The American West Center is a research agency of the University of Utah serving social and ethnic communities in the Intermountain West with academic programs, research, and services. One of its activities is to conduct oral history projects documenting the history and traditions of ethnic and other identifiable groups.
The Jewish oral history project was conducted by the American West Center and consists of a series of interviews between 1972 and 1977 with local Jewish Americans concerning life in Utah.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Gift of the American West Center in 1996.
Processed by Karen Carver in 2004.
Mr. Altschule, who came to Salt Lake in 1967, discusses self-study of the Jewish community, Jewish Community Center programs, the Community Services Council, intercultural cooperation in Salt Lake City, anti-Semitism, developing community leadership, fund raising, "four persuasions" of the synagogue, basic principles of Judaism, family values, and his childhood memories of Jewish cultural traditions.
Mr. Arnovitz (b. 1888), whose family emigrated from Czechoslovakia, reminisces about his early life in Pennsylvania, running a tavern in Salt Lake City (during Prohibition, a "near-beer pool hall"), the
Mr. Ayeroff, who gave up a successful business as a plumber in New York City to join the Clarion community, discusses the origin of the community, farming, diversity, Mormon neighbors, assistance from Jewish people in Salt Lake City, government and dissension, severe living conditions, and community cooperation. He also relates his post-Clarion experiences in Nebraska.
Mr. Bernstein (b. 1907) recalls his childhood in Salt Lake City, his father's participation in the formation of congregation
Sam joins his brother, Abe, for this discussion of congregation
Mrs. Bernstein (b. 1907), who was born in Vernal, recalls family stories of journeys from Russia and Manchuria, family life in Vernal, orthodox traditions at home, the move to Salt Lake City, and her experiences in the public school system. She also speaks of the family grocery store, living as a minority, politics, the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s, congregation
Mr. Cohne (b. 1885) talks about the experiences of his parents and grandparents in Czarist Russia, coming to America, working in the mines and in the fur and wool business.
Mr. Cowan (b. 1907) discusses his birth in the Ukraine, the move to Denver and Salt Lake City, the Jewish community in Salt Lake City, the livestock industry in Europe and the U.S., anti-Semnitism, Victor Kratke, and life for the Jewish settlers in Utah.
Interview with Judge J. Allan Crockett about Judge Herbert M. Schiller in which Crockett recalls his first impression of Schiller, gives a personal profile, and recalls the judge's "kaleidoscopic" interests. He also recalls a talk Schiller gave on the qualities a judge should have and discusses the state capitol law library.
Mrs. Crutcher (b. 1907) tells stories passed on to her of family life in Lithuania and of emigration to the United States. She recalls growing up in the Mormon community of Tooele and talks about her first encounter with discrimination in New York City. Also covered are her education and career, descriptions of family members, and the political career of her father, Solomon Joseph Selvin. (See also the Sol J. Selvin papers, Ms 489.)
Mr. Eisen (b. 1916) discusses life in the Jewish community of Salt Lake, including the congregations
Mr. Finkelstein (b. 1878) relates how his family emigrated from Poland, describes his work in the furniture business, and discusses family religious traditions, the Auerbach family, congregation
Mr. Guss (b. 1904) discusses his parents, their life in Czarist Russia, and his father's journey to New York in 1912. He describes life under German occcupation in World War I, the journey with his mother and siblings to Philadelphia, and from there to Denver, and his first impressions of America. Also included are comments on the differences in religious rites such the
Mr. Hayden talks about the founding of
Mrs. Landa (b. 1912) recalls various places in Salt Lake City that she lived in as a child, Wasatch elementary school, Jewish friends and congregations, family business, attending Uintah elementary, high school and Mills College, family gatherings, and involvement in civic affairs. She details the Rosenblatt family tree.
Mr. Perlman (b. 1920) traces his family history from his father's journey from New York City to Utah, where worked as a peddler, in a dairy, in a junkyard, and then in the fur and hide business. He recounts stories of life in Provo, LDS proselytizing, religious education, family deaths, the influence of Max Pepper, Jewish ceremonies, community involvement, and his father's funeral.
Mrs. Pomerance (b. 1888) was born in Russia. She discusses the small Jewish community in Salt Lake City, speaking Yiddish, congregation
Mr. Porizky (b. 1886) talks about his early life in Russia, pogroms, emigration in 1901, impressions of America, business ventures in Salt Lake, the Clarion Colony, his marriage, building a
Mr. Siegel (b. 1909) discusses his father's emigration from Russia, business ventures, and reasons for moving west. He also talks about his grandfather being a cantor, rabbis in Salt Lake, congregation
Mrs. Siegel (b. 1907) relates how her parents emigrated from Russia to New York City in 1904, and from there to Utah. She recalls living in several small towns in Central Utah, and talks about her father's stores in Gunnison and Richfield, the move to Salt Lake, Jewish friends in Salt Lake in the 1920s, Jewish community organizations, and attending college at Berkeley.
Mrs. Steres (b. 1898) recalls life in Czarist Russia and talks about her father's emigration in 1902, about emigrating through Ellis Island with her mother and siblings in 1905, life in Vernal, the move to Salt Lake City in 1914, holidays, Jewish congregations, and people in Salt Lake.
Mr. Warshaw (b. 1898) recalls his early life in Russia, including a pogrom that took place when he was eight, and gives his impressions of immigrant life just after the turn of the century. He discusses life in Philadelphia, a brief period of residence in Clarion, Utah, and his experiences working in Philadelphia. Warshaw also talks about various family members, including two sisters who espoused communism in the 1930s and on into the McCarthy era. The interview concludes with Warshaw tracing his business ventures from a fruit stand to the Grand Central supermarket chain.
This folder contains a booklet written by the Warshaws for friends who were curious about their trip to Maurice Warshaw's Moldavian birthplace in July 1963. Along with the story of their travels, Warshaw goes further into the particulars of the pogrom which precipitated the move to America, and discusses other childhood memories.
The subject of this interview is Samuel Newhouse. Mr. Waters' father, James W. Waters, organized the Bonneville Hotel Company and leased the Hotel Newhouse. Waters recalls growing up in the Hotel Newhouse and gives a personal profile of Samuel Newhouse.
Mrs. Wells recalls the life of Samuel Newhouse, including his mining interests, the McCune railroads, his business buildings, and his eventual bankruptcy. She also recalls Ida Newhouse, her life in English court society, her jewels, and her home on South Temple.
Mr. Zucker (b. 1895) discusses the emigration of his parents from Poland, their life in Philadelphia, and political leanings. He recalls his education in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, his move to Salt Lake City to join the English faculty at the University of Utah, and life in the Jewish community. Also included are stories of various Jewish families, his experiences teaching Sunday school, the Maimonides, Jewish students and faculty at the University in the 1930s and 1940s, Jewish politics and culture, and the life of Judge Herbert Schiller.
Access to this box is RESTRICTED.
Access to this box is RESTRICTED.
Access to this box is RESTRICTED.
Access to this box is RESTRICTED.