American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Featuring Property from the James Milgram, M.D., Collection of Broadsides, Ephemeral Americana & Historical Documents

Visible 7 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. printed broadside (minor toning); framed to 11 x 13 in. (not examined out of frame). Signed in type by J.I. Cohen, Jr. Contemporary ink inscription to left margin: "The drawing will commence on the 30th of August."

A broadside announcing a lottery whose proceeds would fund the building of the Baltimore Basilica, the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States. Lotteries, a common practice to fund large-scale projects at the time, were used as early as 1803 for the project.

Jacob I. Cohen, Jr. was a prominent Jewish businessman and banker in Baltimore. He established Cohen's Lottery and Exchange Office, advertising here, in 1812 with his brothers. He would go on to publish Cohen's Gazette and Lottery Register, found the successful J.I. Cohen, Jr. & Brother's Banking House, and become an executive in several companies including railroads and insurance. He was a generous supporter of Jewish organizations and used his influence to lobby against the "Jew Bill" which sought to repeal the requirement that all Maryland officials swear a "belief in the Christian religion." After it's successful passing, Cohen was elected to the First Branch of the Baltimore City Council along with Solomon Etting, becoming the first two Jewish elected officials in Maryland.