Ernest R. Stiefel papers and oral history interviews, 1940-2007

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Stiefel, Ernest R.
Title
Ernest R. Stiefel papers and oral history interviews
Dates
1940-2007 (inclusive)
Quantity
18.84 cubic feet (24 boxes, 6 cassette tapes, 5 vertical files)
Collection Number
3410
Summary
Correspondence, meeting minutes, financial records, and biographical features of accountant and Seattle Jewish community leader Ernest Stiefel
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

Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

A native of Germany, Stiefel emigrated to the United States in 1940. His papers relating to the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Camp Solomon Schechter, Council of Synagogue Presidents, the Jewish Education Council, and Herzl Conservative Congregation were accumulated during his tenure on various committees of these secular and religious institutions. Congregation Beth Shalom records were accumulated as a member and president of the congregation and because of Stiefel's volunteer work on its committees.

He has served on the planning and allocations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and has chaired the Jewish education allocations committee of the Federation.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Oral history, correspondence, meeting minutes, financial records, biographical and organizational features, and ephemera related to Ernest Stiefel and his involvement with the Herzl Conservative Congregation, the Ner Tamid congregation, Congregation Beth Shalom, the Jewish Federation, the B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation, and the greater Seattle Jewish community.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 16 accessions.

  • Accession No. 3410-001, Ernest R. Stiefel oral history interivew, 1982
  • Accession No. 3410-002, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1947-1974
  • Accession No. 3410-003, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1951-1983
  • Accession No. 3410-004, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1947-1980
  • Accession No. 3410-005, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1975-1989
  • Accession No. 3410-006, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1982-1989
  • Accession No. 3410-007, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1947-1993
  • Accession No. 3410-008, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1940-1992
  • Accession No. 3410-009, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, circa 1940-1993
  • Accession No. 3410-010, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1988-1996
  • Accession No. 3410-011, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1955-1996
  • Accession No. 3410-012, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1942-2000
  • Accession No. 3410-013, Ernest R. Stiefel oral history interviews, 2001, 2005
  • Accession No. 3410-014, Ernest R. Stiefel oral history, 2001
  • Accession No. 3410-015, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1982-2007
  • Accession No. 3410-016, Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1968-2005

Separated Materials

Material Described Separately:

Washington State Jewish Archives Moving Image Collections (PH1390) and Washington State Jewish Archives photograph collection (PH0650)

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 3410-001: Ernest R. Stiefel oral history interivew, 1982Return to Top

1 sound cassette, 1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interview conducted by Mildred Rosenbaum, with manuscript, January 31, 1982.

Stiefel relates his experiences as a refugee newcomer to Seattle and his involvement in the Herzl Conservative Congregation and the start of the New Tamid congregation. Related accession: Stiefel Family.

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: Donated by Ernest Stiefel, 3/1/1982.

Accession No. 3410-002: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1947-1974Return to Top

4.00 cubic feet (4 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, financial records, reports, ephemera, other record series.

Documents his presidency of the Jewish Federation, and other Federation positions; see Names of Subgroups. Temple Circle is not affiliated with one single congregation but is city-wide.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest Stiefel, 5/5/1987.

Accession No. 3410-003: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1951-1983Return to Top

1.00 cubic foot (1 box)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, financial records, membership rosters, reports, annual meetings, ephemera, subject series.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 6/30/1988.

Accession No. 3410-004: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1947-1980Return to Top

2 vertical files

Scope and Content: Organizational features, correspondence, articles of incorporation, bylaws, annual report, audit report, subject series.

Entire accession documents B'nai B'rth Hillel Foundation. Closed material is a subject series on internal accounting investigation by Laventhol and Horwath, 1979-1980.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 2/25/1988.

Accession No. 3410-005: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1975-1989Return to Top

1.00 cubic foot (1 box)

Scope and Content: Organizational features, correspondence, minutes, financial records, newsletters, membership lists, subject series.

Entire accession documents Ernest Stiefel's membership in Congregation Beth Shalom, especially his term as president 1982-1984.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 12/28/1989.

Accession No. 3410-006: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1982-1989Return to Top

0.21 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Bylaws, correspondence, financial records, annual reports, brochures, ephemera.

