Collectie Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro
Item
Country
NL
Name of institution (English)
Central Bureau for Genealogy
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Prince Willem-Alexanderhof 22, 2595 BE The Hague
Contact information: phone number
0031 070 31 50 500
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
service@cbg.nl
Reference number
1296
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro Collection
Title (official language of the state)
Collectie Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro
Language of title
dut
Creator / accumulator
Joshua M.L. Maduro
Date note
17th century/20th century
Language(s)
dut
heb
por
spa
Extent
255 boxes
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This collection comprises many notes typed out by Joshua M.L. Maduro from various archive institutions and several original pieces, some very fragile, from the 18th and 19th centuries. Newspapers, parts of newspapers and magazines are also part of the collection.
The Collectie Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro includes numerous and valuable information on the Sephardim in Curaçao and other Caribbean islands, including genealogical information, wills, commercial papers, congregational records, and the so-called “Memorias Curiel” and “Memorias Senior”, according to I. S. Emmanuel, the most precious documents on the Jews of Curaçao. Some examples are the following:
No. 17: notes on the families Naar, Guilhoux, de Haseth, de Lima, Brion and da Costa Gomez, 19th century; promissory note from Francisca Augustin to Henriques Juliao, 1799.
Nos. 18-42: genealogies of various Jewish families of Iberian extraction: Alvares Correa, 1650-1953 (no. 18); Senior, 1598-1964 (no. 19); Cohen Henriquez en Curiel (alias Nunes da Costa), Senior (alias Henriques), 1615-1955 (no. 20); Moreno, Moreno Henriquez, Moreno Penso, 1643-1921 (no. 21); Gomes Caceres, 1570-1960 (no. 22); Aarons, Athias Robles (Salas), Athias de Neyra, Baeza, Bonan, Baïz, 1694-1928 (no. 23); Cohen Peixotto, Campos Pereira, Levy Maduro, Abinun de Lima, Namias de Crasto, 1773-1963 (no. 24); Cortissoz, Cardozo (da Costa), Cardoze Pereira, 1725-1951 (no. 25); Delvalle and Dovale, 1636-1909 (no. 26); Fidanque, 1700-1951 (no. 27); Van Gelderen, Gomes Silva (Gomes Casseres) (no. 28); Henriquez Ferreyra, Henriquez Morao (Moron), 1708-1912 (no. 29); Jesurun Pinto, Jesurun Sasportas, Idanha de Casseres, Delvalle de Jongh, Jesurun Cardozo, Jesurun Lobo, Jesurun Lindo (Piza), Jesurun Henriquez (no. 30); Lopez Penha (alias Fernandez Nuñez, Rodriguez Campos, Ferrera, Fonseca), 1784-1854 (no. 31); De Lima, 1631-1963 (no. 32); De Meza, Mendes Seixas (Mendes Valencia), Mendes Monsanto, Mendes Solas (no. 33); Namias de Castro/Crasto (Amsterdam-Barbados) 1680-1717, Nathan (Curaçao-St. Thomas) 1850-1861, Nunes Vaz, 1795-1880, Obediente/Abudiente (Amsterdam-Curaçao-Coro) 1652-1890 (no. 34); Penha (no. 35); Rodrigues Miranda, 1708-1905, Rodrigues Nunes, Rodrigues D’Costa, Rois Mendes, 1744-1934, Ricardo, 1657-1963 (no. 36); Semah de Valencia (Semach de Valensa-Valencia), Amsterdam-Curaçao 1681-1941, Sasportas, Abraham Sasso, Semah Ferro, Silva Soles, Sturmthal, De Sola, 1636-1963 (no. 37); family of Ephraim Athias (no. 38); Sasso (no. 39); Taboada (no. 40); Ulloa, Curaçao 1739-1759 (no. 41); and Wolff (no. 42).
No. 57: current account between Moses Casseres and David Jesurun, Amsterdam, 1778; deed of sale from Maria Josefa Garcia to José Antonio Gomez of a slave named Francisco, who was to be delivered to the Curaçao-born José Obediente, living in Caracas, 1808; four bills of lading for cargo from Amsterdam destined for Curaçao, 1734, 1744, 1753, 1766.
