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company: Founded in 1885 by Nathaniel, 1st Lord Rothschild (1840-1915), the company was established to provide the poor Jewish population in East London with improved housing. The Archive holds no papers of the company with the exception of a Prospectus for shares in the Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company, 1885
World Jewish affairs
The 'Balfour Declaration': Lionel Walter Rothschild (1868-1937) was the 'Lord Rothschild' to whom Balfour addressed his 1917 proposal regarding the establishment of a Jewish state. The original letter was presented to The British Library in 1924 by Lionel Walter, 2nd Lord Rothschild. The Rothschild Archive holds no personal papers of Lionel Walter Rothschild concerning these matters.
Edmond de Rothschild and Palestine: In the late 19th century Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934) supported land purchases in Palestine and Israel. His large donations lent significant support to the movement during its early years, which helped lead to the establishment of the State of Israel. In 1899, responsibility for the Rothschild settlements was transferred to form the Palestine branch of the Jewish Colonisation Association, which had been founded in 1891 and thereafter the JCA began to also assist the Jewish settlement in Palestine. In 1924, the JCA branch dealing with colonies in Palestine was reorganised to become the Palestine Jewish Colonisation Association (PICA), under the direction of Edmond's son, James de Rothschild (1878-1957). In his will of 1957, James de Rothschild instructed that PICA should transfer most of its land in Israel to the Jewish National Fund. The Rothschild Archive London holds very little material on Edmond, except for some sundry papers relating to PICA. See The Archive, Windmill Hill for further information about their collections.
Rothschild estates
The Archive has comparatively few records relating to the estates and private houses of the Rothschild family. Much of the archival material we hold relating to estates consists of photographs of the interior and exterior of properties, and gardens. Large quantities of records relating to the running ad administration of houses and estates are known to have been destroyed, as estates passed through the generations, or left Rothschild family ownership. Many of the Rothschilds requested that personal records be destroyed upon their death.
Papers concerning Rothschild family art and object collections
The Rothschilds were dedicated collectors, and they vied among themselves to develop the most spectacular collections. The great Rothschild houses were perfect settings for old master paintings, porcelain, silver and gold. Many of the great Rothschild collections were dispersed on the death of their owners and divided between subsequent generations. Others passed out of the Rothschild family by inheritance. Much was given to museums and galleries.
Artefacts and artworks
The Archive collection also includes a number of artefacts of interest, such as a silver Hanukkah lamp believed owned by Nathan Mayer Rothschild (1777-1836), c.1800-1805, ceremonial pieces, medals and decorations awarded to members of the Rothschild family, and pieces of family jewellery. The art collection of the Archive includes family portraits and miniatures.
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