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Samuel E. Goldfarb photograph collection, 1912-1969

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Goldfarb, Samuel E. (Samuel Eliezer), 1891-1978
Title
Samuel E. Goldfarb photograph collection
Dates
1912-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
.21 cubic feet (1 box)
41 photographic prints ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0742
Summary
Photographs documenting the life of Samuel E. Goldfarb
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

The collection is open to the public.

Request at UW

Additional Reference Guides

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by King County 4Culture.
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Biographical Note

Samuel E. Goldfarb was often called "the father of Jewish music in America." He was born in 1891 on the Lower East Side of New York City into a musical family. He learned to read music from his older brother, Israel, and sang as a choirboy in the synagogues. Goldfarb studied music at Columbia University and supported himself by playing piano in a nickelodeon and for a Yiddish vaudeville theater. After attending Columbia, Goldfarb did some composing, arranging, accompanying, and choir conducting. He spent a year in Reno, Nevada, from 1923 to 1924, where he played theater piano and organ and also played for parties and dances. While in Reno, he was appointed acting cantor at Temple Emanu-El, where he organized a choir. Goldfarb returned to New York in 1925 and decided to devote himself to Jewish music. He was appointed head of the music department of the Bureau of Jewish Education.

Goldfarb was a prolific composer of songs and other music. Together with his brother, Rabbi Israel Goldfarb, he composed hundreds of songs that are sung in Jewish schools. In 1925, the two brothers compiled the first American collection of Jewish songs, The Jewish Songster . This collection, in two volumes, was used in schools throughout the country and included some of Goldfarb's songs. The brothers also compiled Friday Evening Melodies . Among Samuel Goldfarb's compositions are biblical operettas, the best known being "The Jews in Egypt" (1926), Bible songs, festival songs, and choral music. His most famous song is "The Dreidel," which is sung during Chanukah by children throughout the world.

Samuel Goldfarb married Sylvia Lupow in New York in 1930. Later in that year while attending a wedding in Seattle, Goldfarb accepted the post of music director of Temple de Hirsch. Goldfarb built an impressive music program at Temple de Hirsch. Over the years he established three children's choirs and trained generations of children in music. In addition to the children's choirs, he directed the adult choirs, the graduate school glee club, the Sisterhood Chorus, the Professional High Holy Days Choir, and the Temple Quartet. Goldfarb also served as organist and conducted from the organ. Besides directing his choirs, he coached singers and taught Hebrew School classes. At times more than 1,200 adults and children were under his tutelage.

Outside of the temple, "Mr. G," as he was affectionately known, directed the Halevy Singers and the Sephardic Men's Choir. He also arranged music for Susan and Maurice Friedman's "Cavalcade of Jewish Music" and coached Maurice Friedman.

While at Temple de Hirsch, Goldfarb continued to compose and arrange music for use by his choirs. He also composed some secular music, such as "I See an America," a musical setting of a speech by Adlai Stevenson. The Seattle Chorale performed this widely hailed work in a choral arrangement in 1965.

At his 25th anniversary celebration at Temple de Hirsch in 1955, Goldfarb and his wife were presented with a trip to Europe and Israel. The Goldfarbs returned from Europe aboard the Andrea Doria and were rescued at sea after their ship collided with a Swedish vessel. In 1968 Goldfarb retired as music director at Temple de Hirsch. He died in Seattle in 1978.

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Content Description

These photographs document the life of Samuel E. Goldfarb from 1912-1969 and include two series of images taken at a testimonial banquet at Temple de Hirsch in Seattle commemorating Mr. Goldfarb’s twenty-five years there as Music Director, and images from 1965 celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Sisterhood Choral Group at the temple.

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Other Descriptive Information

Most photographs were identified in accompanying material.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format.

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donor: Michael Goldfarb and his brothers; 1984, 1986

Processing Note

Processed by Leslie A. Fried, 2008.

The photographs were relocated from the Samuel E. Goldfarb Papers, Manuscripts Accession No. 2784 in the repository in 1985 and 1986.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 


2010 (Last modified: 4/13/2018)

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