Nos. 71-77: copies of documents, with transcripts, from the New York State Library, including letters to Peter Stuyvesant about the following matters: the patent to Joseph Nunes de Fonseca, alias David Nassi, as well as sending out newcomers from Curaçao to New Netherlands (February 22, 1652); dissatisfaction with the fact that the colonists were engaged in trade instead of agriculture (December 12, 1652); and contracts with private merchants to obtain slaves from Africa and trade them on the islands and in New Netherlands (June 6, 1653). There is also a letter to Lucas Rodenburch with complaints about the colonist Jan de Yllan and the Jewish nation in Curaçao (July 7, 1654); and documents concerning the permission granted to Isaack de Fonseca to trade goods brought from Barbados in Curaçao (February 23, 1656).
No. 106: notes on Joshua Mordecay Henriquez from 1660.
No. 108: documentation on Juan Hernandes Lozada, 1727.
No. 137: admission of debt by Francisca Augustin for Henriquez Julião regarding the purchase of a property in Curaçao, 1768.
Nos. 152-156: bye-laws of the Dutch Portuguese-Israelite synagogue in Curaçao, 1833-1930.
Nos. 164-169. Registers of minutes and resolutions of the Neve Salom and Mikvé Israel synagogues, 1773-1857.
No. 170: Curiel's "Memorias de cousas antiguas concernente asuntos israelítico desta Ilha (Curaçao), 5434-5499 (1674-1739)" (Records of old matters regarding Jewish affairs in this island (Curaçao). The notes begin in 1674 with plans to build a synagogue, contain financial accountability, and include deals regarding ordering a ‘Sefer’, 1690. They are supplemented by a typed list of more recent events up to 1941 by Joshua M.L. Maduro.
No. 171: Senior’s “Memorias de algunas cousas antiguas deste K.K. 5434-5523 (1674-1763)” (Records of some old matters of this Holy Congregation), with a note written by Joshua M.L. Maduro on Jacob David Senior and one of his sons, the authors of the manuscript. It includes a list of administrators of the Beth Haim cemetery, 5443-5580 (1683-1820), treasurers of the Mikvé, 5492-5563 (1732-1803), the “parnas de fabrica ou thesoureiro” (gabay), 5561-5578 (1801-1818), and the Parnassim of the Talmud Torah, 5451-5562 (1691-1802). It also includes loose notes supplementing the “Memorias”, 5477-5523 (1717-1763).
Nos. 175-179: letters (in Portuguese) received at Mikvé Israel from 1762 to 1819, including letters from Ishaac Diaz Delgado (1762), Mordecay Levy Maduro (1790), Selomoh Mordecay Levy Maduro (1817-1819), Jeosuah Abraham Levy Maduro (1817), and Jacob de Abraham Levy Maduro (1819).
No. 180-186: transcriptions of birth, circumcision, ketubot, marriage, burial, and death records of the Dutch-Portuguese Jewish congregation of Curaçao, 1708-1963.
No. 189: registration of male and female members of the Jewish community, 1689-1930.
Nos. 193-195: notes on Jewish ministers of the Curaçao congregation, 17th-20th centuries. Includes notes on rabbis (Hahamim) and their families, namely Jossiau Pardo, Eliau Lopez, Raphael Jesurun, Samuel Mendes da Sola, Ishac Henriquez Farro, Haym Isaac Carregal, Jacob Lopez da Fonseca, Aron Mendes Chumaceiro and Isaac S. Emmanuel; as well as on Hazanim, such as Jeosuah Piza, Haim Judah Santcroos, Joseph Mendes Chumaceiro, David Querido and Baruch Duque.
Nos. 199-232: notes on diverse matters regarding the Jewish community of Curaçao from 1744 to 1750, collected from various archives, including records on Mordechay Alvares Correa, Salomon Nunes Redondo, Abraham Senior, Moses Penso, Isaac Calvo, David Aboab, Haham De Sola, Isaac Pardo, Samuel Jacob Jeudah Leão, David Abraham Cardoso, Ester Semayl Ferro, Elias Jesurun Henriquez, Ester de Castro, Moses Levy Maduro, Ester Dias, Abraham Namias de Castro, Lea Namias de Castro, and Ishac de Abraham Dias.
