Oral history interview with Esther Gross, 1974

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gross, Esther
Title
Oral history interview with Esther Gross
Dates
1974 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 sound cassettes (ca. 90 min.), 1 transcript: (46 pages)
Collection Number
2281 (Accession No. 2281-001)
Summary
Oral history of a jewish immigrant who discusses reminiscenses of immigration to Seattle from Odessa
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

Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections

Request at UW

Languages
English

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Tape recorded interview conducted by Meta Kaplan and Mina Katz on 26 Jun 1974; transcript.

This interview covers period ca. 1870-1974 and gives an informative account of how the first orthodox Jewish newcomers to Seattle started work to meet their Jewish needs.

Esther Gross's parents and 2 older brothers came to Seattle in 1890 to join her father's older brother, who came the year before. The family left Odessa because of the pogroms. They were among the first 12 orthodox families to arrive, and the whole group of Jews of similar philosophy already here met them at the station. They came to America with money. Then her father brought over his parents, Zalmon Grodinsky and his wife. Zalmon built the first mikvah in the basement of his home at 12th and Washington and negotiated the purchase of ground at 13th and Washington, where the first Bikur Cholim Synagogue was built in 1898, with a smaller building beside it to house Talmud Torah.

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 transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Mrs. Gross, 6/26/1974

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Gross, Esther--Interviews