Steve's Genealogy Blog

The last two records for the Savitt family I was able to find are the World War II Draft Registration Cards for David and Morris Savitt .  These cards are from the “Old Men’s Draft” described in a previous post .  These are the Draft Registration Cards for the Fourth Registration conducted in 1942 and include men born between 28 APR 1877 and 16 FEB 1897.

David Savitt’s World War II Draft Registration Card

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the WW2 Draft Card for David Savitt – 1942. The record states that:

• David Savitt’s Serial Number was U192
• He lived at 5807 Hazel Ave., Phila., Pa. and his mailing address was the same
• His telephone number was She. 0689
• He was 46 years old and was born on Mar. 4, 1896 in Russia
• A person who would always know his address was Mr. Frank Meingort, 5807 Hazel Ave., Phila., Pa.
• His employer was Mayfair Leather Co., 1308 Vine St., Phila., Pa

Morris Savitt’s World War II Draft Registration Card

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the WW2 Draft Card for Marris Savitt – 1942. The record states that:

• Morris Savitt’s Serial Number was U1176
• He lived at 5961 Belmar Ter., Phila., Penna . and his mailing address was the same
• His telephone number was Sar. 7149
• He was 46 years old and was born on Sept. 28 1896 in Sumk, Russia
• A person who would always know his address was Sarah Savitt, 5961 Belmar Ter.
• He was self-employed at his home address

Based on the birthdate of David, I assume this David is the brother or nephew of Joseph Savitt .  Morris is the son of Joseph Savitt.

These cards also have information on the reverse, but the way the cards were digitized, I could not obtain the reverse side of the cards .  When I’m in Salt Lake City next, I’ll copy the reverse sides of these cards.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Jan Savitt’s older brother Morris was listed with his parents and brothers in the 1910 US Census, but was missing from the enumeration of the same family in 1920 and 1930 .  So, where was he?

In 1920, Morris is listed as head of household in a different house.

1920 US Census Record for Morris Savitt and Family

Click on the link for a PDF copy of US Federal Census Record for the Morris Savitt Family – 1920. The record shows that:

• Morris Savitt was living at 5535 Pemberton Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Morris was a married white male, 26 years old, and born in Russia
• He owned his house; the house was mortgaged
• He immigrated in 1907 and was an alien
• His native tongue was Yiddish, he could read and write, and he could speak English
• He was employed as a shoe worker in a shoe factory
• Morris’ wife was a married white woman named Sarah who was 20 years old and born in Russia
• She immigrated in 1906 and was an alien
• Her native tongue was Yiddish, she could read and write, and she could speak English
• She was not employed
• The couple had a daughter Tillie who was a single female 1 6/12 years old, born in Pennsylvania
• A boarder named Isaac Bronstrin [?] lived with them

In 1930, Morris had moved.

1930 US Census Record for Morris Savitt and Family

Click on the link for a PDF copy of US Federal Census Record for the Morris Savitt Family – 1930. The record shows that:

• Morris Savitt was living at 5544 [?] Chester Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Morris was a married white male, 34 years old, and born in Russia
• He was 22 years old when first married
• He rented his house for $80 a month
• He immigrated in 1908 and was naturalized
• His native tongue was Yiddish, he could read and write, and he could speak English
• He was employed as a cutter in a meat store
• Morris’ wife was a married white woman named Sarah who was 30 years old and born in Russia
• She immigrated in 1908 and was naturalized
• Her native tongue was Yiddish, she could read and write, and she could speak English
• She was not employed
• The couple had a daughter Thelma who was a single female 11 years old, born in Pennsylvania, who was attending school, could read and write, and could speak English
• The couple had a daughter Lillian who was a single female, 9 years old, born in Pennsylvania, who was attending school and could read and write
• The couple had a son Robert who was a single male, 3 years old, born in Pennsylvania

