Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Mel Oseran oral history interview, 1936-1993
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Oseran, Melville, 1918-
- Title
- Mel Oseran oral history interview
- Dates
- 1936-1993 (inclusive)19361993
- Quantity
- .29 cubic foot (1 box including 2 sound cassettes; transcript: 36 pages)
- Collection Number
- 4371 (Accession No. 4371-001)
- Summary
- Oral history interview of a lawyer and Seattle Jewish community leader who discusses his life and his efforts towards the Jewish community
- 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
Oseran was born in 1918, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He moved to Seattle with his family in 1919 and attended the public schools of the city and the University of Washington, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees. A practicing attorney, his involvement in the Jewish community includes the presidency of the Seattle Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Hillel Foundation, Jewish Family Service, and Temple de Hirsch-Sinai.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Tape-recorded oral history interview conducted by Reva Twersky on 06/09/1993. Accession also includes clippings, writings, programs, certificates (1936-1986), and a bound volume of Temple de Hirsch "Temple Tidings" (1972-1973).
The oral history interview reviews Oseran's life and times. He talks about his early years and the various moves that his family made in Seattle, his secular and religious education, his military career in World War II, and the various law firms and partnerships that he joined or formulated during his professional career, including a lengthy association with Harold Heath and the Heath Techna Corporation. He explains why at different times he was Secretary of Bikur Cholim and President of Temple de Hirsh. As one of the leaders of the Seattle Jewish community, he lists his numerous volunteer activities in national, civic, religious and secular Jewish community organizations. He details his work as chair of the Anti-Defamation League to end discriminatory practices at Laurelhurst Pool and Sand Point and discusses his personal effort to break the Rainier Club's barrier to Jewish membership.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Alternative Forms Available
Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
Personal Names
- Oseran, Melville, 1918- --Archives
- Oseran, Sylvia
Corporate Names
- B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation (University of Washington)
- B'nai B'rith. Anti-defamation League. Northwest Regional Office
Other Creators
-
Personal Names
- Twersky, Reva (creator)
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
