Jewish Genealogical Society
of Greater Philadelphia (JGSGP)

Steve Bouloff

David Brill

Bernard Cedar

Al First

Joan Gross

Helen Gusoff

Martin Gusoff

Ruth Kurschner

Michael Levin

David Mink

Tracey Rich

Joan Rosen

Steve Schecter

Harold Waitsman  

Dear Members:

The Rosenbaum Bank Passenger Order Records Database can be found at: http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/USA/PhilaRosenbaum.htm.

In the port cities on the east coast of the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th century, there were "ethnic" or "immigrant" banks - commercial enterprises where recent immigrants could save money and arrange to purchase steamship tickets to bring their families to the U.S.

Today, the record books of three of these banks are housed at the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center (PJAC).  In addition to information about the immigrant, these records usually contain the name and address of the person who paid for the tickets, the port of entry (usually, but not always, Philadelphia), and intended final destination (again, not necessarily Philadelphia).

Through the collaboration of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, and JewishGen, the records of the Rosenbaum Bank have been indexed. This database contains information on 82,979 passengers for whom tickets were purchased between 1890 and 1934.

Thanks to JGSGP members and volunteers Selma Neubauer (the Project Leader), Eileen Bobman, Al First, Joan Gross, Harriet Kasow, David Mink, Joan Rosen, and Steve Schecter.