Archives West Finding Aid

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interview conducted by Isabel Studsser, Sept. 1986; family tree, undated. Summary of interview with Lena Rotman and her daughter Rose Friedman in Tacoma. Mrs. Rotman was born in Schatzmachen, Latvia and came to the Seattle area in 1910 at the age of 24. She married Harry Rotman and lived in Tacoma for 62 years until her death in 1986. She describes a community with 2 synagogues and early families who were active in the Shul and the Temple. The two congregations merged 25 years ago under the leadership of Dr. Leon Diamond with Rabbi Richard Rosenthal, a reform Rabbi as head of the new conservative Temple Beth El. Rabbi Montague Cohen is described as the controversial Rabbi of the Temple for many years. He was succeeded by Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg. The Orthodox Shul had many Rabbis and they became a conservative congregation when Rabbi Treiger was the leader. Mrs. Rotman was head of the Sisterhood rummage sale for many years. She was a charter member of Council of Jewish Women. Rose Friedman graduated from the University of Washington. She and her husband were both born in Tacoma.

Scope and Content: This collection contains an oral history interview with Lena Rotman, conducted on 27 November 1981 by her grandson, Harold G. Friedman. Also included is the 55 page annotated transcript of the interview written by Friedman, and 3 descendancy charts for the Lemchen, Olswang, Sussman families. The interview concentrates on family history and genealogy as well as Lena's experiences immigrating to Washington State from Latvia. The Jewish community in Tacoma is also discussed.