So, by 1920 Morris had married and started a family .  The immigration information in the 1910 Census showed that he immigrated in 1907, 1908, and 1909 .  He was naturalized between 1920 and 1930 .  The information in the 1930 census indicates that he and Sarah were married in 1917 or 1918 .  Based on information in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census records, Morris was born between 1893-1896, Sarah was born between 1899 and 1900, Thelma (Tillie) was born in about July 1918, Lillian was born between 1920 and 1921, and Robert was born between 1926 and 1927.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

In the 1930 Census Record for the Joseph Savitt family, there are two David Savitts listed .  One is the son of Joseph Savitt and the other is listed as the nephew of Joseph Savitt .  Both of these Davids registered for the World War I Draft.

Joseph’s son David registered on September 12, 1918 as David Savitt.

World War I Draft Registration for David Savitt

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the WW1 Draft Card for David Savitt – 1918. The document states that:

• David Savitt’s Serial Number was 1233 and his Order Number was 3316
• David’s permanent address was 1326 South Reece Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• David was 18 years old and his birthday was August 15, 1900
• He was a White, Non-Declarant Alien and a citizen of Russia
• His occupation was laborer and his employer was Sonia Fleischer
• His place of employment was 1217 Vine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• His nearest relative was his mother, Ida Savitt whose address was 1326 South Reece Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• He was described as short, of medium build, with brown eyes and black hair

David, who was described as Joseph’s nephew in the 1930 Census, registered on June 5, 1917 as David Sarvetnick.

World War I Draft Registration for David Sarvetnick

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the WW1 Draft Card for David Sarvetnick – 1917. The document states that:

• Three numbers appear on David’s registration card:  708, 4829, and 37-6-1
• David’s permanent address was 1326 South Reece Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• David was 21 years old and his birthday was march 4, 1896
• He had declared his intention to become a citizen and was born in the Valucz Guber (Volhynia Gubernia) in Russia
• His occupation was shoe worker and his employer was Edwards Shoe Company
• His place of employment was 12th and Wood Streets, City (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• His father and mother in Russia were dependent on him for support
• He was single and of the white race
• He was described as of medium height, of slender build, with blue eyes and black hair

On the 1930 Census record, this David was reported as Joseph’s nephew .  This may be the same David Sarvetnick whose passenger manifest reported him as Joseph’s brother .  On the passenger manifest, he was 17 years old in 1911, indicating he was born in 1893-1894 .  On the 1930 Census, he was 31 years old, indicating he was born in 1898-1899 .  On this World War I Draft Card, he was born on March 4, 1896.

Although the dates don’t match, these three records are for the same person, since the address on the Draft Card was the same as Joseph’s son David Savitt, his occupation was the same as the David in the 1930 Census, his year of immigration was the same in the passenger manifest and on the 1930 Census, and his birthplace (Volhynia Gubernia, Russia) was the same on the passenger manifest and on the Draft Card.

The question remains, however, is this David the brother or the nephew of Joseph?

Blank World War I Draft Registration Cards are available at Ancestry.com so that you can read what the questions on the cards were .  Three different cards were used during different registration campaigns:

1. Registration on June 5, 1917 for men born between June 6, 1886 and June 5, 1896
2. Registration on June 5, 1918 for men born between June 6, 1896 and June 5, 1897 with a supplemental registration on August 24, 1918 for men born between June 6, 1897 and August 24, 1897
3. Registration on September 12, 1918 for men born between September 11, 1872 and September 12, 1900 who had not previously registered

Men already in the military did not have to register, but all other male residents of the United States between the ages of 18 and 45 were required to register, whether or not they were citizens.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Yesterday, I posted the 1930 US Census Record for Jan Savitt in order to discover if some of the biographical material about this famous bandleader of the 1930’s and 1940’s was correct . Â  The record showed that, in 1930, Jan Savitt’s name was recorded as Jay Savitt, that he was born in about 1908 in Russia, that he immigrated in 1911, was Jewish, and in 1930 was single, employed as a musician in an orchestra, and living in Philadelphia .  The 1930 Census also showed that his parents were Joseph and Ida Savitt and that he had two brothers named David and William, and a cousin David.

