Esther Myers Druxman, Lucille Almeleh Spring, and Ernest Stiefel oral history interview, 2002

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Druxman, Esther Myers
Title
Esther Myers Druxman, Lucille Almeleh Spring, and Ernest Stiefel oral history interview
Dates
2002 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 sound cassette (ca. 50 min); transcript: 18 leaves
Collection Number
5342 (Accession No. 5342-001)
Summary
Oral history interview discussing Jewish youth groups in the 1940s.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Esther Myers Druxman and Lucille (Lucy) Almeleh Spring were born in Seattle in 1933 and grew up in the Central Area of Seattle. Lucille served 29 years at Temple de Hirsch as an assistant to musical director, Samuel Goldfarb, and later, as music coordinator. More recently, she has worked as the cultural arts director at the Jewish Community Center and been on staff at the Kline Galland Home. Esther has held careers in radio, television, and real estate.

German-born Stiefel emigrated to the U.S. in 1940. He has served on the Allocations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and has chaired the Jewish Education Allocations Committee of the Federation.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The interview discusses the positive role of Councilettes as a Jewish youth group and the limitations of non-Jewish activities, particularly for girls, during the late 1940's. Esther Myers Druxman and Lucille Almeleh Spring remember belonging to the Councilettes, a youth organization sponsored by the Seattle Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. The purpose was not only social but also encouraged Jewish girls of high school age to become active in service activities. They recall a dance in 1949 at the DAR Hall. The dance program, filed with the Jewish Archives, includes the names of patrons, patronesses, and officers.

In 1950, as President of Councilettes, Esther also was a member of the Seattle Jewish Youth Council, an umbrella organization. The Council met monthly at Temple de Hirsch and was comprised of one representative from each youth group. Druxman and Spring also touch on the music program at Temple de Hirsch under Samuel Goldfarb and his broad influence on all segments of the Jewish Community.

Ernest Stiefel discusses the Seattle Jewish Youth Council, which dates back to 1939. In 1949, Stiefel represented the Zionist youth group, Habonim, on the Council; he served as treasurer in 1950. The Council ceased functioning in the early 1950's.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the transcript of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Use

Informant's/creator's rights dedicated to the public. May be used for research, instruction, publication or similar purposes.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Esther Myers Druxman, 5/15/2002.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
  • Women, Jewish--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Women, Jewish--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews

Personal Names

  • Druxman, Esther Myers--Interviews
  • Goldfarb, Samuel E. (Samuel Eliezer), 1891-1978
  • Golub, Adele
  • Phillips, Konwatsi'tsaién:ni Rita
  • Spring, Lucille Almeleh

Corporate Names

  • National Council of Jewish Women. Seattle Section. Councilettes
  • Seattle Jewish Youth Council
  • World Habonim (Organization)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Spring, Lucille Almeleh (creator)
    • Stiefel, Doris J (creator)
    • Stiefel, Ernest R (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Jewish Archives (University of Washington) (creator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)