Oral histories interviews with Louis Katsman, 1971-1978

Overview of the Collection

Interviewee
Katsman, Louis
Title
Oral histories interviews with Louis Katsman
Dates
1971-1978 (inclusive)
Quantity
ca. .08 cubic ft
Collection Number
1660, 2589
Summary
Tape recorded interview of a Russian American
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

Consult the restrictions governing access for each of the accessions listed below.

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Consult the scope and content information for each of the accessions listed below.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Consult the restrictions governing reproduction and use for each of the accessions listed below.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 3 accessions.

  • Accession No. 1660-001, Oral history interview with Louis Katsman, 1971
  • Accession No. 2589-001, Louis Katsman interview notes, 1976
  • Accession No. 2589-002, Oral history interview with Louis Katsman, 1978

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 1660-001: Oral history interview with Louis Katsman, 1971Return to Top

1 sound cassette.; Transcript.

Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted by Karyl Winn and Meta Kaplan on 2 July 1971, covering the years 1915-1920..

At the beginning of World War I (1914) Louis Katsman and his cousin, Aaron Katsman, were sent by their parents to Harbin. Louis Katsman describes their hometown of Minsk, how the pople at that time viewed World War I, the train trip through Siberia and the Jewish community in Harbin. When the Russian community in Harbin was called to arms (1915) the cousins sailed via Kobe to Seattle. They were met by members of B'nai B'rith and stayed with Rabbi Genss and his wife. Mr. Katsman tells about other Jews who came to Seattle at the same time via the same route, and the emigration of his cousin. By 1920 Mr. Katsman realized he couldn't return to Russia and he opened a men's store in partnership with his cousin. He then describes his attempt to run Nathan Anches' Tacoma pawn shop, and finally his third business venture - a women's coat factory with Nathan Kasdkoff, later with Sam Cohen and then with a Portland tailor. At the end of the tape he mentions families in the early Bikur Cholim congregation and what services the community offered.

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: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

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

Acquisition Info: Louis Katsman, 1971-07-02

Description
Oral history interview with Louis Katsman

Accession No. 2589-001: Louis Katsman interview notes, 1976Return to Top

3 pages.

Scope and Content: Interview notes from interview with Meta Buttnick Kaplan on 12 and 13 Jul 1976.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

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

Acquisition Info: Meta Kaplan, 1976-07-21

Description
Louis Katsman interview notes

Accession No. 2589-002: Oral history interview with Louis Katsman, 1978Return to Top

1 sound cassette (30 min.).; Transcript: 9 pages.

Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview conducted on 28 Jun 1978; transcript.

This is the second interview with Mr. Katsman. It had as its specific objective to record Mr. Katsman's memories of the history of the Mizrachi organization in Seattle from its beginning. Mr. Katsman arrived in Seattle in 1915. He tells of Rabbi Meir Berlin's first visit to Seattle and how his talk in Bikur Cholim (now Bikur Cholim-Machzikay Hadath) inspired the organization of the Men's Mizrachi organization. He tells of Bessie Gotsfeld, the founder of the Mizrachi projects in Israel, her husband, and Yenta (Yetta) Strongen who established the Seattle Chapter of the American Mizrachi Women. He covers the entire history of the Men's Mizrachi until its disbandment.

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

Acquisition Info: Meta Kaplan, 1978-07-05

Description
Oral history interview with Louis Katsman

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Bar-Ilan, Meir, 1880-1949
  • Bender, Max
  • Cohen, Sam
  • Genss, Hirsch
  • Gotsfeld, Bessie
  • Hurwitz, Joe
  • Kasakoff, Nathan
  • Katsman, Aaron
  • Strongen, Yenta (Yetta)
  • Urisditsky, Max

Corporate Names

  • Congregation Bikur Cholim (Seattle, Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Buttnick, Meta Bloom, 1913- (interviewer)
    • Katsman, Louis (creator)
    • Winn, Karyl, 1942- (interviewer)
    Corporate Names
    • 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)