Rare piece of NYC ephemera. Theatre Matron License. Small cloth covered booklet with license and photo identification for Hannah Pelter, of Tremont, The Bronx.

License no. 3940 and is signed NYC Dept. of Health officials. Date issued, September 9th, 1940.

State legislation passed in 1937 required motion picture theaters to provide special seating sections exclusively for children, and mandated supervision by licensed matrons. Once legislation was enacted, the City’s Health Department was charged with licensing the matrons prior to their employment by theaters. In the late 1960s, New York City ended the requirement that theaters hire matrons.

Measures approximately 5 inches long by 3.6 inches wide, when booklet is closed. When open, measures approximately 7.3 inches long by 5 inches wide.

In good condition for its age, please see all photos. Also included is what appears to be one of Hannah Pelter’s naturalization cards.

Top of card reads “Form No. 143 - United States District Court - Southern District of New York - Naturalization Division - 641 Washington Street, Cor. Christopher Street - New York City” and is signed by Hannah Pelter. Stamp date of March 26, 1943 for petition filed. No, 445347.

Upon further research, Hannah Pelter was a Jewish immigrant from Kiev, Russia (Ukraine). Born November 21, 1895. She had emigrated to New York on SS Noordam on June 27, 1905.