Subseries 1.1: M.L. Blitzstein and Co. ledgers and index, 1899-circa 1950s, contains steamship ticket purchase ledgers from M.L. Blitzstein and Co., a private bank founded in 1889 by immigrants Anna (Hannah) and Marcus (Moishe) Blitzstein. The bank offered a range of financial services including saving and checking accounts, international money transfers, and the arrangement and sale of steamship tickets. The bank closed in December 1930 after a high number of withdrawals from panicked depositors forced the bank's closure. The Blitzstein steamship ticket purchase ledgers include the following information: ticket number, price, and date of purchase; purchaser name and address; passenger name and age; steamship line and steamer name; and ports of departure and arrival. This subseries also includes a card file index to the ledgers. Information on the cards includes passenger name, the ledger volume and page number of the entry, and in some cases, the entry number. The index card file is arranged alphabetically by passenger's last name. The steamship ledgers are arranged numerically by volume.

Subseries 1.2: Pennsylvania Company for Banking and Trusts ledgers, 1906-1948, contains steamship ticket purchase ledgers that were created by a banking concern that changed hands many times over the course of its existence. Most of the ledgers were filled out at the bank's 7th and Girard Avenues branch—an office location that remained throughout the bank's many mergers. The earliest ledgers in this subseries were created by Lipshutz & Wurzel, a railroad and steamship travel ticket agency. In 1915, the company converted to the banking business and was renamed People's Bank. In 1923, they merged with the People's Trust Company. Shortly thereafter, in 1927, People's Bank and Trust merged with the Colonial Trust Company and took its name. In 1930, the Colonial Trust Company merged with The Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities, which became The Pennsylvania Company for Banking and Trusts by 1947. Each entry contains the ticket purchaser's name and address; the passenger's name, age, and address; steamship line and steamer name; departure and landing locations; ticket price and number; and the date of purchase. The early ledgers are prefaced by an index that includes a list of names and the page number or the related entry. This subseries is arranged chronologically by ticket purchase date. Please note that some ledgers dating from 1906 to 1923 are available only in a PDF file, on microfilm, or a print out from microfilm in the repository.

Subseries 1.3: M. Rosenbaum and Co. ledgers, 1890-1934, contains steamship ticket purchase ledgers created by M. Rosenbaum and Co., a private banking firm established in 1885 by Morris Rosenbaum, an Austro-Hungarian immigrant, and his wife, Hannah. Rosenbaum and Co. was located at 603 South 3rd Street and provided foreign exchange services and sold steamship and railroad tickets. In 1930, Morris retired from the private bank, turning operations over to Alexander S. Berkowitz. On December 27, 1934, M. Rosenbaum and Co. was taken over by the State Banking Department after an examination revealed that the bank failed to comply with certain conditions set by the state. The ledger entries contain the ticket number, price, and date of purchase; departure and landing locations; and passenger name. Some entries contain additional information, including the ticket purchaser's name and address. The ledgers also contain passenger indexes that can be found in various locations within the ledgers. The steamship ledgers are arranged numerically by volume.

Subseries 1.4: Rosenbluth Brothers, 1907-1950, contains steamship ticket purchase ledgers created by Rosenbluth Brothers travel agency. The company was founded in 1892 and initially sold passage between New York and Philadelphia before expanding to include corporate and leisure travel arrangements. The ledgers contain information such as: name and address of the ticket purchaser; date of purchase and ticket price; name, age, and address of the passenger; the booked from and to, steamer line and ship name; date of departure; and ports of departure and arrival. Each ledger is prefaced by an index that includes a list of names and the page number or the related entry. The ledgers are arranged chronologically. Please note that two of the ledgers are available only on microfilm or as print outs from microfilm.

Subseries 2.1: Compiled arrival records for the years 1884-1952, circa 1950s, contains an index of the HIAS's accumulated immigrant arrival records. The indexes include information such as: immigrant name, age, gender, nationality, date of immigration, and ship name. Some listings also include notes on the immigrant's final destination. Most of the copies are oversize ledgers, though some letters are printouts from microfilm. Within each index, entries are listed first chronologically by date of arrival, and then alphabetically by immigrant's last name. The arrival record indexes are arranged alphabetically.

Subseries 2.2: Ship passenger list ledgers, 1884-1921, contains fifteen ledgers kept by HIAS, first as the Association of Jewish Immigrants, and later as the Association for the Protection of Jewish Immigrants. The ledgers record the arrival of Jewish immigrants into the Philadelphia port between 1884-1921. The bulk of the ledgers contain some or all of the following information: passenger name, age, gender, nationality, and occupation; date of arrival and ship name; and final destination. Some ledgers include notes on financial assistance given to the immigrant. The first ledger in this subseries is unique in that it records information on immigrants who made use of the association's temporary lodging house, including the number of meals consumed and nights stayed. The second ledger contains notes for a report to the board of directors written by Moses Klein, the association's port representative. Although the ledgers extend to 1921, researchers interested in post-1914 arrival records are encouraged to check Subseries 2.3: HIAS port of entry card files, for more complete records. The ledgers in this subseries are arranged chronologically.