Nos. 233-239: the same for the period from 1770 to 1800, including records on Josua Jacob Naar, Abraham Delvalle, Jeosuah Cohen Peixotto, Esther Salomon Levy Maduro, Abraham de David da Costa Andrade, Sarah de Isaac Pardo and Selomoh de Moses Vaz Farro.
Nos. 240-270: the same as the above for the period from 1800 to 1822, including records on David S. Valencia, Gracia Jacob Abenator, Isaac Levy Maduro, Samuel Pereira, Daniel Cohen d’Azevedo, Josias Dovale, Jacob Suarez, Elias Rodrigues Miranda, Josias Dovale, Jeosuah de Sola, Jeosuah Piza, Jacob Haim Curiel, Haim Abinun de Lima, Abraham Mordechay Haim Senior, Leah David Senior, Joseph Lindo, and Abraham Isaac Tobar.
Nos. 271-304: further miscellany documentation from 1818 to 1869.
No. 307-315: notes and transcription of documents, including registration of letters of purchase of plots of land on the Kerkstraat and Kuiperstraat in Willemstad; notes on the purchase of plots of land for the benefit of the two cemeteries; notes on the consecration of the Mikvé Israel synagogue in 1732; and records about the purchase of land for the Neve Salom synagogue, 1746-1865 (no. 307). Admission of debt from David Fonseca to the Santa Jesiba Honen Dalim on September 11, 1746; letter of thanks (in Portuguese) from Benjamin Moshe Mele Hokbat, Hamburg to the Parnassim and Gabay of Mikvé Israel and Neve Salom in Curaçao on June 30, 1782; and a financial statement of the Jesiba Honen Dalim, 1775 (no 310). Letter with an extract from minutes of the Jewish congregation, requesting financial support, Charleston, May 22, 1792 (no. 312). Letter of thanks (in Spanish) from Moses D. Gomez, New York, to the Mikvé Israel for financial support, April 20, 1788 (no. 313). Letter (in Portuguese) from Moseh de Molina, New York, to the Mikvé Israel board requesting monetary support, May 5, 1730 (no. 314).
No. 331: documents relating to António Rodrigues (Maduro)’s trials at the Inquisition of Coimbra, 1612, 1616.
Nos. 332-334: notes on genealogy and vital records related to the Maduro family and other Sephardic families, taken from the documentation of the Portuguese Jewish congregation of Amsterdam and the Dutch-Portuguese Jewish congregation of Curaçao collections and other archives.
No. 337: correspondence and notes on the Naar family and genealogical notes on the De Marchena families, (Aboab) Osorio, Cohen Henriquez, Pereira Brandao. It includes a letter from Abraham Jacob Pereira Brandon to his sister-in-law Lea, widow of Joseph Pereira Brandon in Curaçao, written in Amsterdam on May 5, 1757.
No. 339: documentation and genealogical notes on the Maduro-Peixotto family, 1747-1962.
No. 344: notes from the archives of the Santa Companhia de dotar Orphas e Donzellas (Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente, Stadsarchief Amsterdam) regarding the children of Roiz Maduro (1616-1617); copies from marriage and burial registers of Amsterdam, 1621-1630, concerning the marriage of Moseh Levy to Rachel Levy (July 27, 1622); notes from, among others, Daniel Levi de Barrios’ Opuscula; notes from the archives of the old West India Company on the request of David Maduro to go to Brazil (1635-36).
Nos. 354-357: copies of assorted 17th-century documentation related to members of the Maduro family, including the marriage contract between Salomon Levy (Maduro) and Channa de Castro (1648); a deed in favour of Rachel Levi Maduro, issued by Duarte Fernandes Govea, Diego de Herrera and Gaspar Dias (1653); documents on the estate of David Maduro (1664); and papers relating to the marriage of Moses Levy Maduro and Hester Sarde (1670; papers concerning their divorce in no. 358).
Nos. 359-363: copies of assorted 18th-century documents related to members of the Maduro family, including Aron Levy Maduro, Isaac Levy Maduro, Samuel Levy Maduro, Irmiau Levy Maduro, Jacob Levy Maduro, Hanna Levi Maduro, Mordechay Levy Maduro, Isaac Semuel Levy Maduro, and Salomoh Jacob Selomoh Levy Maduro.