The 1920 Census Record for Jan Savitt reveals some interesting information as well.

1920 Census Record for Joseph Savitt and Family

The 1920 Census shows that:

• In 1920, the family was living at 4056 [?] 62nd Street in Philadelphia (this address is close to the family’s address in 1930)
• The head of household was Joseph, age 48, a married white male, born in Russia, working as a dealer [?] at OA [?]
• Joseph’s wife was Ida, age 40, a married white female, born in Russia, with no occupation listed
• Joseph and Ida’s son David was a 19 year old, single white male, born in Russia, working as a cutter (could this have been in the same wholesale dress business in which he was employed in 1930?)
• The couple’s son William was a 16 year old, single white male, born in Russia, working as a salesman in a department [store?]
• The couple’s son Jan is listed as Jacob Savitt, an 11 year old, single white male, born in Russia, with no occupation listed, although he was in school at the time
• All people in the household are listed as citizens who immigrated in 1909 (Joseph’s record looks like it says he immigrated in 1902, but it could be 1909) and were naturalized in 1919 [?]
• The family owned their home and, though it’s difficult to read, it appears that the home was mortgaged
• Though it’s difficult to read, everyone in the family could read and write except for Ida

Clink on the link for a PDF copy of the US Federal Census Record for the Joseph Savitt family – 1920.

This census record suggests that Joseph and Ida were born a little later than does the data in the 1930 Census .  The immigration year listed in the 1930 Census was 1911, but in this census the immigration year was 1909 .  With an immigration year before 1910, a good place to look for the family is in the 1910 Census.

The family does, indeed, appear in the 1910 Census.

1910 Census Record for Joseph Servetnik and Family

The 1910 Census shows that:

• In 1910, the family’s surname was Servetnick and was living at 235 Monroe Street in Philadelphia
• The head of household was Joseph, age 36, a married white Yiddish male, born in Russia, working as a maker of feather dusters
• Joseph’s wife was Ida, age 36, a married white Yiddish female, born in Russia, with no occupation listed
• Joseph and Ida were married when both were 17, suggesting that they were both born in about 1874 and married in about 1891 (so they must have been married in Russia)
• Ida had given birth to 5 children, but only 4 were living in 1910
• Joseph and Ida’s son Morris was a 15 year old, single white Yiddish male, born in Russia, working as a maker of feather dusters
• The couple’s son David was a 13 year old, single white Yiddish male, born in Russia, with no occupation listed, but listed as being in school
• The couple’s son William was a 10 year old, single white Yiddish male, born in Russia, with no occupation listed, but listed as being in school
• The couple’s son Jan is listed as Jacob Servetnick, a 2 year old, single white male, born in Russia, with no occupation listed
• All people in the household are listed as aliens who immigrated in 1909
• The family owned their home and, though it’s difficult to read, it appears that the home was mortgaged
• Joseph and Ida spoke Yiddish, but Morris, David, and William could speak English
• Joseph, Morris, David, and William could read and write, but Ida and Jacob could not

Clink on the link for a PDF copy of the US Federal Census Record for the Joseph Savitt family – 1910.

Here’s a summary of the calculated birth years based on the 1910, 1920, and 1930 Census Records:

1910              1920              1930     Cumulative Range
Joseph     1873-1874     1871-1872     1869-1870     1869-1874
Ida          1873-1874     1879-1880     1878-1879     1873-1880
Morris      1894-1895     1893-1894*   1895-1896*    1893-1896*
David       1896-1897     1900-1901     1900-1901     1896-1901
William     1899-1900     1903-1904     1903-1904     1899-1904
Jan          1907-1908     1908-1909     1907-1908     1907-1909

* Data on the birth year of Morris from the 1920 and 1930 Census is from records not yet published in this Blog.