Subseries 2.3: HIAS port of entry card files, circa 1913-1945 contains HIAS's records on arriving immigrants. The card files represent a continuation of ship passenger list ledgers. Though most cards were created when an immigrant arrived in Philadelphia, there are some records that were created by HIAS in New York. Information recorded on the cards includes the immigrant's name, age, and occupation; last permanent residence and final destination; steamer name, date of arrival, and the number of people in their party. The cards also indicate an immigrant's financial situation and literacy skills. The cards are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the immigrant. Please note that the cards have been maintained in their original order and may not be strictly alphabetized. Port cards with limited information, as well as carbon copies of original cards, can be found at the end of the series.

Subseries 2.4: National Council of Jewish Women port of entry and face card files, circa 1911-1947, contains the council's records on Jewish immigrants arriving in Philadelphia. Many of these card files were created at the Philadelphia office, though if an immigrant arrived at the New York port, the record was created by the New York branch and sent down. In these cases, the Philadelphia branch of the council's Bureau of Service to Foreign Born was responsible for paying a "welcome call" on the new residents. The NCJW port of entry card files differ from those created by HIAS in that many are face cards, a common 1920s social service method for recording summary information about clients. As a result, in addition to the standard arrival information, the face cards also include narrative information about the agency's interaction with the client. Cards are arranged alphabetically by immigrant's last name. Please note that the cards have been maintained in their original order and may not be strictly alphabetized.

Subseries 2.5: Detainee card files, 1913-1943, contains one box of index cards that document cases of immigrants detained at the Philadelphia port. The cards contain such information as: immigrant name, date or arrival, destination, reason for detention, and case resolution. As noted on the cards, immigrants were detained for many reasons, including sickness, insufficient funds, and because they were not claimed by an American sponsor at the port. Immigrants were also sometimes detained on suspicion of mental illness or illiteracy, and were listed as liable to become a public charge (LPC). Though most of the cases in this subseries were resolved and the immigrant released, there are some instances of deportation. The cards do not contain narrative information, but rather include brief notes on the detention case. The cards are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the detainee.

Subseries 2.6: Landing verification cards, 1913-1921, contain information gathered in order to verify an immigrant's arrival in the United States. Information collected on the cards includes the immigrant's name, address, nationality, date of arrival, port of debarkation, and steamer name. The information on the cards was then sent to the HIAS branch affiliate closest to the port of debarkation for verification. Some cards note whether arrival could be verified. The cards are arranged alphabetically by immigrant's last name.

Subseries 3.1: HIAS naturalization service card files, circa 1914-1952, contain HIAS's records on clients who utilized their services in the naturalization process. Each index card contains narrative information that may include the immigrant's current name, former name, and address; names of parents and children, birth dates, children's birth dates, wedding date, hometown, and date of application. The cards are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the client. Please note that if an immigrant changed his or her last name, the files are alphabetized according to the chosen name.

Subseries 3.2: National Council of Jewish Women naturalization service card files, circa 1939-1951, contain the council's files on immigrants who utilized their assistance throughout the naturalization process. Information on the cards includes the client's current name as well as name upon arrival; steamer name, port name, and date of arrival; current address, occupation, birth date, birthplace, parents' names, and spouse and children's names. The cards also indicate which action the client is taking in the two-step naturalization process; filing either "first" papers, the declaration of intent to naturalize, or "second" papers, the formal naturalization petition. The cards are arranged alphabetically by the last name of the client.

Subseries 3.3: Naturalization applications, 1931-1942, contains forms that represent the first step in applying for citizenship. Entitled the "Application for a Certificate of Arrival and Preliminary Form for Petition for Citizenship," the form provides information necessary to filing a petition for naturalization. Interspersed in this series are related forms, such as applications for derivative citizenship, alien registration, re-entry permits, and an application to replace a lost or stolen naturalization form. This series is arranged alphabetically by immigrant's last name.

Subseries 3.4: Naturalization and record of arrival service forms, 1937-1952, includes internal forms filled out in the course of providing naturalization services. Clients inquired after the status of their naturalization application or requested the agency's assistance in obtaining copies of birth records and marriage certificates, as well as record of arrival information. This subseries is arranged chronologically by date of the form, and then alphabetically by client's last name.

Subseries 3.5: Name change reports for naturalization services, 1939, contains print-out files on clients whose names had changed since entering the United States. The files contain information that is not contextualized although some are interspersed with service applications. This series is arranged alphabetically by the client's most recent last name.