The Collectie Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro includes numerous and valuable information on the Sephardim in Curaçao and other Caribbean islands, including genealogical information, wills, commercial papers, congregational records, and the so-called “Memorias Curiel” and “Memorias Senior”, according to I. S. Emmanuel, the most precious documents on the Jews of Curaçao. Some examples are the following:
No. 17: notes on the families Naar, Guilhoux, de Haseth, de Lima, Brion and da Costa Gomez, 19th century; promissory note from Francisca Augustin to Henriques Juliao, 1799.
Nos. 18-42: genealogies of various Jewish families of Iberian extraction: Alvares Correa, 1650-1953 (no. 18); Senior, 1598-1964 (no. 19); Cohen Henriquez en Curiel (alias Nunes da Costa), Senior (alias Henriques), 1615-1955 (no. 20); Moreno, Moreno Henriquez, Moreno Penso, 1643-1921 (no. 21); Gomes Caceres, 1570-1960 (no. 22); Aarons, Athias Robles (Salas), Athias de Neyra, Baeza, Bonan, Baïz, 1694-1928 (no. 23); Cohen Peixotto, Campos Pereira, Levy Maduro, Abinun de Lima, Namias de Crasto, 1773-1963 (no. 24); Cortissoz, Cardozo (da Costa), Cardoze Pereira, 1725-1951 (no. 25); Delvalle and Dovale, 1636-1909 (no. 26); Fidanque, 1700-1951 (no. 27); Van Gelderen, Gomes Silva (Gomes Casseres) (no. 28); Henriquez Ferreyra, Henriquez Morao (Moron), 1708-1912 (no. 29); Jesurun Pinto, Jesurun Sasportas, Idanha de Casseres, Delvalle de Jongh, Jesurun Cardozo, Jesurun Lobo, Jesurun Lindo (Piza), Jesurun Henriquez (no. 30); Lopez Penha (alias Fernandez Nuñez, Rodriguez Campos, Ferrera, Fonseca), 1784-1854 (no. 31); De Lima, 1631-1963 (no. 32); De Meza, Mendes Seixas (Mendes Valencia), Mendes Monsanto, Mendes Solas (no. 33); Namias de Castro/Crasto (Amsterdam-Barbados) 1680-1717, Nathan (Curaçao-St. Thomas) 1850-1861, Nunes Vaz, 1795-1880, Obediente/Abudiente (Amsterdam-Curaçao-Coro) 1652-1890 (no. 34); Penha (no. 35); Rodrigues Miranda, 1708-1905, Rodrigues Nunes, Rodrigues D’Costa, Rois Mendes, 1744-1934, Ricardo, 1657-1963 (no. 36); Semah de Valencia (Semach de Valensa-Valencia), Amsterdam-Curaçao 1681-1941, Sasportas, Abraham Sasso, Semah Ferro, Silva Soles, Sturmthal, De Sola, 1636-1963 (no. 37); family of Ephraim Athias (no. 38); Sasso (no. 39); Taboada (no. 40); Ulloa, Curaçao 1739-1759 (no. 41); and Wolff (no. 42).
No. 57: current account between Moses Casseres and David Jesurun, Amsterdam, 1778; deed of sale from Maria Josefa Garcia to José Antonio Gomez of a slave named Francisco, who was to be delivered to the Curaçao-born José Obediente, living in Caracas, 1808; four bills of lading for cargo from Amsterdam destined for Curaçao, 1734, 1744, 1753, 1766.
Nos. 71-77: copies of documents, with transcripts, from the New York State Library, including letters to Peter Stuyvesant about the following matters: the patent to Joseph Nunes de Fonseca, alias David Nassi, as well as sending out newcomers from Curaçao to New Netherlands (February 22, 1652); dissatisfaction with the fact that the colonists were engaged in trade instead of agriculture (December 12, 1652); and contracts with private merchants to obtain slaves from Africa and trade them on the islands and in New Netherlands (June 6, 1653). There is also a letter to Lucas Rodenburch with complaints about the colonist Jan de Yllan and the Jewish nation in Curaçao (July 7, 1654); and documents concerning the permission granted to Isaack de Fonseca to trade goods brought from Barbados in Curaçao (February 23, 1656).
No. 106: notes on Joshua Mordecay Henriquez from 1660.
No. 108: documentation on Juan Hernandes Lozada, 1727.
No. 137: admission of debt by Francisca Augustin for Henriquez Julião regarding the purchase of a property in Curaçao, 1768.
