Joshua H. Gortler papers and oral history interview, 1923-2017

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Gortler, Joshua H., 1936-
Title
Joshua H. Gortler papers and oral history interview
Dates
1923-2017 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.86 cubic feet (4 boxes plus 4 cassette tapes and 1 vertical file)
Collection Number
3665
Summary
Interviews and documents related to Jewish community leader, Joshua H. Gortler who worked with the elderly and was Executive Director at Kline Galland Home for the Aged in Seattle
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.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Joshua Gortler was born in Poland in 1936. The Gortler family survived the Holocaust by living in Siberia and then Uzbekistan. At the end of World War II, his family lived in a displaced persons camp in Germany. In 1951, the Gortler family was sponsored to emigrate to the U.S., where they settled in Arizona. He was educated in the Yeshiva High School in New York and also took classes at the public high school. Gortler continued his education at Yeshiva College and then the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University where he earned a Master's degree in Social Work. He and his wife Sarah later established the Joshua H. Gortler and Sarah B. Gortler Scholarship in Geriatric Social Work at Wurzweiler. He served for 38 years as the Executive Director of the Caroline Kline Galland Home in Seattle from 1969 until his retirement in 2006.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains a tape-recorded interview, conducted by Adina Russak on 10/9/85, where Gortler describes his family's experiences during World War II. In an additional oral history interview, conducted on February 21, 2008, Gortler discusses his administration of the Caroline Kline Galland home including its programs for care of Jewish elderly. The collection also includes clippings that span the period of 1969-1985, thank-you-letters from students regarding Josh Gortler's speeches on his experiences during the Holocaust, and documents related to the history and operations of the Kline Galland Home. Also included are materials from Gotler's retirement celebration in 2006 including notes and cards.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 5 accessions.

  • Accession No. 3665-001, Joshua H. Gortler oral history interview, 1969-1985
  • Accession No. 3665-002, Joshua H. Gortler oral history interview, 2008
  • Accession No. 3665-003, Joshua H. Gortler papers, 2002-2014
  • Accession No. 3665-004, Joshua H. Gortler papers, 1923-2017
  • Accession No. 3665-005, Joshua H. Gortler papers, 2006

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 3665-001: Joshua H. Gortler oral history interview, 1969-1985Return to Top

.18 cubic feet (1 box plus two cassette tapes)

Scope and Content: Tape-recorded interview conducted by Adina Russak on 10/9/85. Clippings span the period 1969-1985.

Born in Poland in 1936, Gortler describes his family's experiences during World War II. The family ended up in DP camps in Germany and he describes their life there. In 1951, the family was sponsored to immigrate to the U.S. He was educated in the Yeshiva High School in New York and also took classes at the public high school. He graduated with a degree in psychology, and a masters in social services from Yeshiva. He became interested in working with the elderly while in graduate school which eventually led to the position of Executive Director at Kline Galland. He talks about the changes to Kline Galland, the programs that he developed over the years, future trends and projections, etc.

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: The analog tape cannot be played due to preservation concerns. However, the interview has been digitized and can be accessed on the Libraries Digital Collections website.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Joshua Gortler, 10/9/1985.

Accession No. 3665-002: Joshua H. Gortler oral history interview, 2008Return to Top

2 cassette tapes and 1 Vertical File

Scope and Content: Oral history interview conducted on February 21, 2008. Gortler discusses his administration of the Caroline Kline Galland home including its programs for care of Jewish elderly such as Kosher Meals on Wheels, the Polack Adult Day Center, and the Summit at First Hill retirement center.

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: The analog tape cannot be played due to preservation concerns. However, the interview has been digitized and can be accessed on the Libraries Digital Collections website.

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

Acquisition Info: Donated by Joshua Gortler, 2/21/2008.

