Samuel E. Goldfarb photograph collection, 1912-1969

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Goldfarb, Samuel E. (Samuel Eliezer), 1891-1978
Title
Samuel E. Goldfarb photograph collection
Dates
1912-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 cubic feet (1 box)
41 photographic prints ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0742
Summary
Photographs documenting the life of Samuel E. Goldfarb
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

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by King County 4Culture.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Samuel E. Goldfarb was often called "the father of Jewish music in America." He was born in 1891 on the Lower East Side of New York City into a musical family. He learned to read music from his older brother, Israel, and sang as a choirboy in the synagogues. Goldfarb studied music at Columbia University and supported himself by playing piano in a nickelodeon and for a Yiddish vaudeville theater. After attending Columbia, Goldfarb did some composing, arranging, accompanying, and choir conducting. He spent a year in Reno, Nevada, from 1923 to 1924, where he played theater piano and organ and also played for parties and dances. While in Reno, he was appointed acting cantor at Temple Emanu-El, where he organized a choir. Goldfarb returned to New York in 1925 and decided to devote himself to Jewish music. He was appointed head of the music department of the Bureau of Jewish Education.

Goldfarb was a prolific composer of songs and other music. Together with his brother, Rabbi Israel Goldfarb, he composed hundreds of songs that are sung in Jewish schools. In 1925, the two brothers compiled the first American collection of Jewish songs, The Jewish Songster . This collection, in two volumes, was used in schools throughout the country and included some of Goldfarb's songs. The brothers also compiled Friday Evening Melodies . Among Samuel Goldfarb's compositions are biblical operettas, the best known being "The Jews in Egypt" (1926), Bible songs, festival songs, and choral music. His most famous song is "The Dreidel," which is sung during Chanukah by children throughout the world.

Samuel Goldfarb married Sylvia Lupow in New York in 1930. Later in that year while attending a wedding in Seattle, Goldfarb accepted the post of music director of Temple de Hirsch. Goldfarb built an impressive music program at Temple de Hirsch. Over the years he established three children's choirs and trained generations of children in music. In addition to the children's choirs, he directed the adult choirs, the graduate school glee club, the Sisterhood Chorus, the Professional High Holy Days Choir, and the Temple Quartet. Goldfarb also served as organist and conducted from the organ. Besides directing his choirs, he coached singers and taught Hebrew School classes. At times more than 1,200 adults and children were under his tutelage.

Outside of the temple, "Mr. G," as he was affectionately known, directed the Halevy Singers and the Sephardic Men's Choir. He also arranged music for Susan and Maurice Friedman's "Cavalcade of Jewish Music" and coached Maurice Friedman.

While at Temple de Hirsch, Goldfarb continued to compose and arrange music for use by his choirs. He also composed some secular music, such as "I See an America," a musical setting of a speech by Adlai Stevenson. The Seattle Chorale performed this widely hailed work in a choral arrangement in 1965.

At his 25th anniversary celebration at Temple de Hirsch in 1955, Goldfarb and his wife were presented with a trip to Europe and Israel. The Goldfarbs returned from Europe aboard the Andrea Doria and were rescued at sea after their ship collided with a Swedish vessel. In 1968 Goldfarb retired as music director at Temple de Hirsch. He died in Seattle in 1978.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

These photographs document the life of Samuel E. Goldfarb from 1912-1969 and include two series of images taken at a testimonial banquet at Temple de Hirsch in Seattle commemorating Mr. Goldfarb’s twenty-five years there as Music Director, and images from 1965 celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Sisterhood Choral Group at the temple.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Most photographs were identified in accompanying material.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donor: Michael Goldfarb and his brothers; 1984, 1986

Processing Note

Processed by Leslie A. Fried, 2008.

The photographs were relocated from the Samuel E. Goldfarb Papers, Manuscripts Accession No. 2784 in the repository in 1985 and 1986.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Early Years: circa 1912-1920Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1
Samuel E. Goldfarb and friends at Camp White Lake, New York
1912
1/1 2 circa 1924
1/1 3
Young woman posing in front of a tree in Reno, Nevada
circa 1920

circa 1930-1940Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/2 4 August 1937
1/2 5
Samuel E. Goldfarb with his two sons on a city sidewalk
1940
1/2 6 circa 1940
1/2 7
Samuel E. Goldfarb walking on a sidewalk
August 1944
1/2 8
Portrait of Samuel E. Goldfarb
circa 1940

Travel and other activities, circa 1950-1960Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/3 9
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb's passport photo (possibly for a trip to Greece)
1955
1/3 10
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb and friend sitting on a stone wall in Greece
November 1955
1/3 11
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb in Greece, standing with a guard in front of a guardhouse
1955
1/3 12 1956
1/3 13
Samuel E. Goldfarb and Charles Fine
1955
1/3 14
Purim play
circa 1950-1960
1/3 15
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb passport photo
November 6, 1961
1/3 16
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb standing with other tourists during a Tokyo sightseeing tour
December 8, 1961
1/3 17 August 1963
1/3 18 June 15, 1965

Celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Sisterhood Choral Group at Temple de HirshReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/4 19 April 9, 1965
1/4 20
The Sisterhood Choral Group performing
April 9, 1965
1/4 21
Samuel E. Goldfarb at the podium accepting a gift from the speaker
April 9, 1965
1/4 22
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb and acquaintance standing, with some members of the audience
April 9, 1965
1/4 23
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb seated on the stage
April 9, 1965
1/4 24
View of banquet tables and testimonial cake
April 9, 1965
1/4 25
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb cutting the cake
April 9, 1965
1/4 26
Samuel E. Goldfarb and Esther Eggleston, secretary of Temple de Hirsch
April 9, 1965
1/4 27
Samuel E. Goldfarb speaking at the podium as his wife looks on from the lower left of the photograph
April 9, 1965
1/4 28
Mr. and Mrs. Goldfarb onstage as Mr. Goldfarb is embraced by woman well-wisher
April 9, 1965
1/4 29
Mrs. Samuel E. Goldfarb being congratulated onstage
April 9, 1965
1/4 30 April 9, 1965
1/5 31
Samuel E. Goldfarb cutting the cake with Mrs. Goldfarb
Lucille Almeleh Spring, Music Coordinator at Temple de Hirsch, stands to the left of Mrs. Goldfarb
April 9, 1965
1/5 32
Crowd at celebration
April 9, 1965
1/5 33
Crowd at celebration
April 9, 1965
1/5 34
The Sisterhood Choral Group performing, with some of the audience visible
April 9, 1965
1/5 35
The commemorative cake
April 9, 1965
1/5 36
Crowd at the celebration
April 9, 1965
1/5 37
Mrs. Samuel E. Goldfarb
April 9, 1965
1/5 38
Samuel E. Goldfarb speaking at the podium
April 9, 1965
1/5 39
Samuel E. Goldfarb speaking with well-wishers
April 9, 1965

Fiddler on the Roof , 1969Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/6 40 1969
1/6 41
Samuel E. Goldfarb and Lucille Almeleh Spring at Fiddler on the Roof
1969

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Choral conductors--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Choral societies--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Choral societies--Washington (State)| eattle--Anniversaries, etc.--Photographs
  • Jewish composers--United States--Photographs
  • Jewish musicians--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs
  • Synagogue officers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Photographs

Personal Names

  • Goldfarb, Samuel E. (Samuel Eliezer), 1891-1978--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Temple de Hirsch (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints
  • Photographs

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • Temple de Hirsch (Seattle, Wash.). Sisterhood xAnniversaries, etc.--Photographs (photographer)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)