Sam Prottas papers and oral history interview, 1917-1977

Overview of the Collection

Creator, interviewee
Prottas, Sam, 1899-1977
Title
Sam Prottas papers and oral history interview
Dates
1917-1977 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.28 cubic feet (3 boxes, 1 microfilm reel, 2 cassettes, and 1 folder)
Collection Number
2216
Summary
Documents and oral history of a Seattle Jewish businessman
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

Sam Prottas was born in New London, Connecticut in 1899. His father was a Hebrew teacher who learned to be a mohel. In Seattle, his parents and his uncle, Abe Levitt, established Prottas and Levitt which started as a used furniture business. Sam, who attended the University of Washington, worked for the family business until it was sold in 1966. Sam was active in the Seattle Jewish community, particularly on behalf of Jewish education, his congregation, Bikur Cholim, and Zionism. Prottas died in 1977.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, speeches and writings, programs, scrapbook, microfilm. Includes newsletters and program from Bikur Cholim- Machzikay Hadath, Seattle. Tape-recorded interview of Sam Prottas and his brother, George, covering years 1866-1976 with edited transcript. Interviewed by Meta Kaplan and Joseph Cohen on Dec. 14, 1976.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 2216-001, Sam Prottas papers, 1917-1977
  • Accession No. 2216-002, Sam Prottas oral history interview, 1976

Separated Materials

Positive microfilm reel available at Suzzalo and Allen Libraries Microfilm.

Materials Described Separately: Sam Prottas photograph Collection (PH0883)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 2216-001: Sam Prottas papers, 1917-1977Return to Top

1.28 cubic feet (3 boxes and 1 microfilm reel (negative)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, speeches and writings, programs, scrapbook, microfilm.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Sam Prottas, 6/21/1973.

Description
Sam Prottas papers

Accession No. 2216-002: Oral history interview with Sam Prottas, 1976Return to Top

2 cassettes; edited transcript.

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interview of Sam Prottas and his brother, George, covering years 1866-1976 with edited transcript. Interviewed by Meta Kaplan and Joseph Cohen on Dec. 14, 1976.

Sam and George discuss their father, Sol Prottas, born in Mir, home of the legendary Mirer Yashiva. The father stole across the border in 1891 and sailed for America shortly after to escape service in the Czar's army. His wife, Jenny, joined him about a year latter. First they lived and worked in New York but they came to Seattle in 1902 because Abe Levitt, Jenny's brother went there. The brothers tell the history of Prottas and Levitt Furniture, founded in Belltown about 1902 and terminated in 1966. Sam did a fantastic amount of work in many areas of the Jewish community and George did a considerable amount as well. Much history of the Talmud Torah and of Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath and of Seattle's efforts and achievements for Zionism emerge from their reports of their community service.

Digital Content/Other Formats: Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Meta Kaplan, 12/15/1976.

Description
Oral history interview with Sam Prottas

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Furniture industry and trade--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jewish religious schools--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Societies, etc
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Orthodox Judaism--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Synagogues--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Zionism--Societies, etc
  • Zionism--United States

Personal Names

  • Prottas, George
  • Prottas, Sam, 1899-1977--Archives
  • Shapiro, Baruch, 1880-1970

Corporate Names

  • Congregation Bikur Cholim (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Prottas and Levitt (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Seattle Talmud Torah Hebrew School
  • Zionist Organization of America

Occupations

  • Merchants--Washington (State)