WAUWolffJoelPHColl991.xmlGuide to the Joel Wolff Photograph and Film Collectioncirca 1890s-1980s circa 1890s-1980sWolff (Joel) photograph and film collectionSpecial Collections, University of Washington Libraries© 2013 (Last modified: 11/27/2017)
Seattle, WA 98195
Finding aid written inEnglish.Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard).University of Washington Libraries, Special CollectionsPH0991Wolff, JoelJoel Wolff photograph and film collectioncirca 1890s-1980s9 photographs (1 folder) ; various sizes1 film reel (8 minutes, 200 feet) : silent, B&W ; 16mmCollection materials are inEnglish.Photographs and film of Jewish life in Aberdeen, Washington

George J. Wolff (1870-1931) was born in Kempen, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1888. He settled in Olympia, Washington, and worked with I. Harris & Sons Dry Goods. Wolff opened a branch store in Aberdeen in 1897 and launched his own dry goods store several years later in Aberdeen. George Wolff led the Grays Harbor Jewish congregation and was pivotal in establishing Temple Beth Israel.

George and his wife Bertha Staadecker Wolff raised two children, Sylvia (1905-1992) and Joel (1908-2004), who managed the Wolff store after his father's death. The family lived at 408 E. First St. in Aberdeen and later built a home at 102 W. 11th St., where they kept chickens, a vegetable garden, two horses and a carriage with a fringe on top.

Photographs of George J. Wolff and family members. The film records aspects of Jewish life in Aberdeen, Washington.

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives.

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Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

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Collected by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society.

Donor: Joel Wolff, 1974, 1985, 1995

Processed by Jack Falk, 2012; processing completed in 2013. Five photographs transferred from Acc 2387, 1981. Film transferred from Acc 2387-2, 2001.

Preliminary Guide to the Joel Wolff papers, Manuscript Collection no. 2387, in Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries.

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)Jewish AmericansPhotographsWashington (State)SeattlePhotographs

 

Photographs11George Wolffcirca 1890s 12Window display at George Wolff's dry goods store in Aberdeen, WAcirca 1903 13Exterior of George Wolff's dry goods store in Aberdeen, WAcirca 1904 14Interior of George Wolff's dry goods store in Aberdeen, WA, showing staff and sales floorcirca 1904 15George Wolff on horseback, possibly in Aberdeen, WAcirca 1910 16Jesse Epstein, son-in-law of George Wolffcirca 1980s

Jesse Epstein, a graduate of University of Washington Law School, served as the first director of the Seattle Housing Authority

17Sylvia Wolff Epstein, daughter of George Wolffcirca 1980s 18Jesse Epstein (1910-1989)circa 1980s

Note on back of photo: Jesse's 80th birthday in the park

19Sylvia Wolff Epsteincirca 1980s FilmVC3610Jewish life in Aberdeen, Washingtoncirca 1930

Film shows aspects of Jewish life in Aberdeen, Washington, including a Purim play; laying the cornerstone of Beth Israel Congregation in Aberdeen; and dedication of temple in Chehalis, WA.

Original: 1 film reel (200 feet) : silent, black and white ; 16mm