Jewish Life in Indiana, 1974-1981
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
TitleJewish Life in Indiana, 1974-1981
Project No.
ohrc019
Interviews
7 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
This project depicts Jewish life in Indiana in the twentieth century through
descriptions by Jewish people of various backgrounds. The interviewees discuss their
faith, community involvement, anti-Semitism, and Jewish-owned businesses.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains seven interviews conducted over the course of five years. The interviews range from five to twenty-four
pages. All interviews consist of typed transriptions.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Bergman, Jacob March 12, 1975
Call Number
02-051
Physical Description
6 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Levine, Joseph
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Rabbi Jacob Bergman, born around 1908, discusses his early life and education
in Jerusalem before immigrating to the United States and finally settling in
South Bend, Indiana. He discusses his congregation as well as others in the
area. The temple, though Orthodox, commonly has Reformed Jews in the
congregation. Bergman discusses declining membership and the Jewish
organizations which once flourished and are now gone or fading.
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Keywords
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Corporation Names
- Hebrew Orthodox Cemetery
- Sons of Israel
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Geographic Names
- Jerusalem, Israel
- South Bend, Indiana
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Subjects
- Orthodox Judaism
- Reformed Judaism
Interviewee
Greenfield, Sydney February 20, 1974
Call Number
02-050
Physical Description
5 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Levine, Joseph
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Sydney Greenfield, daughter of German immigrants, discusses growing up in a
Jewish community in Gary, Indiana. She discusses the Orthodox and Reformed
Jewish communities in the city. She talks about the common occupations for
Jews in business, while other immigrants usually worked menial jobs at the
mills and were known as "hunkies." She discusses the history of her temple.
Greenfield discusses her aunt's restaurant, which was quite famous in the
area during its day. She also discusses the fact that many Jews have now
left Gary.
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Keywords
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Corporation Names
- Rothchild's Restaurant
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Family Names
- Isay
- Rothchild
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Geographic Names
- Gary, Indiana
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Subjects
- Orthodox Judaism
- Reformed Judaism
- Reformed Temple
Interviewee
Mulis, Sam undated
Call Number
02-054
Physical Description
5 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Levine, Joseph
Access Status
Closed until both John Hurt and Jack New have been deceased ten years.
Scope and Content Note
Sam Mulis, born on April 28, 1900, briefly discusses his early life. He
discusses his career in sales which brought him to Kokomo, Indiana. He
discusses the Ku Klux Klan and other anti-Semitism he's experienced. He
discusses his Jewish community, made up of multiple sects, and the community
activism in which many are involved.
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Keywords
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Corporation Names
- Ku Klux Klan
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Geographic Names
- Kokomo, Indiana
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Personal Names
- Markus, Max
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Subjects
- community activism
Interviewee
Muncie, Indiana Panel Discussion 1981
Call Number
02-056
Physical Description
24 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Schwartz, Joan
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
A panel of people who had spent most, if not all, their lives in Muncie,
Indiana, discuss the Jewish community from around the 1920s until the
present. They discuss anti-Semitism of the Ku Klux Klan, housing
segregation, and barred membership into clubs. They discuss the Jewish-owned
businesses which were prevalent in the area. They discuss the temple, Sunday
school, and the strength of their faith. They talk about marriage within the
religion. They also discuss World War II and the changes in the treatment of
Jews in its aftermath.
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Keywords
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Corporation Names
- Ku Klux Klan
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Geographic Names
- Muncie, Indiana
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Personal Names
- Ball, George A.
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Subjects
- Americanization
- anti-Semitism
- Eureka Club
- Jewish businesses
- marriage
- Sunday school
- World War II
Interviewee
Pearlman, Dorothy July 1, 1975
Call Number
02-053
Physical Description
6 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Levine, Joseph
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Dorothy Pearlman, born in 1897, discusses her early life and education. She
gives a brief family history for both herself and her husband. She discusses
the separation between German Jews and members of synagogue, with the
exception of Sunday school for the children. Pearlman discusses her father's
family business. She recalls the Ku Klux Klan and its acts against the Jews
in surrounding areas.
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Keywords
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Corporation Names
- Ku Klux Klan
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Geographic Names
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Lafayette, Indiana
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Family Names
- Messing
- Pearlman
- Rice
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Subjects
- family business
- German-American Judaism
Interviewee
Tannenbaum, Max K. August 1, 19--
Call Number
02-055
Physical Description
7 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Ross, Irv
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Max K. Tannenbaum discusses his early life and education in Crawfordsville,
Indiana. He gives a brief family history. Tannenbaum recalls the various
families which made up the small Jewish community from the time of his
grandparents, as well as their family businesses. He mentions the tendency
of young people to leave their small town for life in the city.
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Keywords
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Family Names
- Bischoff
- Goldberg
- Joel
- Pearlman
- Shapiro
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Geographic Names
- Crawfordsville, Indiana
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Subjects
- Jewish businesses
Interviewee
Welt, Margaret Goldsmith April 1975
Call Number
02-052
Physical Description
6 pages; no tapes; no index
Interviewer
Alexander, Peggy
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Margaret Goldsmith Welt, born on July 21, 1889, discusses the immigration of
her maternal grandfather and her father to the United States. She discusses
her grandfather's banking business, and the reference library her family
helped to build following her father's death. Welt discusses the Jewish
community of Ligonier, Indiana, and shares anecdotes about her life.
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Keywords
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Family Names
- Goldsmith
- Strauss
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Geographic Names
- Ligonier, Indiana
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