Rochester NY Jewish community oral history project

Collection

Identifier: D.259

Staff Only

Biographical / Historical note

In 1976, a study was undertaken by the University of Rochester's Department of History and the Jewish Community Federation of Rochester to document Jewish life in Rochester from 1925 to 1975. Rabbi Abraham Karp, Professor of history and religion conceived and oversaw the project that consisted of conducting interviews with more than 100 members of the Jewish Community. People were identified as possible candidates for the project and a framework of questions was developed. Most interviewees were interviewed twice [two sessions]. Six advanced doctoral students undertook the interviews: Mark Friedrich, Tina Isaacs, Maurice Isserman, Dennis Klein, Brian Mitchell and Nancy Rosenbloom. The Max. A. Adler Charitable Foundation funded the project.

Professor Karp said that the project attempted to select and interview subjects that would reflect a cross-section of the Rochester Jewish community. Categories included leaders of the Jewish community, representatives of industry, mercantile trades, politicians, civic leaders, labor leaders, plus randomly selected rank and file Jewish people.

According to Milton Berman, Professor of History, who advised the interviewers, the study was a "glimpse of what it was like to live and grow up in a period of significant change for America as well as for Jews." He also observed that the study shows that "the Jewish Community in Rochester has changed from a community of small business workers to a community of highly educated professionals."

Scope and Contents

The collection is made up of the original audiotapes, upgrades of these to compact disc, the transcriptions of many of the interviews and the legal agreements entered into by the interview subjects. At this point in time [2005] a little more than 50% of the interviews have been transcribed.

Creator

Karp, Abraham J. (Person)
University of Rochester. Department of History (Organization)
Jewish Community Federation of Rochester, N.Y. (Organization)

Dates

Creation: 1925-1975

Language of Materials

English

Extent

15 box(es)

Access

The Rochester NY Jewish Community Oral History Project is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Restrictions on the use of individual oral histories are indicated on agreement forms at the beginning of each transcription. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Professor Karp delivered the audiotapes to the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections on August 15, 1977. In addition, four boxes of audiotapes and transcriptions were received from Rabbi Karp through Professor Harold Wechsler, Warner School of Education on April 14, 1997.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Rochester NY Jewish Community Oral History Project, D.259, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester