Archives West Finding Aid

Tape recorded interview conducted by Richard C. Berner and Meta Kaplan, 6 June 1968.

In this somewhat disjointed interview Robert Bloom relates few dates, and he is often confused about names of people and events that took place in Dawson, Fairbanks, or Seattle (he is usually unsure of which place). There is some cursory mention of Jewish cemetaries in Dawson and Seattle, the Kennicott Copper Co., Alaska Steamship Co. and Judge Wickersham. Mr. Bloom comments upon the High Holy Days in Dawson where services were conducted in a hired hall, 18?9-1903. He claims that most Jews were employed in merchandising, with the Gold Rush bringing the more educated Jews to the Klondike. Mr. Bloom comments that his father corresponded with him from Ireland.