Archives West Finding Aid

Scope and Content: Correspondence, financial records, minutes, organizational features, clippings, 1910-1985.

This collection of Steinberg Family Papers includes the papers of brothers Reuben and Sam Steinberg, Reuben's son Sheldon, and Sheldon's wife Irene. The material, received at various times, have been merged into one accession, with the exception of two tape recorded interviews. See also: Reuben Steinberg oral history interview, accession no. 1945 and Irene Steinberg oral history interview, accession no. 4015. The transcripts for these interviews are included in accession no. 3660-004.

SUBGROUPS

Steinberg and Sons/Steinberg Brothers

These papers include business records of the Steinberg family retail and wholesale businesses. In 1916, Hiram opened a men's furnishings store at the corner of 5th and Jackson. The store sold surplus army goods and work clothes. Business was good, but was hampered by Saturday closures for the Sabbath. In 1923 the business was expanded into the wholesale market upon which Sabbath closures would have less impact. The firm continued to expand its retail business, with stores in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Hiram died in 1940. Reuben's son, Sheldon, joined the firm, in the 1940s, after studying marketing at the University of Washington. The business continued to expand its merchandise, stores and markets until 1985. At that time Sheldon liquidated the wholesale business, and moved to Israel with his wife, Irene, and daughter, Shana. Reuben died in 1973; Sam died in 1982. Sheldon and Irene's son, Steve, who joined the firm in the mid1970s, took over the retail division of the company in the early 1980s. He continues to run it, with stores in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska.

Sheldon Steinberg

These papers reflect Sheldon's activities as part of the organized Jewish community. He served at various times as campaign chairman for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, President of the Seattle Hebrew Academy, and President of Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath.

Irene Steinberg

Irene Mohrer Steinberg was born March 23, 1929 in Frankfurt to a German Orthodox family. She fled to America, with her family, in 1938, two weeks before the crystal Nacht. She became a U.S. citizen in 1945, attended the University of Washington, 1946-48, and married Sheldon Steinberg in 1948.

Irene founded a chapter of Hadassah for young married women in Seattle, shortly after her own marriage, served as its president in the 1950s, and remained active in the Jewish community throughout her life in Seattle. The papers primarily represent her later activites with the Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Family Service.

Irene served as president of the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation 1979-81. This was a second term, the first was served in the 1960s. She also served on the Board of the Jewish Family Service from the early 1970s, and as its President from 1979 through 1981. One of her primary interests was the Russian Resettlement Program which she started and for which she served as chairperson 1975-79. Irene also served as president of Bikur Cholim Sisterhood (1965-67), president of Seattle Hebrew Academy, PTA (1960s), and board memeber of the Kline Galland House through the 1970s.

A transcript (113 pages) of a lengthy interview with Irene, taped in 1989, may be found at the end of this subgroup.

Reuben and Samuel Steinberg

This subgroup contains a transcript of an interview with Reuben and Samuel taped in 1972.

Scope and Content: Sheldon Steinberg recounts the Jewish and non-Jewish stores, businesses, and institutions that were located on Yesler Way in the 1930's and 1940's, which were used by the Jews who lived in the neighborhood (Central Area). Most of the stores mentioned were located on Yesler Way from 26th Avenue to about 12th Avenue, near where the Jews lived. In addition, he mentions some of the businesses in the downtown area, between 1st Avenue and 3rd Avenue, and Yesler Way and Jackson Street, because that is where his family business was located. Other Jews also owned retail stores in that area.

Scope and Content: Includes a Hadassah Seattle chapter 50th anniversary yearbook from 1962 as well as Congregation Bikur Cholim anniversary yearbooks from 1961, 1966, 1981, 1991, 2001, and 2011.