Subseries 3.6: Petition card files, circa 1924-1937, contains index card files recording information about naturalized citizens who petition for family members to be allowed legally to immigrate to the United States. The cards include the petitioner's name and address, as well as the potential immigrant's name, age, location, and relationship to the petitioner. The cards also include the petitioner's naturalization number, as well as the date and location of naturalization. The cards are arranged alphabetically by petitioner's last name.

Subseries 4.1: Annual Meeting and special events files, 1952-1995, contains materials relating to HIAS Pennsylvania's annual luncheon meetings, fundraisers, and gala events. Materials include correspondence, invitation lists, and related planning materials, as well as material from the events, including lists of attendees, programs, and speech transcripts. This subseries is organized alphabetically by event title, and then chronologically.

Subseries 4.2: Board of directors and committee meeting files, 1952-1998, contains correspondence, meeting minutes, and reports generated by HIAS and Council Migration Service's committees. In addition to the board of directors, this subseries also includes materials from committees such as the Case Committee, the Executive Committee, the Legislative Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the Program Committee. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by committee name, and then chronologically.

Portions of Subseries 4.2 are restricted, as noted at the file level.

Subseries 4.3: Cooperating agencies and task force files, 1976-1986, undated, includes correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and planning materials from HIAS and Council Migration Service's involvement with similar organizations. HIAS also participated in special meetings and task forces organized to discuss Philadelphia's immigrant communities. In addition to the national HIAS organization, this subseries also includes material from the Association of Jewish Agency Executives, the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia Task Force on Resettlement, the Golden Slipper Club, and the Southeast Asian Refugee Task Force of Greater Philadelphia, among others. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by agency name, and then chronologically.

Subseries 4.4: Correspondence, 1950-1987, contains general correspondence, as well as staff memoranda and correspondence with board presidents Ken Kaiserman and Sonnie Crane. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by the type of correspondence, and then chronologically.

Subseries 4.5: Financial files (Portions restricted), 1955-1996, undated, contains materials related to HIAS and Council's yearly budget, as well as financial reports, operating statements, and general ledgers. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by type of material, and then chronologically.

Some materials in Subseries 4.5 are restricted for a period of 75 years from the date of creation due to the presence of employee files and donation information. Restrictions are noted at the file level.

Some materials in Subseries 4.6 are restricted for a period of 75 years from the date of creation due to the presence of donation information. Restrictions are noted at the file level.

Subseries 4.6: Fundraising and membership files (Bulk restricted), 1971-1992, undated, contains materials created for HIAS and Council's fundraising efforts. In addition to fundraising campaign letters, it also contains donor lists and correspondence related to membership in both HIAS and Council and the National HIAS organization. This subseries is organized alphabetically by type of material, and then chronologically.

Subseries 4.7 is restricted for a period of 75 years from the date of creation due to the presence of personally identifiable information and sensitive immigration records.

Subseries 4.7: Monthly case lists and arrival records (Restricted), 1966-1988, contains HIAS and Council Migration Service's summary records of client interaction. Monthly case lists include intake information, such as client name, country of origin, and the service requested. The arrival records list the names of immigrants arriving in Philadelphia, the number of people in their family, and nationality. This subseries also includes the itineraries of arriving immigrants, including the name, ages and relationship of the arriving immigrants, the name and address of the sponsoring family member, and the time and place the family is meeting. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by type of material, and then chronologically.

Subseries 4.8: Office files, 1927-1988, contains the organization's basic administrative records, such as charitable organization registrations, lease information, public relations files, personnel guidelines, forms, and internal reports. This subseries also contains some special project planning files. An item of note included in this subseries is a self-study of HIAS conducted in 1958. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by type of material, and then chronologically.

Subseries 4.9: Statistical reports, 1964-1986, consists mostly of monthly statistical reports, used for both internal purposes and for submission to Philadelphia's Health and Welfare Council. Statistics include such information as the number of clients, types of services utilized, case workers' caseloads, and clients' biographical information. This subseries is organized alphabetically by type of report, and then chronologically.

The bulk of this subseries consists of case files that are restricted for a period of 75 years from date of creation due to the presence of sensitive immigration information. There is one folder of unrestricted correspondence and reports.

Subseries 5.1: Orderly Departure Program (ODP) files (Bulk restricted), 1979-1986, contains files created by HIAS over the course of their participation in the government program. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by type of material.

The bulk of this subseries is restricted for a period of 75 years from the date of creation due to the presence of sensitive immigration information. Restrictions are noted at the file level.

Subseries 5.2: Southeast Asian Resettlement (SEAR) program records (Portions restricted), 1977-1989, contains materials related to HIAS' involvement with resettling Southeast Asian immigrants. Alternately referred to by HIAS as the Southeast Asian Resettlement Program, or Indochinese Program, this subseries contains case files, financial files, grant information, memoranda, and arrival lists. Many of the files are related to refugees' adjustment of status, a procedure which allows immigrants to become citizens without applying for an immigrant visa. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by type of material, and then chronologically.