Lucille Brown began this project by sitting down with her own parents, Sol and Sonia Wernick, in her dining room on Highland Park Road in Schenectady, New York in 1970. She used a small cassette tape recorder and dove in with questions about the town they had left in the Ukraine in 1920, how and why they left and what life was like in their "old world". The project grew to include her brother Robert's in-laws, Fan and Jack Koenigsburg, and other members of the bungalow colony where the Koenigsburgs summered in the Catskills. The interviewees were all individuals who left Eastern Europe in the 1910s and 1920s. As her project grew in scope, LWB joined forces with Dr. Stephen Berk, a professor of Russian History at Union College where she was a librarian. Together they shaped the interview questions to get a clearer picture of life in the Pale of Settlement at the turbulent time following World War I and into the revolutionary period in Russia and Eastern Europe. Lucille Brown received funding for her project from Union College and from YIVO. She wrote several papers and gave talks on her work. Her collection of tapes and transcripts are held in the archives of both Union and YIVO.
I am Lucille's daughter. During the time Mom was working on this project, I was in high school and college. I was present at the original interview with my grandparents and at many subsequent interviews. During the 70s, Lucille had me help her transcribe many of the taped interviews using her IBM Selectric typewriter. Since that time, the typed pages of the transcripts have sat in loose-leaf binders in my and my sisters' basements. The pages have started to dry out and get brittle but the stories they hold are compelling and deserve to be kept alive. It is my pleasure to revisit these interviews as I re-type them in a digital format. "Listening" to the stories, I see my grandparents and their friends and am transported to another time and place. I have taken the liberty of "cleaning up" the original transcripts - editing them for clarity and readability. I have also hyper-linked to explanatory geographical, historical, and non-English language references wherever possible and I have asked my sisters, cousins and descendants of the subjects to contribute pictures if they have them.
Peggy Brown
Brunswick, Maine 2019
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Schenectady, New York 1976 Visiting Union College in 1976, Roman Vishniac sat down with Lucille Brown to talk about his life as a Jewish child and … Jewish life in Europe before and during World War II. Lucille Brown : Would you be good enough to give me your … ”
Abstract
Roman Vishniac talks about his life as a Jewish child and young man in pre-World War I Russia. Vishniac is well known for his stunning photographs which captured Jewish life in Europe before and during World War II.
“ … Because LucilleW. Brown did not document Sarah Borenstein’s maiden name in … New York home (the Bronx) the place and … Interviewed by Lucille Brown in Miami Beach, Florida February, 1977 Sarah … ”
Abstract
In this interview, Sarah remembers her family's life in Bialystok and the conditions that led to their leaving for the United States in 1911.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida January, 1974 Morris … feeding his young … overcame in some surprising ways. Lucille Brown : Tell me your name. Morris Fischer: My name is … ”
Abstract
Morris Fischer tells his story of rising up from poverty and hard times which came from war, revolution and pogroms. His mother died young, leaving six small children. His father, a laborer, had trouble feeding his young family.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida 1976 Morris (Moishe) Wax … ”
Abstract
Morris (Moishe) Wax remembers his father as a pious man who was a little "progressive" for his times. Before World War I, he'd had a thriving atelier making the latest Paris fashions for the landowner ladies in their district. World war came, then the Russian Civil War, chaos, starvation, and pogroms. Morris' father died in 1922 as a result of the injuries inflicted on him by pogromchiks. With no father to provide for them, Morris, his mother and sister hoped to join an older brother and sister in the United States. They were able to get to Antwerp, Belgium where they awaited passage to the United States. While in Antwerp, the U.S.passed the Immigration Act of 1924 limiting the number of Jews, along with other groups, who could enter the country. Morris' mother was allowed to go. Her two teenage children stayed in Antwerp for three more years.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Forest Hills, New York 1977 Paula Zollman left … She was eight years old. After … until the rise of Hitler. Lucille Brown : You are Paula? Paula Zollman: Paula Zollman … ”
Abstract
At eight years old, Paula Zollman left the town of her birth, Rzeszow, when that town was caught in the middle of the First World War and the family packed up and moved to Berlin. After some early struggles, Paula's parents made a successful business in selling eggs and cheese.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Maplewood, New Jersey 1977 Philip (Pinah or … in the shtetl of Novye Priluki, Ukraine; the same town as Lucille Brown 's parents, Shlomo and Sonia Wernick. Both men … they … cigarettes. But she sold the cigarettes for bread. Lucille , let me tell you just one thing. For six months we … ”
Abstract
Philip (Pinah or Pinik to his family and friends) Charash was born in the shtetl of Novye Priluki, Ukraine. He lost his father in a pogrom in Priluki in 1919. Pinah met his future wife, Braina Teplitsky, in the nearby city of Uman where they both attended gymnasium (high school). Philip and Braina's story is full of harrowing escape stories that ultimately brought them to the United States where they built a life and family together.
