Abe Hoffman papers, circa 1920-1977

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interviews conducted by Meta Kaplan and Adena Russak, 6-20-77; and with Kaplan, Russak and Howard Droker, 6-22-77.

Abe tells the story of his family. They came from Derevna near Minsk and Stapes in the guberna of Minsk. He tells of life in the village. His father, a learned Talmudist, came to America in 1908 to escape military service. His father first worked in the sweatshops on the lower East side of New York. His family journeyed from Derevna to join him there. He tells of life in Seattle after they came to join their father here in 1912. He had come here in 1911 because they had a relative here named Sam Fox. He tells of life on Yesler Way in pre-World War I years when immigration from Russia was active and of Jewish life in the midst of the area where most immigrant families settled. The Hoffmans had the first kosher grocery. It was on Yesler Way. He tells of the Stolovka, the Shelter House, the Settlement House, of Jewish activity in Collins Field. He tells of the YMHA. He also talks about his two famous brothers David and Al. David started with the Habimah players in Seattle and played on Broadway and made Hollywood movies including "Daddy Long Legs" and "Titanic." Al composed the hit songs "Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear", "Little Man You've Had A Busy Day" and "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked A Cake", among others. He tells of the influence on Al of the Sabbath afternoon singing with their father. He speaks with awe and love of his parents and of all his mother did.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, sheet music, clippings, biographical material.

The correspondence is between Abe and his brothers Al, composer and lyricist of popular songs, and Dave, popular actor. Sheet music is of Al's songs.