MSS 023 - Abe L. Shushan Collection: Inventory

ABE L. SHUSHAN COLLECTION 

(Mss 23) 

Inventory 

Earl K. Long Library

University of New Orleans 

Summary

Size: 5 linear feet (749 items)

Geographic Llocations: New Orleans, La.

Inclusive dates: 1899 - 1966

Summary: Papers and memorabilia of businessman and political figure Abe L. Shushan.

Related Collections: Newman Louisiana Aviation Collection (Mss 6)

Source: Gift, 1965, 1970, 1971

Access: No restrictions

Copyright: Physical rights are retained by the Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans.

Citation: Abe L. Shushan Collection, Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans

Biographical Note

 

            Shushan, Abraham Lazard, Sr.

            born:  January 12, 1894 (Bougere, now part of Reserve, La.)

            died:  November 3, 1966 (New Orleans, La.)

 

            First employed during his early teens by Shushan Brothers, a New Orleans wholesale dry goods business established by his father and uncle, Shushan became a partner in the firm in 1916 and president of the firm in 1931.  Appointed to the New Orleans Levee Board in 1920 by Governor John M. Parker, he was reappointed by successive administrations and became president of the Board in 1929.  It was under his direction that the lakefront sea wall and the New Orleans Lakefront Airport were constructed.  A friend and political associate of Huey P. Long, Shushan was an important political figure in Louisiana during the 1920s and 1930s.

Container List

 

23-1                Baseballs (player autographed), n.d., 1952, 1954, 1956.  14 items.  [Items removed from collection]

23-2                Certificates and Warrants (incl. pardon granted by President Harry S. Truman to A. L. Shushan), n.d., 1920, 1929, 1936, 1947, 1952, 1965.  9 items.

23-3                Clippings (with considerable material on James A. Farley), n.d. (12 items.), 1931 - 1933, 1937, 1951, 1959 - 1966 (78 items.)  90 items.

 

                        For additional clippings see Scrapbooks, October 7, 1899 - October 20, 1936 (23-20 through 23-50).

 

23-4                Clock (small electrical grandfather clock with chimes;  with plate inscribed:  “PRESENTED TO | A.L. SHUSHAN | BY HIS FRIENDS | FEBRUARY 11th - 1932”).  1 item.

                        Note:  housed in the Earl K. Long Library in the Louisiana and Special Collections Reading Room.

 

                        Correspondence (included are three T.L.S. from John Fitzgerald Kennedy to A. L. Shushan:  November 24, 1959, August 23, 1960, December 8, 1960).  535 items.

 

23-5                                  n.d. (8 items.), 1933, 1937, June 30, 1947 - January 29, 1965 (452 items.).

23-6                                  February 2, 1965 - August 29, 1966 (75 items.).

 

                        For additional correspondence see Scrapbooks, October 7, 1899 - October 20, 1936 (23-20 through 23-50).

 

23-7                Farley, James A. (press releases, speeches and miscellanea), 1963 - 1965.  11 items.

 

                        See also, Clippings, n.d., 1931 - 1933, 1937, 1951, 1959 - 1966 (23-3);  Correspondence, n.d., 1933, 1937, June 30, 1947 - January 29, 1965 (23-5), February 2, 1965 - August 29, 1966 (23-6);  Scrapbooks, October 7, 1899 - October 20, 1936 (23-20 through 23-50).

 

23-8                Miscellanea (invitations, menus, broadsides, etc.), n.d., 1959, 1961, 1964.  8 items.

23-9                Oser, Fred (typescript statement on agreement by Senator Long to make Oser “Long leader in the 12th ward”), n.d.  1 item.

 

                        Paintings.

 

23-12                          Hebert, F. Edward.  Framed and matted color reproduction (14 1/2” h. x 9 1/2” w.) of painting depicting Hebert; with autograph inscription and letter of presentation to Shushan, n.d.  1 item.

23-13                          Kennedy, John Fitzgerald.  Framed color reproduction (22” h. x 16 1/4” w.) of painting depicting Kennedy, 1964.  1 item.

23-14                          Shushan Airport.  Framed water color (13”h. x 19 3/8” w.) aerial view by Wolf Studios, ca. 1933.  1 item.

23-10              Pamphlets.

 

                                    Antoine’s | Antoine’s Annex | Restaurant | Roy L. Alciatore, Prop. | 713 to 723 St. Louis St. | New Orleans, La.  n.p., n.d.  2 copies inscribed by Cecil B. De Mille.  2 items.