“ … Interviewed by Professor Stephen Berk with Lucille Brown Schenectady, New York May 1974 In this … he rent it? KH: Owned the store and he owned the building. Lucille Brown : So … of all, they wore brown uniforms, that’s … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Kurt Hirschen by Professor Stephen Berk and Lucille Brown of Union College during May of 1974. Kurt was born in Germany in 1907.
“ … Schenectady, New York 1975 Mr. Lowen was a neighbor of Lucille Brown in Schenectady. He speaks of his life in Fuerth … I had four year in the first school - what do you call it? Lucille Brown : Elementary … my sister and her children and … killed during the Hitler period in Kiev and in Babi Yar. Lucille Brown : They … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Ernest Lowen by Professor Stephen Berk on April 30, 1975 at Mr. Lowen's home in Schenectady, N.Y. Ernest was born in Fuerth in Bavaria in Germany.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida 1974. Born Sidney … Disappointing his father, who was hoping he'd become … s. Lucille Brown : Sidney Kay. And where were you born? SK: I … killed during the Hitler period in Kiev and in Babi Yar. Lucille Brown : They … hours and you send me the list who, or … ”
Abstract
Max Brooks' father died from cholera during an outbreak in 1919 when Max was 13. Life was turbulent with pogroms occurring frequently and food hard to find. In 1924, Max left Russia and emigrated to a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada.
“ … aboul a mile away and it was called, in … Interviewed by Lucille Brown New York City December, 1976 Nathan Reich was … eventually earning his Ph.D at Columbia University. Lucille Brown : You realize that this, we … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Nathan Reich by Lucille Brown of Union College. Nathan was born in Terszow in what was Austria Hungary on June 6, 1900.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida February 1977 The oldest … of the chaos brought on by revolution and civil war. Lucille Brown : Mrs. Prince, if you would give us your name. … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Olga Prince, nee Kolker, by Lucille Brown of Union College. Olga was born in Odessa in present day Ukraine in 1906.
“ … e e e e Freda Wolfsheimer Side 2, page 19 253 Interviewer: Lucille Brown L,B. Did you ever go7 7. W. Oh yah... L.,B. Yeah. P ve.0h, often. I was, uh, I was, … no, a big place, und there ware a film … Interviewed by LucilleW. Brown and Robyn Katz Schenectady, New York … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Freda Wolfsheimer by Lucille Brown of Union College. Freda was born in 1897 in Weickersheim, Germany.
