Born in Poland in 1886, Jacob Kaplan was the eldest son of Mark and Sarah Mary Kaplan. In 1900, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Seattle. Mark Kaplan owned a second-hand store, where his sons worked.
In 1909, Jacob married Celia Sussman, and they had four children: Joseph Henry, Ethel, Phillip and Leon Harold. In 1912, with some experience gained in a short apprenticeship with a printer in Poland, $65 capital, and a supply of paper equal to one-and-a-half railroad cars, Jacob opened the Kaplan Paper Company.
Jacob was one of the founders of the Herzl congregation and headed the Talmud Torah Hebrew School campaign. He later became a leader in the Congregation Bikur Cholim, president of the Seattle Hebrew Academy, member of the Ionic Lodge no. 90, and the president of the local chapter of B'nai B'rith. He was also associated with the Federated Jewish Fund, the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and the beginnings of the Sons of Zion in Seattle. In 1968, following Celia's death, Jacob married Meta Buttnick. Jacob Kaplan died in 1974 and is buried in the Bikur Cholim cemetery.
Photographs and ephemera documenting Jacob Kaplan's life, family and work in the Jewish community of Seattle.
The collection is open to the public.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
Collected by Meta Buttnick for the Washington State Jewish Historical Society.
Donor, Phillip Kaplan, April 1981.
Processed by Gina Rappaport and Marion Brown, 2009; and Erika Wilson, 2010.
Photographs were relocated from the Jacob Kaplan Papers, Accession No. 1960-002, in the repository in 2008.
The album contains pages of photographs and ephemera about the Kaplan family members and their activities.
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Ethel Kaplan is the daughter of Jacob and Celia
Kaplan
Ethel Kaplan is the daughter of Jacob and Celia Kaplan
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Linda Beth is the daughter of Philip Kaplan and the
granddaughter of Jacob Kaplan.
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Leslie Ann is the daughter of Philip Kaplan and the
granddaughter of Jacob Kaplan.
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One invitation to Linda Beth's graduation ceremony, two invitations to Linda Beth's wedding. Newspaper clipping announcing Linda Beth's engagement.
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Same item as 2f.
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Same item as 21g.
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Joseph Henry Kaplan died somewhere between 1930 and 1955. He
was the eldest son of Jacob and Celia Kaplan.
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Moshe Menuhin was the father of the violinist Yehudi
Menuhin. The letter was mailed from Berlin, Germany, during the Menuhins'
musical tour of Europe.
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Possibly Leon's child
Jules Newman married Jacob Kaplan's sister Esther.
On verso: Jacob Kaplan and Meta Kaplan's first anniversary, September 17, 1969. At Jacob Kaplan's home. 5835 Seward Park Avenue South, Seattle, Washington
Sitting on couch, L to R: Jacob Kaplan, Leslie Kaplan Epstein holding Andrew and Gregory Epstein. Behind couch, L to R: Meta Buttnick Kaplan, Dennis Epstein and Richard Epstein
On verso: Dinner at Philip Kaplan's home.
On verso: Luncheon at Philip Kaplan's.
On verso: Flowers from President of University of Alaska. Robert Bloom was U of A Regent in 1923 and active in founding. Robert and Jessie Bloom's anniversary at their home 5905 Beach Drive S.W.
Jessie and Robert Bloom are Meta's parents.
On verso: Farewell dinner for Fannie going to Israel at Jacob Kaplan's home. Sam Berger [is] Jacob Kaplan's first cousin.
On verso: Lunch at Philip Kaplan's. Jennifer Plant's first visit to Seattle.