Accession No. 3665-003: Joshua H. Gortler papers, 2002-2014Return to Top

.36 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Thank you letters from students regarding Josh Gortler's speeches on his experiences during the Holocaust. Schools and colleges visited include: Jewish Day School, Kilo Middle School, Kitsap Detention School, Nelson Middle School, The Northwest School, Rainier Beach High School, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle Hebrew Academy, and Spanaway High School. Also includes flyers and other information from the Holocaust Education Resource Center in Seattle.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

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

Acquisition Info: Joshua H. Gortler, 2015-03-27

Accession No. 3665-004: Joshua H. Gortler papers, 1923-2017Return to Top

1.14 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Documents and video recordings related to the history and operations of the Kline Galland Home including legal documents, correspondence, bylaws, resident rules and regulations, pamphlets and brochures, newsletters, and newspaper clippings. Also includes documents related to The Summit, a Jewish retirement community in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle owned by the Kline Galland Home, as well as Joshua H. Gortler's tenure as Executive Director at the Kline Galland Home.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Info: Joshua H. Gortler, 2018-05-03

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1-1/3 3665-004
News clippings
1930-2007
1/4 3665-004
Caroline Kline Galland Home
1970s-1989
1/5 3665-004
Joshua H. Gortler - honors and speeches
1992-2015
1/6 3665-004
Caroline Kline Galland Home - pamphlets
1924-1994
1/7 3665-004
Keep It Going campaign reports
1992, 1993
1/8 3665-004
Caroline Kline Galland Home newsletters
1966-1985
1/9 3665-004
Chai Lites
1984-2013
1/10 3665-004
Meeting with Samuel Stroum - campaign
November 1, 1991
1/11 3665-004
Caroline Kline Galland Home - background information and studies
undated
1/12 3665-004
Kline Galland Investment Committee
1980-1999
1/13 3665-004
Stroum, Samuel
1991-2000
1/14 3665-004
Hansen, et. Al vs. City of Seattle and Seattle Trust and Savings Bank
1972-1974
1/15 3665-004
Publicity- News releases - Kent Swigard
1993
1/16-1/17 3665-004
Letters of appreciation from resident's families
1970-2017
1/18 3665-004
Kline Galland - property transfer
1986
1/19 3665-004
Annual Meetings
2008-2010
1/20-1/23 3665-004
News clippings, publicity
1973-1985
1/24 3665-004
Kline Galland Home "Our 90th Anniversary"
2 DVDs
January 2005
1/25 3665-004
Josh Gortler luncheon and presentation
2 DVDs
2006, 2012
1/26 3665-004
AAHSA Annual meeting award presentation to Josh Gortler
2 DVDs
November 2006
1/27 3665-004
The Annie Aronwald Endowment for Theater Arts: Fiddler on the Roof
1 DVD
June 2, 2014
Box
1 3665-004
Early Films - B&W, Channel 9 Documentary
1 tape
undated
1 3665-004
Ground Breaking
1 tape
May 31, 1991
1 3665-004
Shtetl Kline
1 VHS
September 1998
1 3665-004
"Celebration of Life" Kline Galland Home
1 VHS
September 1997
1 3665-004
Kline Galland Open House Video
1 VHS
September 2000
1 3665-004
"Reflections of a Century" Kline Galland
1 VHS
October 1999
1 3665-004
Seattle Trust Company Safe Deposit Vaults
1923

Accession No. 3665-005: Joshua H. Gortler papers, 2006Return to Top

0.18 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Notes, cards, invitations, and other materials from a celebration of Gortler's retirement from 37 years at the Kline Galland Center.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Acquisition Info: source: Washington State Jewish Historical Society

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Immigrants--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
  • Jewish old age homes--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle--Interviews
  • Older Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Older people--Institutional care--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Refugee camps--Germany
  • World War, 1939-1945--Jews

Personal Names

  • Gortler, Joshua H., 1936---Archives
  • Gortler, Joshua H., 1936---Interviews

Corporate Names

  • Caroline Kline Galland Home (Seattle, Wash

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Russak, Adina (associated name. )
    Corporate Names
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington) (curator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)