“ … Gretel Hirschen Side 1, page 11 L33 Interviewer: Lucille Brown -~ L.B. No, Now, were most of the young people … when … Gretel Hirschen Side 2, page 17 155 Interviewer: Lucille Brown B, All right, What kind of Jew belonged? 1 H. … I suppose, you were asked, um, accordi … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Schenectady, New York, November 1974 Gretel … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Gretel Hirschen, nee Wolf, by Lucille Brown of Union College. Gretel was born in Offenbach-am-main in Germany in 1914.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida February of 1976. Marie … siblings who had left for the United States … World War. Lucille Brown : Now that would be about how many miles from … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Marie Golden Wexler by Lucille Brown of Union College. She was born on September 29, 1900 in Sernye, Hungary.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida February, 1977 Lucille Brown 's parents, Sol (Shlomo) and Sonia Wernick … ; … town located in the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine. Lucille Brown : Say your name again … . So, really we used to … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Beatrice Kaufman by Lucille Brown of Union College. Beatrice was born on April 11, 1900 in Priluka, Russia.
“ … Isracl Schochet Tape 1 - Pape 1 Interviewed by Lucille Broun Tape 1 -« 8ide 1 G Now, Mr. Schochet, if you … region of northern Ukraine. This is the town in which Lucille Wernick Brown ’s parents were born, and … , Israel … into Romania where a chance encounter changed his life. Lucille Brown : Mr. Schochet, if you would be good … … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Israel Schochet by Lucille Brown of Union College. Israel was born in 1898 in Strijavka, Ukraine.
“ … Interviewed by LucilleW. Brown Albany, New York March 1976 "On Wednesday there were … I could have made a little outline. We could follow it. Lucille Brown : I already have an outline. ST: Oh, are you … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Sholom Traub by Lucille Brown of Union College. Sholom was born in Ryazhezh, Ukraine in 1906.
“ … Un...(Long pause). At times, it was happy … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Schenectady, N.Y. October, 1974 Ruth Stein … marry a professional … annexed Austria in the late 1930s. Lucille Brown : Suppose we start with your name. If you … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Ruth Sommer, nee Stein, by Lucille Brown of Union College. Ruth was born in Vienna, Austria in 1917.
“ … he departed Senno for Vitebsk and started his own life. Lucille Brown : We’ll start. These tapes will go into a … they will be printed up. Harry Cokin: For … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida 1976. Harry Cokin was the … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Harry Cokin by Lucille Brown of Union College. Harry was born in Senno, Russia in 1895.
“ … Interviewed by LucilleW. Brown Raananah Park, New York February 1977 Harry Woll was … Here is his engaging story of courage and survival. Lucille Brown : Harry Laurence Woll. Mr Woll, would you tell … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Harry Lawrence Woll by Lucille Brown of Union College. Harry was born on September 28, 1898 in Gomel, Russia.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Miami Beach, Florida 1977 Rivka Woll remembers … of Leichitz, where her father was the much loved rabbi. Lucille Brown : Would you give me your name, Mrs. Woll, for … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Rivka Woll by Lucille Brown of Union College. Rivka was born around 1900 in a small time called Lyelchitz in Russia.
“ … Orthodox Jews. There were Orthodox writers, too, but 99%, Lucille , were not. They’re modern Jews already. They … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Highland Mills, N.Y. June, 1974 Dov Kam came to … grew up in the … ov Fam Side 1, mege D G062 interviewer: Lucille Trown 5.:. So thev took it eway, this part, and ther … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Dov Kam by Lucille Brown of Union College. Dov's official name was Sam Berko Kam but he changed it because he came to America as a stowaway. He was born in 1895 in Porazava in Russia.
“ … Dov Kam's interview is also included in this collection. Lucille Brown : so you’re teaching in your town of Mazyr in a … Kam: Yes, then one night … This interview, conducted by Lucille Brown in Highland Mills, New York in 1974, seems to … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Sonia Kam by Lucille Brown of Union College. This interview picks up when Sonia was working as a teacher in 1921 in Russia.
“ … Interviewed by Lucille Brown Albany, New York 1976 At age thirteen, Nathan … I began, Mr. Koblenz served in the Czar's army, was … . Lucille Brown : Did you have a different name in Europe? NK: … ”
Abstract
Audio and transcript of an interview with Nathan Koblenz by Lucille Brown of Union College. Nathan (Naphtali in Yiddish) was born in 1896 in Smorgan, Lithuania.
