It has been conjectured that the character of Rebecca in the book was inspired by Rebecca Gratz, a Philadelphia teacher and philanthropist and the first Jewish female college student in America.

Scott's attention had been drawn to Gratz's character by novelist Washington Irving, who was a close friend of the Gratz family.

Gratz was widely considered one of the most beautiful and intelligent women in Philadelphia.

In addition to hearing stories of the " Nsanga " Gratz was shown a hide which he was told belonged to the creature, while visiting Mbawala Island.

Founded in 1847, it was named for B. Gratz Brown, who later became Governor of Missouri.

Before the lock and dam system was built on the Kentucky River, Gratz was one of the most prosperous towns in the area due to the business of portaging goods around an unnavigable part of the river ( Lock # 2 is just up river at Lockport ).

Rebecca Gratz ( March 4, 1781 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania-August 27, 1869 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ) was a preeminent Jewish American educator and philanthropist.

Under Gratz ' auspices, a " Hebrew Sunday School " was started in 1838.

Gratz was also one of the founding members of the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society, around November 1819.

Scott's attention had been drawn to Gratz's character by Washington Irving, who was a close friend of the Gratz family.

The case was heard in conjunction with Gratz v. Bollinger,, in which the Court struck down the University of Michigan's more rigid, point-based undergraduate admission policy, which was essentially deemed a quota system.

Gratz v. Bollinger, 539 U. S. 244 ( 2003 ), was a United States Supreme Court case regarding the University of Michigan undergraduate affirmative action admissions policy.

Montgomery Blair ( May 10, 1813 – July 27, 1883 ), the son of Francis Preston Blair, elder brother of Francis Preston Blair, Jr. and cousin of B. Gratz Brown, was a politician and lawyer from Maryland.

Among the latter was Rebecca Gratz, the first Jewish female college student in the United States.

Pioneering the clay-painting technique was one-time Vinton animator Joan Gratz, first in her Oscar-nominated film The Creation ( 1980 ), and then in her Oscar-winning Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase, filmed in 1992.

Wallace was born and raised in the inner-city neighborhoods of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he began his basketball career and attended Simon Gratz High School.

He was also the cousin of B. Gratz Brown.

A nephew, Benjamin Gratz Brown ( 1826 – 1885 ) was also politically inclined.

In 2003 the Supreme Court ruled on affirmative action programs at the University of Michigan in Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger ; it ruled the undergraduate affirmative action program was unconstitutional for the way it applied the program, but that the process at the University of Michigan law school could continue.

In November 1969, Arthur Gratz asked the city for an additional $ 3 million ($ million today ), which was granted.

They and their children became well known in the annals of the city ( see Gratz ).

He was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but grew up in St. Augustine, Florida, where his father was president of Florida Normal ( later Florida Memorial ) College, and in North Philadelphia where he graduated from Simon Gratz High School.

Carr was born in New York City ; his parents, Russell Carr and Marian Gratz Carr, were both offspring of socially prominent St. Louis families.

Fisher attended Thomas Junior High School, South Philadelphia High School, and Simon Gratz High School.

Chaney's first team was at the middle school level He moved to Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia where he had a 63-23 record.

Among the more prominent of these were Jacob and David Franks, Barnard and Michael Gratz, Joseph Simon, and Levy Andrew Levy.

* Simon Gratz High School, secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

He began his coaching career at Simon Gratz High School ( 1930 – 31 ), then he became head coach of the freshman team at Temple.

Simon Gratz High School is a secondary school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U. S. An inner-city school, it is perhaps best known for its famous alumni ( listed below ).

The Temple University graduate and family housing unit, Triangle Apartment Complex, is zoned to Simon Gratz.

McKie attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia and was a letterman in basketball.

Born as Edward Felbin, he grew up in the Logan neighborhood of upper North Philadelphia, graduating from that city's Simon Gratz High School, graduating in 1934.

Prior to his pro career, Kelly attended Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia and Morgan State University in Baltimore.

He attended Simon Gratz High School.

Owens attended Simon Gratz High School where he played alongside former NBA players Rasheed Wallace and Aaron McKie.

At this time the congregation had over 100 members ; its officers were Jonas Phillips ( president ), Michael Gratz, Solomon Marache, Solomon Myers Cohen, and Simon Nathan.

The Indian nations of the Illinois country conveyed their property to twenty-two residents of Pennsylvania, among whom were Moses Franks, Jacob Franks, Barnard Gratz, Michael Gratz, David Franks, Moses Franks, Jr., Joseph Simon, and Levy Andrew Levy.

On Dec. 23, 1783, Rabbi Gershom Mendes Seixas, Simon Nathan (" parnas "), Asher Myers, Barnard Gratz, and Haym Solomon, the " Mahamad " of the Congregation Mickvé Israel, Philadelphia, petitioned the Council of Censors that there be removed from the Constitution the declaration requiring each member of the Assembly to affirm his belief in the divine inspiration of the New Testament.

* Fish, Sidney M. " The Illinois and Wabash Claim " in Barnard and Michael Gratz: Their Lives and Times.

Washington and his friends ," Croghan wrote to Joseph Wharton, Jr. and to Michael Gratz, " I have sold a parcel of lands to Coll Washington ,", but there were no further sales beyond in today's Perryopolis, Pennsylvania.

" Although failing to sell any of his New York acres, Barnard and Michael Gratz remained Croghan's agents, creditors, primary suppliers and friends, if not as faithful as Andrew Montour whose murder in January 1772 was a major loss.

" The Jewish signers included Benjamin Levy, David Franks, Samson Levy, Hyman Levy, Jr., Mathias Bush, Moses Mordecai, Michael Gratz, and Barnard Gratz.