Title: Oral History Interview with Louis Witkin
Inclusive Dates: 1977 February 18

Creator:

• Witkin, Louis, b. 1894

Call Number: Audio 143A; Superior Tape 5

Quantity: 1 tape recording

Repository:

Housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections and the Area Research Center, Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin-Superior; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections.

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

UW-Superior Jim Dan Hill Library / Superior Area Research Ctr. (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Tape-recorded interview conducted February 18, 1977, by Laurie J. Tarlowe with Louis Witkin, concerning his 1912 emigration from Lithuania to New York City, settling in Superior, Wisconsin about 1916, his work as a kosher butcher, and the Jewish community in Superior. Included is information on synagogues, business associations, and community groups, as well as political and social issues between German and Russian Jews within the community. Some comments are in Yiddish.

Note:

Forms part of the Wisconsin Jewish Archives.

Language: English and Yiddish

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-tape00143a

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Louis Witkin was born in Dubnow, Lithuania, on January 15, 1894. In 1912, he immigrated to the United States, settling in the New York City area. Trained as a schochet or ritual slaughterer, Mr. Witken was first employed as a painter, but later was employed according to his training in New Jersey. In about 1916, he married and took his wife on a honeymoon trip to Superior, Wisconsin. They found the climate more hospitable and decided to remain and raise their family there. In Superior, