Michael and Elliott Zayon collection

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Biographical/Historical note

Scope and Contents note

Administrative Information

Controlled Access Headings

Collection Inventory

Michael Zayon

Elliot Zayon

Summary Information

Repository

The Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Creator - Donor

Zayon, Elliott.

Title

Michael and Elliott Zayon collection

ID

3594

Date [bulk]

Bulk, 1942-1946

Date [inclusive]

1857-1946

Extent

0.7 Linear feet ; 1 box, 1 flat file, 5 volumes

Author

Finding aid prepared by Cary Majewicz

Sponsor

Processing made possible by a generous donation by Elliott Zayon.

Language

English

Mixed materials [Volume]

1

Mixed materials [Box]

1

Mixed materials [Volume]

2

Mixed materials [Volume]

4

Mixed materials [Oversize]

1

Mixed materials [Volume]

3

Mixed materials [Volume]

5

Abstract

Philadelphia resident Elliot Zayon culled together this collection of his father, Michael Zayon's (1914-2009) World War II memorabilia and local publications and ephemera. Along with these items is Zayon's own collection of books, papers, and photographs, that echoes and expands upon the materials collected by his father. The collection consists primarily of publications, such as Fourth Armored Divison by Captain Kenneth Koyen,  Up Front by cartoonist Bill Mauldin, a portfolio of World War I-era rotogravure images entitled  The War of Nations, and  Jewish Holy Scriptures, published in 1942 for Jewish personnel in the U. S. Army. Additional items include a loan certificate from 1866, manuals of the Philadelphia City Council from 1920 and 1928, and a copy of the 18 August 1945 issue of the  Paterson Evening News from Paterson, New Jersey.

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Biographical/Historical note

Michael Zayon was born in Philadelphia in 1914. He served during World War II with the 4th Armored Division in Europe. In Philadelphia, he was a member of the Bureau for Fire Corps of the U.S. Citizens Defense Corps. He died in 2009, survived by his wife Edith (Fisher) Zayon, who died in 2011, son Elliott Zayon, and other close family members.

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Scope and Contents note

This collection contains two groups of items: those collected by Michael Zayon (Series I) and those collected by his son Elliott (Series II). Some of the items from Michael Zayon reflect his time in Europe, particularly France, during World War II. Some of the items collected by Elliott Zayon, mainly publications, pay homage to the World War II era, while others represent regional and American history more generally.

The Michael Zayon series includes published items, such as The Fourth Armored Division by Captain Kenneth Koyen and  Jewish Holy Scriptures, a book for Jewish members of the U. S. Army that he salvaged from a French synagogue that the Germans had destroyed. Another book he rescued from a war-torn France is  Le Guide du Croyant Israèlites, recueil de prières, hymes et mèditations, which literaly translates to "The Guide for Believing Israelites: a collection of prayers, hymns, and meditations." This book was published in 1857 and is in French. Other items in this series include copies of German and French money, a member card for the Bureau of Fire Corps, and an issue of  The Flame, the newsletter of the City Firemen’s Protective Association of Philadelphia.

The Elliott Zayon series contains a variety of items, from a 1912 Philadelphia water rent bill to pages from the 18 August 1945 issues of the Paterson Evening News from Paterson, New Jersey. Other materials include a copy of  Up Front, published in 1946 and authored by cartoonist Bill Mauldin; 3 issues of  Yank: The Army Weekly from 1943-1945; Manuals of the City Council of Philadelphia from 1920 and 1928; an 1879 annual report of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Philadelphia Fire Company; a 1919 compilation of rotogravure images entitled  The War of Nations, and two duplicate photographs of an unidentified band.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania ; 2011

Conditions Governing Access note

The collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Accession number 2011.048.

Gift of Elliott Zayon, 2011.

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Controlled Access Headings

Personal Name(s)

• Koyen, Kenneth A.
• Mauldin, Bill, 1921-2003.
• Zayon, Michael.

Subject(s)

• Current events - United States - HIstory - 20th century.
• Pennsylvania--History.
• Political cartoons--20th century.
• World War, 1914-1918--United States--Pictorial works.
• World War, 1939-1945--Caricatures and cartoons.
• World War, 1939-1945.

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Collection Inventory