A couple of observations on this information:

• Jan Savitt was clearly born before the birthdate (September 4, 1913) ascribed to him in his biographies; he was most likely born between 1907 and 1909,
• The family most likely immigrated from Russia in 1909, in contrast to the immigration year of 1914 listed in some biographies and in contrast to the immigration year of 1911 listed in the 1930 census,
• The family likely became citizens in 1919; probably only Joseph went through the naturalization process and the rest of the family became citizens automatically as a consequence (derivative citizenship),
• The family was Jewish and had emigrated from Russia,
• The family’s surname changed from Servetnick (or a variant such as Sarvetnick, Serwetnick, Sarwetnick, Servetnik, Sarvetnik, Serwetnik, or Sarwernik) to Savitt (or Savit in some records such as the 1930 Census),
• Jan’s name was originally Jacob, but changed to Jay and later to Jan,
• Jan was playing in an orchestra by 1930, when he was about 22 years old, which is at least consistent with the biographies that state he was playing in the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra at the age of 14 or 15.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Earlier this week I received an email message from one of Jan Savitt’s children, Devi, asking for advice on how to research Jan’s Savitt’s family history .  We’ve exchanged a few messages this week so I could find out what was already known about the family and what Devi wanted to discover .  Well, the problem is so interesting that I couldn’t resist conducting some research of my own .  Sometimes I think my interest in genealogy is a curse – I can’t resist a good genealogical problem!

Devi’s father is Jan Savitt, a famous bandleader from the 1930’s and 1940’s who died suddenly in 1948 of a cerebral hemorrage while on his way to a gig in Sacramento .  Searching the internet for “Jan Savitt” produces lots of hits, many of which are links to CDs of his bands.

In his book American Big Bands, William F. Lee reported that Jan Savitt was born on September 4, 1913 in Petrograd, Russia and that Jan immigrated to the United
States with his family when he was 15. Some biographies, including those on IMDb and iTunes, describe his father as a drummer in the Imperial Regiment Band of Tsar Nicholas II. The biographies further state that he was invited to join the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra when he was 15, studied at the Curtis Institute and in Europe, formed a string quartet in 1936, formed his band “The Top Hatters” in 1937, and began touring in 1938 .  He died on October 4, 1948.

So, how much of all this is true?  To start, if he was born in 1913, he couldn’t have immigrated in 1914 at the age of 15 .  To be fair, most online biographies acknowledge that Jan’s birthdate is in dispute.

Devi provided me with some information about her father, her uncles, and her grandparents, and armed with that information, I immediately searched the census records to see if I could confirm the information in the biographies.

In 1930, Jan was living in Philadelphia with other family members.

1930 Census Record for Joseph Savitt and Family

The 1930 Census states that:

• In 1930, the family was living at 6221 Pine Street in Philadelphia
• The head of household was Joseph, age 60, a married white male, born in Russia, working as a motor mechanic in a motor brushes manufacturing company
• Joseph’s wife was Ida, age 51, a married white female, born in Russia, with no occupation listed
• Joseph and Ida’s son David was a 29 year old, single white male, born in Russia, working as a salesman in wholesale dresses
• The couple’s son William was a 26 year old, single white male, born in Russia, working as a salesman in wholesale shoes
• The couple’s son Jan is listed as Jay Savitt, a 22 year old, single white male, born in Russia, working as a musician in an orchestra
• Joseph’s nephew David was a 31 year old, single white male, born in Russia, working as a salesman in wholesale shoes
• All people in the household are listed as naturalized citizens who immigrated in 1910 and spoke Jewish before coming to the United States
• The family owned their home valued at $5500
• The family owned a radio
• None of the family members were veterans

From this record, in 1930 Jan was known as Jay Savitt, was born about 1908, emigrated from Russia in 1911, was Jewish, was single, and was working as a musician in an orchestra.

Click on this link to view a PDF of the US Federal Census Record for the Joseph Savitt Family – 1930.

Tomorrow:  What do earlier census records say about this family?

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko