Straus Historical Society

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Smithtown, NY
Straus Historical Society

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Welcome to the Straus Historical Society
page! The history of the Straus family is part of world history. It is written for the present.

The Straus Historical Society fosters educational activities with respect to the settlement of Jews in the United States and, in particular, the family of Lazarus and Sara Straus, their ancestors and their descendants. The focus of the Society's activities on the Straus Family is based on the family's involvement in government, commerce, and philanthropy. It provokes discussion, imagination and creation. It ties the present with the past and draws pathways to the future. Visit the Straus Room at the Rutgers University Virtual Museum of Public Service: www.vmps.us/straus-family

11/03/2026

This Election Day, the Straus Historical Society reflects on the example of Oscar S. Straus, whose public service spanned multiple presidential administrations and demonstrated a commitment to government and civic responsibility beyond partisan divisions.

Straus served under Presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Howard Taft, including as U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Labor and as Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

His career reminds us that informed, engaged citizenship is essential to a healthy democracy. On Election Day, take the time to learn about the issues, consider the candidates, and make your voice heard.

Participate. Stay informed. Vote.

11/01/2026

We are excited to announce that the application period for the Straus Historical Society Scholarship is now officially open!

Eligible students from the following schools are encouraged to apply:

USC Sol Price School of Public Policy
American University School of International Service
The Fletcher School at Tufts University
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Deadline: January 31, 2027

We look forward to another year of outstanding, mission-driven applicants. Scholarship recipients will be announced in the Spring of 2027!

Learn more: www.strausscholarship.org

10/31/2026

Wishing all our friends, supporters, scholars, and history lovers a spooktacular Halloween!

Whether you're dressing up, handing out treats, carving pumpkins, or enjoying a favorite Halloween tradition, we hope your day is filled with plenty of fun—and maybe a little bit of mystery!

From our history-loving family to yours, have a safe, happy, and hauntingly good Halloween!

10/30/2026

On this day in 1919, Frieda Luise “Luise” Weiss married physician Dr. Nathan Roos. Their story is an important chapter in the history of Lazarus Straus’s first family.

Luise was the granddaughter of Karoline Straus Weiss, Lazarus Straus’s daughter from his first marriage. In 1912, Isidor and Ida Straus visited Luise’s family in Germany and hoped to bring the young Luise back to America with them aboard the Titanic. Her father, Ferdinand Weiss, was reluctant to let his only daughter leave.

Seven years later, Luise married Dr. Roos, who had received his medical degree from the University of Munich in 1914. Nathan Straus, Luise’s relative, provided her with a substantial dowry.

Luise and Nathan had one daughter, Ellen, born in 1921. Their family remained in Germany until 1939, when the rise of Na**sm forced them to flee. The Straus Historical Society later preserved a remarkable collection of letters documenting their desperate efforts to escape Europe and reach the United States.

Today, we remember Luise and Nathan—and the enduring family connections that linked generations of the Straus family. Learn more about their story: https://shorturl.at/OqoRy

10/24/2026

On United Nations Day, we remember Roger Williams Straus and his commitment to international cooperation, religious understanding, and the ideals of peace.

Roger served as a United States representative at the United Nations and devoted much of his life to promoting understanding among people of different faiths. He was a founder of the National Conference of Christians and Jews and served as its Jewish national co-chairman for nearly three decades.

His work reflected a belief that greater understanding among religious communities could help strengthen democracy, protect religious liberty, and promote peace. In 1936, he received the American Hebrew Medal for his efforts to promote better understanding between Christians and Jews.

On United Nations Day, his legacy reminds us of the importance of dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation across religious and cultural boundaries. Learn more about Roger: https://shorturl.at/sJeMU

10/19/2026

On October 19, 1915, Nathan Straus delivered a powerful address at the Second Annual Convention of the Laymen’s Efficiency League at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Speaking during the devastation of World War I, Straus called for peace and challenged his audience to consider what patriotic citizens could do to prevent future wars.

Straus connected his lifelong commitment to saving lives—particularly his work fighting disease and reducing childhood mortality—with his opposition to the destruction caused by war. He argued that nations should seek the peaceful settlement of international disputes through arbitration and envisioned a world in which peaceful equity could replace armed conflict.
He concluded with a challenge that remains striking more than a century later:

“To believe in peace and that it can be made permanent; to work for peace and to strive to keep it when at last we get it. That is our duty.”

Today, we remember Nathan Straus not only for his philanthropy and humanitarian work, but also for his enduring belief that those blessed with peace have a responsibility to help preserve it.

10/12/2026

Today, the Straus Historical Society recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day and honors the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples.

As an organization dedicated to preserving and sharing history, we recognize the importance of listening to Indigenous voices and learning from the many communities whose histories are an essential part of the story of our nation.

Today—and throughout the year—we encourage everyone to learn, reflect, and celebrate Indigenous history and heritage.

10/06/2026

On German-American Day, we’re looking back at the Straus family’s journey from Germany to the United States—and the remarkable legacy they built here.

The family’s story began with immigration and entrepreneurship, as members of the Straus family established themselves in American commerce. In the generations that followed, they made their mark far beyond business, contributing to public service, philanthropy, the arts, and American culture.

From Lazarus and Sara Straus to later generations, their story reflects the many ways immigrants and their descendants have helped shape American life while carrying elements of their heritage with them.

Today, we celebrate the German-American experience and the enduring connections between heritage, opportunity, and service.

10/01/2026

In 1931, during the depths of the Great Depression, New York Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Jesse Isidor Straus to lead the Temporary Emergency Relief Administration (TERA). Jesse was charged with administering a $20 million fund to provide relief for unemployed New Yorkers during the coming winter.

Jesse helped organize the new agency and appointed Harry L. Hopkins as its executive director. He believed deeply that people facing unemployment wanted “work, and not charity.” His service is a powerful example of the importance of leadership, compassion, and public service during times of economic crisis.

Read more about Jesse Isidor Straus and his work with TERA in the February 2005 Straus Historical Society Newsletter: https://shorturl.at/wHSRL

09/26/2026

On European Day of Languages, we’re celebrating the many languages preserved in the archives of the Straus Historical Society. Our collections include correspondence and documentation in French, German, Old German, Hebrew, and Yiddish, reflecting the diverse communities, cultures, and places connected to the Straus family.

These documents offer more than historical information—they provide a glimpse into the lives, relationships, and journeys of generations of the family. By preserving materials in their original languages, SHS helps keep these stories and voices alive. Sometimes, a single letter can open a window into an entire world.

Address

Post Office Box 416
Smithtown, NY
11787

Telephone

+16317244487

Website

http://straushistoricalsociety.org/

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