Nos. 152-156: bye-laws of the Dutch Portuguese-Israelite synagogue in Curaçao, 1833-1930.
Nos. 164-169. Registers of minutes and resolutions of the Neve Salom and Mikvé Israel synagogues, 1773-1857.
No. 170: Curiel's "Memorias de cousas antiguas concernente asuntos israelítico desta Ilha (Curaçao), 5434-5499 (1674-1739)" (Records of old matters regarding Jewish affairs in this island (Curaçao). The notes begin in 1674 with plans to build a synagogue, contain financial accountability, and include deals regarding ordering a ‘Sefer’, 1690. They are supplemented by a typed list of more recent events up to 1941 by Joshua M.L. Maduro.
No. 171: Senior’s “Memorias de algunas cousas antiguas deste K.K. 5434-5523 (1674-1763)” (Records of some old matters of this Holy Congregation), with a note written by Joshua M.L. Maduro on Jacob David Senior and one of his sons, the authors of the manuscript. It includes a list of administrators of the Beth Haim cemetery, 5443-5580 (1683-1820), treasurers of the Mikvé, 5492-5563 (1732-1803), the “parnas de fabrica ou thesoureiro” (gabay), 5561-5578 (1801-1818), and the Parnassim of the Talmud Torah, 5451-5562 (1691-1802). It also includes loose notes supplementing the “Memorias”, 5477-5523 (1717-1763).
Nos. 175-179: letters (in Portuguese) received at Mikvé Israel from 1762 to 1819, including letters from Ishaac Diaz Delgado (1762), Mordecay Levy Maduro (1790), Selomoh Mordecay Levy Maduro (1817-1819), Jeosuah Abraham Levy Maduro (1817), and Jacob de Abraham Levy Maduro (1819).
No. 180-186: transcriptions of birth, circumcision, ketubot, marriage, burial, and death records of the Dutch-Portuguese Jewish congregation of Curaçao, 1708-1963.
No. 189: registration of male and female members of the Jewish community, 1689-1930.
Nos. 193-195: notes on Jewish ministers of the Curaçao congregation, 17th-20th centuries. Includes notes on rabbis (Hahamim) and their families, namely Jossiau Pardo, Eliau Lopez, Raphael Jesurun, Samuel Mendes da Sola, Ishac Henriquez Farro, Haym Isaac Carregal, Jacob Lopez da Fonseca, Aron Mendes Chumaceiro and Isaac S. Emmanuel; as well as on Hazanim, such as Jeosuah Piza, Haim Judah Santcroos, Joseph Mendes Chumaceiro, David Querido and Baruch Duque.
Nos. 199-232: notes on diverse matters regarding the Jewish community of Curaçao from 1744 to 1750, collected from various archives, including records on Mordechay Alvares Correa, Salomon Nunes Redondo, Abraham Senior, Moses Penso, Isaac Calvo, David Aboab, Haham De Sola, Isaac Pardo, Samuel Jacob Jeudah Leão, David Abraham Cardoso, Ester Semayl Ferro, Elias Jesurun Henriquez, Ester de Castro, Moses Levy Maduro, Ester Dias, Abraham Namias de Castro, Lea Namias de Castro, and Ishac de Abraham Dias.
Nos. 233-239: the same for the period from 1770 to 1800, including records on Josua Jacob Naar, Abraham Delvalle, Jeosuah Cohen Peixotto, Esther Salomon Levy Maduro, Abraham de David da Costa Andrade, Sarah de Isaac Pardo and Selomoh de Moses Vaz Farro.
Nos. 240-270: the same as the above for the period from 1800 to 1822, including records on David S. Valencia, Gracia Jacob Abenator, Isaac Levy Maduro, Samuel Pereira, Daniel Cohen d’Azevedo, Josias Dovale, Jacob Suarez, Elias Rodrigues Miranda, Josias Dovale, Jeosuah de Sola, Jeosuah Piza, Jacob Haim Curiel, Haim Abinun de Lima, Abraham Mordechay Haim Senior, Leah David Senior, Joseph Lindo, and Abraham Isaac Tobar.
Nos. 271-304: further miscellany documentation from 1818 to 1869.
