Home movies of Albert and Mary Jane Werthan, ca. 1935-ca. 1962, 2006.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

Video on DVD is of low resolution and has some digital noise in the images.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Home movies, in color and black and white, shot by Albert and Mary Jane Werthan, spanning the time frame from 1935 to 1962, showing their children, friends, extended family at play and leisure in Nashville, Tenn. and environs. All scenes are shot outdoors. Includes scenes at the family farm in Williamson County, Tenn. known as Tollgate Farm, mostly of family, recreation, and scenic shots, but including scenes of haying operations with mules and tractors; Woodmont Country Club, a Jewish country club in Nashville, including scenes of the opening day for the swimming pool in 1948; Camp Walden and Tripp Lake, Jewish girls' summer camps in Maine; scenes taken at Hollywood Beach, Fla. and at Standing Stone State Park (Overton County, Tenn.) and the Willow Plunge swimming pool in Franklin, Tenn.; Nashville airport; a trip to Uganda in 1962; and other locations. Subjects and activities include: children playing; family visits with other family members and friends; fishing; golfing; tennis; swimming; recreational activities; family life; the Nashville snow of 1951 and other winter and snow scenes, including children playing; and the playground at Centennial Park (1935). A brief scene shows Bertha Washington, an African American woman who worked for the Werthan family for many years, demonstrating plowing with a team of mules to Liz Werthan as a girl; the scene may be on Bertha Washington's property near Murfreesboro, Tenn. Homes pictured in the film footage include the Alfred Werthan family home at 1320 Page Road; a home off of Belle Meade Blvd.; the Jonas family home; and the Bernard Werthan Sr. family home on Tyne Blvd. There are no images of business operations or buildings of the Werthan Bag company.

In addition to many members of the Werthan family, others who appear in portions of the film include family friends and neighbors, Betsy and Suzi Jonas; extended Werthan family members of the Lowenheim and Bernstein families; friends from St. Louis, Mo., the Harry Loeb family; and the Mathis family who rented and operated Tollgate Farm.

Commentary added in 2006 by family members: Liz Werthan; Bernard Werthan, Jr.; Morris (Moshe) Werthan II; Roger Werthan Cohn; and John Shayne; as well as long-time family friend Betsy (Jonas) Chernau describes the scenes pictured and provides more details and information about the people, events, and locations shown, as well as discussions of family memories.

Family states that what is shown is only a portion of the family's films, which total approximately two and a half hours. Converted in 2006 to DVD from original films, with narration from family members added in 2006. Original film footage shot from circa 1935 to 1962. Most film was shot in color, although it has faded considerably. Some films were originally shot in black and white.

Cite as: Albert and Mary Jane Werthan Home Movies, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code)

John Shayne;,Gift;,2006;,Acc. pending.

The Werthan family of Nashville, Tenn. owned and operated Werthan Bag Company, later Werthan Industries, then Werthan Packaging, from the late 19th century until the close of the 20th century. They were business and civic leaders, involved in many charitable causes, and contributed greatly to the Jewish cultural life and community in Nashville, Tenn. Moses and May Werthan came to Nashville, Tenn. from St. Louis, Mo. in the early 1920s. Their two sons, Albert and Bernard Sr. attended the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and then returned to Nashville to operate the family business. Albert was born around 1907, returned to Nashville after completing his education and married Mary Jane Lowenheim in 1932. Albert served in many capacities as an officer in the family business operations. He died on July 3, 2004. Mary Jane Lowenheim, the daughter of David and Tessie Blum Lowenheim, was born in Nashville around 1908 and attended Tarbox, Hume-Fogg, and Vanderbilt, where she was elected "Lady of the Bracelet" - the highest honor for a female undergraduate. She was very involved in Cheekwood, the Nashville Symphony, and many other organizations. In 1964, she became the first woman on the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust. She served as the Nashville president of the National Council of Jewish Women and was very involved in many other organizations. She died on Aug. 15, 2000. Albert died on July 3, 2004. May and Liz Werthan were two of Albert and Mary Jane's children.

Bernard Werthan Sr. was born around 1904 in St. Louis. After attending college, he married Leah Rose Bernstein. He was the first president of Nashville's Urban League, among many other activities, and he held numerous offices and positions with the Werthan family business operations. He died in July 1983. His son, Bernard Jr., (known as "Bummy" to his siblings) was born in 1931 and married Betty Jane Korman. They had four children, two girls and two boys. Bernard Jr. was born in 1931 and Morris (Moshe) Werthan II was born in 1937. Bernard Jr. went on to a career within the family business, holding numerous offices. Morris began living in Israel in 1990, after holding several positions within the Werthan company.

Roger Werthan Cohen was born in 1937, the son of Adolph David Cohn and Helen Werthan Cohn. She later remarried a Rosenfeld. Roger moved to Nashville in 1948. Albert and Bernard Sr. were Roger's uncles. Betsy Chernau (born Elizabeth Jonas) grew up living next to the family of Bernard Werthan Sr. and is a close family friend. Her mother was a sister of Mary Jane (Lowenheim) Werthan. Betsy had a sister named Suzanne. John Shayne is the grandson of Albert and Mary Jane Werthan, through their daughter May (Werthan) Shayne.

In English

Brief contents outline for each chapter on the DVD are available in the repository.

Original home movies transferred from film to DVD, with accompanying commentary added by family members in 2006; DVD donated to the Nashville Public Library in 2006.

Forms part of the Miscellaneous Audio-Visual Collection.

No further accruals are expected.