Original name was Raphael/Ralph Wizansky.
- Births of first three children registered as Wizansky, putting the date of name change sometime after 1885.
- 1893 Pittsburgh City Directory lists R. B. Raphael, hair worker, living at 32 Townsend St.
- 1894 Pittsburgh City Directory lists R. B. Wizinsky, hair worker, living at 32 Townsend St.

"Father of Zionism" in Pittsburgh.

Author of "She'elat Hyehudim" dealing with the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Eretz yisrael. Library of Congress Call Number: DS141.R3 Hebr
Request in: African & Middle Eastern Reading Romm (Jefferson, LJ220

He also wrote a children’s book, Water Water Everywhere

From article on Ralph B. Raphael published in American Jewish Historical Quarterly, vol. LXVI, March 1977:
- born in Kalverie, Lithuania
- Arrived in Pittsburgh in 1871
- made Victorian mourning jewelry from human hair
- 1890's: bought a farm north of Pittsburgh and lived there until ill health forced him to move back to Pittsburgh.
- lived in Beaver Falls at some point after leaving the farm [1453]