Oral history interview with Julian Agranoff, 2015

Overview of the Collection

Interviewee
Agranoff, Julian
Title
Oral history interview with Julian Agranoff
Dates
2015 (inclusive)
Quantity
Originals as received: 1 digital audio file (WAV format) and 1 computer file (PDF format transcript)
Collection Number
5895 (Accession No. 5895-001)
Summary
Oral history interview with Julian Agranoff
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

The Agranoff family ran a hotel in Soap Lake, Washington that was a popular summer destination for Jewish families from the Seattle area, somewhat resembling east coast Jewish vacation spots in the Catskill Mountains. Soap Lake's mineral water was considered to have medicinal value, and the Agranoff family modeled their hotel and sanitarium after European spa towns such as Baden-Baden.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Julian Agranoff speaks of his childhood in Chicago, southern California, and Soap Lake, Washington. He relates what it was like to help with running the family's hotel and sanitarium at Soap Lake, where many Jewish families came during the summer. He discusses how it was to be part of the only Jewish family that lived year-round in Soap Lake, his meeting with wife Sylvia, and his WWII service in the Navy Air Corps. The interview also covers Agranoff's education and career at Boeing, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps of Engineers and Grant County. Agranoff also speaks about his father, who was a child prodigy violinist. He also covers the family's experiences escaping Russian pogroms, evading authorities, traveling to the United States and acquiring a new family name.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

Listen to the audio recording and view the transcript of this interview on the Libraries Digital Collections site.

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Julian Agranoff, 2015-05-27

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Civil engineers--Washington (State)
  • Hotels--Washington (State)--Soap Lake
  • Jewish men--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--Persecutions--Russia
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Regional planners--Washington (State)

Personal Names

  • Agranoff, Julian--Interviews

Corporate Names

  • Louis Hotel and Sanitarium (Soap Lake, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Grant County (Wash.)--Officials and employees

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Blase, Nancy (interviewer)
    • Sasson, Ruth (interviewer)
    Corporate Names
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington) (creator)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)