                                    Commemorating the Formal Opening of | Shushan Airport | New Orleans, U.S.A.  n.p., n.d.  1 item.

                                    A New Greater | Shushan Bros. & Co., Inc. | for a Greater New Orleans.  n.p., n.d.  1 item.

 

                        Photographs (prints).

23-15                          Miscellaneous (Shushan, family, associates, etc.; the original of inscribed photo­graph of Huey P. Long is on loan to Herman J. Shushan), ca. 1918 - 1941, 1961.  37 items.

23-16                          Orleans Levee District.  Board of Levee Commissioners (view of construction work), ca. 1923 - 1934.  1 item.

 

                        Shushan Airport.

 

23-17                    ca. 1934.  1 item.

23-18                          ca. 1934.  Framed view (11” h. x 49” w.) of Moffett Hanger, Administration Building, and Lindberg Hanger.  1 item. 

 

                        For additional photographs see Scrapbooks,

                                          February 20, 1928 - July 17, 1934 (23-23),

                                          December 30, 1928 - July 18, 1932 (23-24),

                                          September 7, 1930 - December 13, 1931 (23-26),

                                          March 24, 1932 - January 29, 1934 (23-31),

                                          January 24, - March 2, 1934 (23-36),

                                          March 3, 1934 - May 22, 1936 (23-37).

 

                        Plaques.

 

 

23-19                          Aluminum bas-relief of Shushan profile by A. Rieker with inscription:  “ERECTED 1933 | SHUSHAN AIRPORT | IN TESTIMONIAL TO THE | SPLENDID VISION AND EARNEST ZEAL OF | A.L. SHUSHAN | PRESIDENT ORLEANS LEVEE BOARD | AND HIS FELLOW COMMISSIONERS | TOWARD THE SUCCESSFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT | OF THIS | AIRPORT PROJECT | WEISS - DREYFOUS & SEIFERTH | ARCHITECTS | CALDWELL BROS. & HART | CONTRACTORS”  (33 1|2” h. x 26 1|2” w.).  1 item.

23-11                          Brass bas-relief of pelican and young with inscription:  “Commissioner -- August 8th, 1928       President -- June 11th, 1929 | TO | HON. A.L. SHUSHAN | In appreciation of an unprecedented devotion to a public trust. | We congratulate you on the Board’s accomplishments born of your rare and | unexcelled judgement. | OFFICE EMPLOYEES - ORLEANS LEVEE BOARD | December 25, 1932.”  Enclosed in brass frame with glass cover (8 1|8” h. x 10 1/8” w.).  1 item.

 

                        Scrapbooks, 31 vols.

 

23-20                    October 7, 1899, March 9, 1934 - December 16, 1935.

23-21                    December 11, 1920 - January 27, 1931.

23-22                    December 19, 1920 - November 7, 1929.

23-23                    February 20, 1928 - July 17, 1934.

23-24                    December 30, 1928 - June 18, 1932.

23-25                    June 7, 1929 - August 29, 1931.

23-26                    September 7, 1930 - December 13, 1931.

23-27                    March 23 - 30, 1931.

23-28                    March 23 - April 17, 1931.

23-29                    August 11, 1931 - January 27, 1932.

23-30                    January 1932 - December 13, 1933.

23-31                    March 24, 1932 - January 29, 1934.

23-32                    July 9, 1932 - June 20, 1933.

23-33                    March 26 - June 11, 1933.

23-34                    January 14 - April 20, 1934.

23-35                    January 22 - March 12, 1934.

23-36                    January 24 - March 2, 1934.

23-37                    March 3, 1934 - May 22, 1936.

23-38                    October 19, 1934 - November 15, 1935.

23-39                    July 27 - September 21, 1935.

23-40                    September 9 - 12, 1935.

23-41                    September 9 - 13, 1935.

23-42                    September 11, 12, 1935.

23-43                    September 12 - 14, 1935.

23-44                    September 12 - 19, 1935.

23-45                    September 19 - October 15, 1935.

23-46                    October 16 - November 15, 1935.

23-47                    October 23, 24, 1935.

23-48                    May 22 - August 16, 1936.

23-49                    August 17 - September 18, 1936.

23-50                    September 19 - October 20, 1936.

Index Terms

 

De Mille, Cecil B.

Farley, James A.

Kennedy, John F.

Levees—Louisiana—New Orleans

Long, Huey P.

New Orleans Lakefront Airport

Orleans Levee District.  Board of Levee Commissioners

Oser, Fred

Shushan, Abe L.

Shushan Airport

Truman Harry S.