No. 307-315: notes and transcription of documents, including registration of letters of purchase of plots of land on the Kerkstraat and Kuiperstraat in Willemstad; notes on the purchase of plots of land for the benefit of the two cemeteries; notes on the consecration of the Mikvé Israel synagogue in 1732; and records about the purchase of land for the Neve Salom synagogue, 1746-1865 (no. 307). Admission of debt from David Fonseca to the Santa Jesiba Honen Dalim on September 11, 1746; letter of thanks (in Portuguese) from Benjamin Moshe Mele Hokbat, Hamburg to the Parnassim and Gabay of Mikvé Israel and Neve Salom in Curaçao on June 30, 1782; and a financial statement of the Jesiba Honen Dalim, 1775 (no 310). Letter with an extract from minutes of the Jewish congregation, requesting financial support, Charleston, May 22, 1792 (no. 312). Letter of thanks (in Spanish) from Moses D. Gomez, New York, to the Mikvé Israel for financial support, April 20, 1788 (no. 313). Letter (in Portuguese) from Moseh de Molina, New York, to the Mikvé Israel board requesting monetary support, May 5, 1730 (no. 314).
No. 331: documents relating to António Rodrigues (Maduro)’s trials at the Inquisition of Coimbra, 1612, 1616.
Nos. 332-334: notes on genealogy and vital records related to the Maduro family and other Sephardic families, taken from the documentation of the Portuguese Jewish congregation of Amsterdam and the Dutch-Portuguese Jewish congregation of Curaçao collections and other archives.
No. 337: correspondence and notes on the Naar family and genealogical notes on the De Marchena families, (Aboab) Osorio, Cohen Henriquez, Pereira Brandao. It includes a letter from Abraham Jacob Pereira Brandon to his sister-in-law Lea, widow of Joseph Pereira Brandon in Curaçao, written in Amsterdam on May 5, 1757.
No. 339: documentation and genealogical notes on the Maduro-Peixotto family, 1747-1962.
No. 344: notes from the archives of the Santa Companhia de dotar Orphas e Donzellas (Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente, Stadsarchief Amsterdam) regarding the children of Roiz Maduro (1616-1617); copies from marriage and burial registers of Amsterdam, 1621-1630, concerning the marriage of Moseh Levy to Rachel Levy (July 27, 1622); notes from, among others, Daniel Levi de Barrios’ Opuscula; notes from the archives of the old West India Company on the request of David Maduro to go to Brazil (1635-36).
Nos. 354-357: copies of assorted 17th-century documentation related to members of the Maduro family, including the marriage contract between Salomon Levy (Maduro) and Channa de Castro (1648); a deed in favour of Rachel Levi Maduro, issued by Duarte Fernandes Govea, Diego de Herrera and Gaspar Dias (1653); documents on the estate of David Maduro (1664); and papers relating to the marriage of Moses Levy Maduro and Hester Sarde (1670; papers concerning their divorce in no. 358).
Nos. 359-363: copies of assorted 18th-century documents related to members of the Maduro family, including Aron Levy Maduro, Isaac Levy Maduro, Samuel Levy Maduro, Irmiau Levy Maduro, Jacob Levy Maduro, Hanna Levi Maduro, Mordechay Levy Maduro, Isaac Semuel Levy Maduro, and Salomoh Jacob Selomoh Levy Maduro.
Archival history
Joshua M.L. Maduro kept his books and archive in his home in Willemstad, Curaçao. Every time he returned to the island after one of his many travels, he added the data he found to the archive, which grew in size over the years. Shortly before his death, at the request of Isaac S. Emmanuel, Maduro researched the archives of the Mikvé Israel congregation. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the publication of the work of Emmanuel and his wife, Suzanne A. Emmanuel, the History of the Jews of the Netherlands Antilles, which was drawn on Maduro's knowledge and collected data.