Entire accession concerns Jewish Federation.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 12/28/1989.

Accession No. 3410-007: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1947-1993Return to Top

1.21 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Biographical features, genealogical material, writing "The Story of My Emigration," correspondence, minutes, financial records, annual reports, and related material.

Ernest Stiefel left Nazi Germany in 1940. This accession includes a genealogy tracing his family history ca. 1700+. Family names in genealogical material: Straws, Vendig, Stern, Huettenbach, Wachenheim, Weinschenk.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 7/1/1991.

Accession No. 3410-008: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1940-1992Return to Top

.42 cubic foot (1 box)

Scope and Content: Records of two Jewish Federaton committees: Jewish Education Allocations Committee, 1991-1992 and Acculturation Allocations Committee, 1991-1992; two letters from the Washington Emigre Bureau, 1940.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Stiefel's rights transferred to the Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest Stiefel, 7/8/1993.

Accession No. 3410-009: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, circa 1940-1993Return to Top

1.04 cubic feet (3 boxes)

Scope and Content: Accountant's workpapers, financial records, reports, correspondence, and related papers concerning Stiefel's committee work in the Seattle Jewish community, including the Jewish Education Allocations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, the Jewish Transcript, and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, ca 1978-1993. Also included are photocopies of his brother Siegfried's correspondence with the Washington Emigre Bureau, 1940, documenting Stiefel's emigration from Germany.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest Stiefel, 5/31/1994.

Accession No. 3410-010: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1988-1996Return to Top

2 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, financial records, newsletters, membership lists, printed material, and ephemera relating to Stiefel's volunteer work for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society, and his membership in Congregation Beth Shalom.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 7/31/1996.

Accession No. 3410-011: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1955-1996Return to Top

2 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, financial and fundraising records, constitutions, by-laws, legal records, lists and newspaper articles relating to Stiefel's volunteer work for several Jewish organizations, and his membership in Congregation Beth Shalom.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernest R. Stiefel, 10/29/1997.

Accession No. 3410-012: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1942-2000Return to Top

3 cubic feet (3 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, financial records, audit reports, subject series, and printed material relating to Stiefel's volunteer work. Papers also include assorted programs, flyers, and memorabilia from various synagogues and community organizations. Bulk of papers pertain to Stiefel's work for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and on three of its committees: capital needs fund; planning and allocations; and Jewish education allocations.

A subgroup of the papers contain the records of the board of directors of the Northwest Yeshiva High School.

The subject series includes: Jewish Family Service, University of Judaism, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Council for Initiatives in Jewish Education, and the Kline Galland Home.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernie Stiefel, 11/17/1998.

Accession No. 3410-013: Ernest R. Stiefel oral history interviews, 2001, 2005Return to Top

4 audiocassettes
1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Tape recorded interview(s) covering the years 1940 to 2001, taken on March 7th and 12th, 2001, September 7th, 2005; transcript, clipping.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernie Stiefel, September 7, 2005.

Accession No. 3410-014: Ernest R. Stiefel oral history, 2001Return to Top

1 audiocassette
1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Interview conducted June 13, 2001 by Sid Weiner. Stiefel discusses the history of the Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation in Seattle.

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: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ernie Stiefel, June 13, 2001.

Accession No. 3410-015: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1982-2007Return to Top

2 cubic ft. (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Contains correspondence, agendas, minutes, reports, and allocation requests from the Federation's Planning & Allocations Committee (1999-2007) and the Capital Needs Committee (2002-2003). Also includes correspondence of the Executive Board in the aftermath of the shootings at the Federation office on July 26, 2006.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Ernest Stiefel, 2001-09-17 ; 2002-02-12

