Archives West Finding Aid
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Zerline Aronin photograph collection, 1891-approximately 1931
Overview of the Collection
- Collector
- Aronin, Zerline, 1901-2005
- Title
- Zerline Aronin photograph collection
- Dates
- 1891-approximately 1931 (inclusive)18911931
- Quantity
- 18 photographic prints (1 folder) ; various sizes
- Collection Number
- PH1053
- Summary
- Photographs of a Seattle Jewish family, David and Rebecca Joelsohn and their daughter Zerline Joelsohn Aronin
- 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
-
Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
- Additional Reference Guides
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Zerline Aronin was born on February 6, 1901, in Castle Rock, Washington, to David and Rebecca Joelsohn. Because they were the only Jewish family in the town, they had difficulties keeping kosher so Zerline's parents moved the family to Bellingham, Washington in 1906. Then in 1916, on the advice of Rabbi Koch of Temple de Hirsch, the family moved to Seattle to be part of a larger Jewish population.
The Joelsohns bought a house on Spring Street and opened a cigar store downtown. Zerline graduated from Broadway High School in 1919, then studied sociology for two years at the University of Washington before her marriage to Morris Jacobson in 1921. After their move to Everett, Washington, she ran the Sunday school at the Orthodox synagogue in Everett from 1925-1928. Zerline moved back to Seattle in 1930 and worked for 13 years at the Emporium store owned by the Poll family.
In 1942, Zerline left the Emporium to help with the war effort. She took a day job with the armed forces supplier, Arthur Berliner, and a night job with the U.S. government. After World War II, she opened a jewelry store at 25th and Columbia, operating it for twenty years until her retirement in 1966. In 1952, she married Herman Aronin.
Zerline was an early volunteer with Head Start and a long-time member of the City of Hope. She was named an Angel of Seattle at the age of 93 for her tutoring work. By the time of her death in 2005 at the age of 104, she had outlived her four siblings, two husbands, and both of her children. She was portrayed in a November 17, 2003 Seattle Times article as a "poster great-grandmother" for healthy aging.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The photographs document the David and Rebecca Joelsohn family and the childhood and early adult years of their daughter Zerline Joelsohn Aronin in Castle Rock, Bellingham, and Seattle.
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 reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Aronin, Zerline, 1901-2005--Photographs