Percy J. Marks
Percy Joseph Marks (1867-1941) was a leading light in Sydney's Jewish community, and one of Australian Judaism's great historians. Born in Sydney in 1867, Percy was the son of London-born storekeeper Joseph Marks and Australian-born Elizabeth, daughter of Goulburn merchant Samuel Benjamin. Elizabeth died in childbirth in 1879, leaving Joseph to care for Percy and his siblings Ernest Samuel and Hilda Violet. The Marks family then moved from West Maitland to Sydney, where Joseph Marks became a woolbuyer.
Percy and his brother were educated at Royston College, Darlinghurst. Always known as Percy J. Marks, to distinguish himself from celebrated Sydney jeweller Percy Marks, he later graduated with a law degree from the University of Sydney and rose to become a noted solicitor. Though running his own legal practice, Percy also found time to take an active role in the affairs of Sydney’s Jewish community.
Along with his brother, Percy was a founding member of the Sydney Hebrew Literary and Debating Society, and later its treasurer. He sat on many committees, including those of the Jewish Aid Society, the Sydney Jewish Education Board and the Sydney Zionist Society. Marks was a regular contributor to publications such as the Australian Hebrew Times and the Hebrew Standard. Studying the history of Australia’s Jewish community was one of his lifelong passions. In 1938 Marks was a founding member of the Australian Jewish Historical Society, and was its inaugural president until his death on 23 June 1941.
Interested not only in Jewish affairs, Percy J. Marks helped to found the Shakespeare Society of New South Wales. He was actively involved in the Australian Numismatic Society, the Ex-Libris Society and the Royal Australian Historical Society, among others, and wrote many articles on a wide range of topics for their publications.
The legacy of Percy J. Marks can be seen in the significant collection of Judaica that was left to the State Library of New South Wales by his brother, Ernest Samuel Marks.
> Learn more about the Percy J. Marks Collection of Judaica