Maduro shared his love of history and collecting with his cousin, Salomon Abraham Levy Maduro (1891-1967). Daphne M. Labega, at the time director of the public library in Curaçao, assisted them for many years in organising and classifying their collections. After the disturbances in Willemstad in May 1969, Salomon Abraham Maduro's collection was taken to safety outside the city. It is now housed in The S.A.L. (Mongui) Maduro Library, managed by the Maduro Library Foundation. Part of the collection of Joshua M.L. Maduro went to the Netherlands. The rest was first stored in Switzerland, where his widow, Rebecca Maduro, had meanwhile gone to live with her daughter and son-in-law. After consulting Daphne M. Labega, Rebecca Maduro decided that Maduro's collection of books would be transferred on loan to the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Royal Tropical Institute) in Amsterdam in 1969. In 1984, the heirs of Joshua M.L. Maduro and the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie (Central Bureau of Genealogy) concluded a loan agreement for the manuscript part. However, this part of the collection was not transferred from Switzerland to The Hague then. After the end of the contract with the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen in November 1992, Sybil A. Correa-Maduro, Joshua M.L. Maduro's daughter, requested that the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie to also house her father's books.
Maduro shared his love of history and collecting with his cousin, Salomon Abraham Levy Maduro (1891-1967). Daphne M. Labega, at the time director of the public library in Curaçao, assisted them for many years in organising and classifying their collections. After the disturbances in Willemstad in May 1969, Salomon Abraham Maduro's collection was taken to safety outside the city. It is now housed in The S.A.L. (Mongui) Maduro Library, managed by the Maduro Library Foundation. Part of the collection of Joshua M.L. Maduro went to the Netherlands. The rest was first stored in Switzerland, where his widow, Rebecca Maduro, had meanwhile gone to live with her daughter and son-in-law. After consulting Daphne M. Labega, Rebecca Maduro decided that Maduro's collection of books would be transferred on loan to the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (Royal Tropical Institute) in Amsterdam in 1969. In 1984, the heirs of Joshua M.L. Maduro and the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie (Central Bureau of Genealogy) concluded a loan agreement for the manuscript part. However, this part of the collection was not transferred from Switzerland to The Hague then. After the end of the contract with the Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen in November 1992, Sybil A. Correa-Maduro, Joshua M.L. Maduro's daughter, requested that the Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie to also house her father's books.
Administrative / Biographical history
Joshua Moses Levy Maduro was born in Curaçao on October 12, 1891. He was the third of five children and the second son of Moses Salomon Levy Maduro and Adela Naar. Although Moses Salomon was the son of the founder of the family business S.E.L. Maduro & Sons, he started his own business, Palais Royal, in Willemstad and soon acquired several trading interests in Coro, Venezuela.
Moses Salomon valued a good education. He sent his sons to primary school and, for their religious education, to the Hebrew School in Curaçao. Joshua, called Jossy, proved averse to discipline and was expelled from school. However, his father arranged for Jossy to become fluent in Dutch, Spanish and English. Jossy increased his language skills by mastering French and Portuguese proficiency.
Moses Salomon died in 1911, and Jossy had to continue his father's business. Jossy married his niece Rebecca Deborah Levy Maduro (Beca) on May 15, 1915. Two children were born from this marriage: George Joshua (Curaçao, 1916 - Dachau, 1945) and Sybil Lois (Curaçao, 1917 - Paris, 1995).
Joshua M.L. Maduro was appointed procurator at the firm S.E.L. Maduro & Sons in 1916 and held the same position from 1921 at Maduro's Bank, of which he was co-founder and shareholder. He passed through all ranks in the army and ended up as first lieutenant. He was appointed Koloniale Raad (Colonial Council) member by the Royal Decree of February 21, 1931/33, and served as delegate of Curaçao to the Dutch Delegation Committee to the 1939-1941 World Exhibition in New York. He became curator of the Curaçao Museum in 1948 and was long consul of Guatemala and Sweden for a long time.
Jossy Maduro was interested in history from an early age. The collection of books, genealogies and documents he left behind reflect his broad historical interest. Jossy Maduro was a member of the Koninklijk Nederlandsch Genootschap voor Geslacht- en Wapenkunde De Nederlandsche Leeuw (Royal Dutch Society for Genealogy and Heraldry) in The Hague. He immersed himself not only in the history of his native island but also in the entire Caribbean region and the history of the Jews who settled there. His frequent stays in the Netherlands and Europe since 1928 enabled him to visit archives and make countless notes. His interest in his own family's origins was closely intertwined with that past. This interest culminated in the genealogy of the Maduro family, as contained in A.J.C. Krafft's Historie en oude families van de Nederlandse Antillen; het Antilliaans patriciaat ('s-Gravenhage 1951). His Jewish descent and upbringing brought him into close contact with the Portuguese-Jewish Congregation Mikvé Israel in Curaçao, in which he held various board positions. In 1928, the Mikvé Israel board requested Jossy Maduro to write a booklet on the history of the Jews of Curaçao on the approaching celebration of the synagogue's 200th anniversary in 1932. Jossy Maduro turned to the librarian of Ets Haim in Amsterdam, Jacob S. da Silva Rosa, with a request to assist him with the writing, but the book never materialized.
