Financial History Issue 120 (Winter 2017) | Page 11

CONNECTING TO COLLECTIONS

THE TICKER

By Sarah Poole , Collections Manager

In December , Morton and Connie Mazer donated to the Museum their collection of more than 200 stock and bond certificates , checks and other financial documents . While the size of the collection is impressive in its own right , even more significant is that each document is signed by an important historical figure . The signatories include US Presidents , entertainers , inventors , entrepreneurs and activists who have shaped American and world history . Highlighted here are two of my favorite documents from this collection :

The Proprietors of the Woman ’ s Journal Stock Certificate Issued to Alice Stone Blackwell and Signed by Julia Ward Howe , 1891

Julia Ward Howe was a poet and author who is best known for writing the lyrics to “ The Battle Hymn of the Republic ” in 1861 , in support of the Union cause during the Civil War . Howe took advantage of the song ’ s popularity and used her notoriety for social activism , particularly focusing on pacifism and women ’ s suffrage . She was one of the editors of the Woman ’ s Journal , founded in 1870 by Lucy Stone Blackwell and her husband Henry Browne Blackwell .

Howe was serving as the magazine ’ s president when she signed this certificate . The Blackwells ’ daughter , Alice Stone Blackwell , to whom the certificate is issued , began working for the Woman ’ s Journal in 1883 and took over as editor after her mother ’ s death in 1893 . Alice Stone Blackwell became a prominent reformer in the American women ’ s suffrage movement , working alongside Susan B . Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton . Her signature is also included on the reverse of the certificate .

Houdini Picture Corporation Stock Certificate Signed by Harry Houdini , 1921

Erik Weisz , born in Budapest in 1874 , immigrated to the United States with his family as a child . In America , the family changed their names to German spellings , and young Erik became Ehrich Weiss . At the age of nine , he began performing as the trapeze artist “ Ehrich , Prince of the Air .” Weiss became a professional magician in 1894 , calling himself “ Harry Houdini ,” inspired by the French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin . Houdini became famous as an escape artist , and his performances featured stunts involving the magician freeing himself from handcuffs and sealed containers .

From 1909 – 1920 , he starred in films for Pathé , B . A . Rolfe Productions and Famous Players-Lasky Corporation / Paramount Pictures . He then started his own production company called Houdini Picture Corporation , which produced only two films : Man From Beyond ( 1921 ) and Haldane of the Secret Service ( 1923 ). He left the movie business in 1923 , declaring “ the profits are too meager .” Nevertheless , Houdini posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975 .

Additional certificates from the Mazer collection are currently on display in the “ Out of the Vault ” exhibit . These documents feature signatures by US Presidents Andrew Jackson , William McKinley , Warren G . Harding and Calvin Coolidge .

www . MoAF . org | Winter 2017 | FINANCIAL HISTORY 9