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 3410-015
Agreement for Holocaust Memorial
1982
1/2 3410-015
Publications
1994-1999
1/3 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Financial Statements and Financial Documents
1998-2001
1/4 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Programs, Flyers, Community Reports
1995-20036
1/5 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Budget Review Committee, subcommittee of the Planning and Allocation Committee
2002
1/6-1/7 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Jewish Community Campus Task force Correspondence
2001-2002
1/8 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
2000
1/9 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
March-August, 2001
1/10 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
September 2001
1/11 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
October-December, 2001
1/12 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
January-May, 2002
1/13 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
June-October, 2002
1/14 3410-015
Jewish Federation: Capital Needs Committee -Correspondence, minutes, memorandums, and grant applications and requests
2003
1/15 3410-015
Correspondence and Funeral Announcement for Jewish Federation shooting
2006
1/16-1/28 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2001
1/29-1/44 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2002
2/1-2/12 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2002-2003
2/13-2/23 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2003-2004
2/24-2/34 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2005-2006
2/35 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2006
2/36-2/37 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee- World Jewry 1/2
2006
2/38 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee- Human Need
2006
2/39 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee- Jewish Education
2006
2/40 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee- Jewish Identity and Community Building
2006
2/41-2/44 3410-015
Jewish Federation- Planning and Allocation Committee
2007

Accession No. 3410-016: Ernest R. Stiefel papers, 1968-2005Return to Top

0.59 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Contains records from Stiefel's personal and civic activities including newsletter (1970), membership list and 1968 Seder instructions for the Ner Tamid congregation; Beth Shalom membership list (1970) as well as correspondence and financial documents from the congregation's capital campaign (1997); minutes, reports, legal documents, by-laws, financial reports of B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation at University of Washington (1947-1982); a booklet from the Camp Solomon Schechter Jubilee Year Celebration Dinner in 2005.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Ernest Stiefel, 2001-07-03; 2000-11-07

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 3410-016
Beth Shalom, Ner Tamid membership lists and Seder instruction
1968
1/2 3410-016
Congregation Beth Shalom capital campaign materials
1997
1/3 3410-016
Camp Solomon Schechter Jubilee year dinner program
2005
1/4 3410-016
Jewish Community Center planning memo
1975-1976
1/4 3410-016
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle reports
1997-1999
1/5 3410-016
B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation mortgage contract
1954
1/6 3410-016
B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation accounting report
1979-1980
2/1 3410-016
B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation University of Washington records
1947-1982
2/2-3 3410-016
B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation
1947-1980

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Antisemitism--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Conservative Judaism--Washington (State)--Bellevue
  • Conservative Judaism--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Immigrants--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
  • Jewish outreach--Washington (State)--Bellevue
  • Jewish outreach--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Synagogues--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • World War, 1939-1945--Jews--Germany

Personal Names

  • Jacobowitz, Arthur A
  • Spencer-Wolff, Scott
  • Stiefel, Ernest R.--Archives
  • Stiefel, Ernest R.--Interviews
  • Stone, Ira F
  • Strauss, Amalie Vendig

Corporate Names

  • Alpha Kappa Psi
  • B'nai B'rith. Anti-defamation League
  • B'nai B'rith. Cascade Lodge No. 1822
  • Beta Alpha Psi. Delta Chapter (Universtiy of Washington)
  • Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle, Wash)
  • Congregation Ner Tamid of Bellevue (Bellevue, Wash.)
  • Herzl Conservative Congregation (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle
  • Jewish Federation and Council of Greater Seattle
  • Laventhol & Horwath, Certified Public Accountants
  • Northwest Yeshiva High School (Mercer Island, Wash.)
  • Phi Beta Kappa. Puget Sound Association
  • Seattle Hebrew Academy (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Seattle Jewish Community School
  • University of Washington. Alumni Association

Titles within the Collection

  • Jewish Transcript (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Temple Circle (Seattle, Wash.)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Rosenbaum, Mildred (interviewer)
    • Stiefel, Siegfried
    Corporate Names
    • B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation (University of Washington) (creator)
    • B'nai B'rith. Seattle Lodge No. 503 (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Council of Jewish Federations (U.S.). General Assembly (creator)
    • Jewish Archives (University of Washington) (creator)
    • Jewish Education Council of Greater Seattle (creator)
    • Jewish Family and Child Service (Seattle, Wash.) (creator)
    • Jewish Federation and Council of Greater Seattle (associated name)
    • Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle (creator)
    • National Foundation for Jewish Culture (U.S.) (creator)
    • Washington Emigre Bureau (creator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)
    • Washington State Jewish Historical Society (creator)