During World War II, Jossy and his wife tried to get George out of the occupied Netherlands but could not avoid his deportation and death. After the war, they provided financial support in establishing the miniature city of Madurodam in The Hague to leave a tangible memory of their son. Madurodam opened its gates on July 2, 1952.
Jossy Maduro died suddenly in Curaçao on May 27, 1964.
Moses Salomon valued a good education. He sent his sons to primary school and, for their religious education, to the Hebrew School in Curaçao. Joshua, called Jossy, proved averse to discipline and was expelled from school. However, his father arranged for Jossy to become fluent in Dutch, Spanish and English. Jossy increased his language skills by mastering French and Portuguese proficiency.
Moses Salomon died in 1911, and Jossy had to continue his father's business. Jossy married his niece Rebecca Deborah Levy Maduro (Beca) on May 15, 1915. Two children were born from this marriage: George Joshua (Curaçao, 1916 - Dachau, 1945) and Sybil Lois (Curaçao, 1917 - Paris, 1995).
Joshua M.L. Maduro was appointed procurator at the firm S.E.L. Maduro & Sons in 1916 and held the same position from 1921 at Maduro's Bank, of which he was co-founder and shareholder. He passed through all ranks in the army and ended up as first lieutenant. He was appointed Koloniale Raad (Colonial Council) member by the Royal Decree of February 21, 1931/33, and served as delegate of Curaçao to the Dutch Delegation Committee to the 1939-1941 World Exhibition in New York. He became curator of the Curaçao Museum in 1948 and was long consul of Guatemala and Sweden for a long time.
Jossy Maduro was interested in history from an early age. The collection of books, genealogies and documents he left behind reflect his broad historical interest. Jossy Maduro was a member of the Koninklijk Nederlandsch Genootschap voor Geslacht- en Wapenkunde De Nederlandsche Leeuw (Royal Dutch Society for Genealogy and Heraldry) in The Hague. He immersed himself not only in the history of his native island but also in the entire Caribbean region and the history of the Jews who settled there. His frequent stays in the Netherlands and Europe since 1928 enabled him to visit archives and make countless notes. His interest in his own family's origins was closely intertwined with that past. This interest culminated in the genealogy of the Maduro family, as contained in A.J.C. Krafft's Historie en oude families van de Nederlandse Antillen; het Antilliaans patriciaat ('s-Gravenhage 1951). His Jewish descent and upbringing brought him into close contact with the Portuguese-Jewish Congregation Mikvé Israel in Curaçao, in which he held various board positions. In 1928, the Mikvé Israel board requested Jossy Maduro to write a booklet on the history of the Jews of Curaçao on the approaching celebration of the synagogue's 200th anniversary in 1932. Jossy Maduro turned to the librarian of Ets Haim in Amsterdam, Jacob S. da Silva Rosa, with a request to assist him with the writing, but the book never materialized.
During World War II, Jossy and his wife tried to get George out of the occupied Netherlands but could not avoid his deportation and death. After the war, they provided financial support in establishing the miniature city of Madurodam in The Hague to leave a tangible memory of their son. Madurodam opened its gates on July 2, 1952.
Jossy Maduro died suddenly in Curaçao on May 27, 1964.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The collection is organised into five sections: 1) Geschiedenis van Curaçao (History of Curaçao); 2) Genealogieën van Curaçaose families, met uitzondering van het geslacht Maduro (Genealogies of Curaçao families, with the exception of the Maduro family); 3) Geschiedenis van de joden in het Caraïbisch gebied (History of Jews in the Caribbean); 4) De Maduro’s en verwante geslachten
Hoofdstuk (the Maduros and related families); and 5) diversen (miscellaneous documents)
Hoofdstuk (the Maduros and related families); and 5) diversen (miscellaneous documents)
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Existence and location of originals
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie | Collections (official language of the state) |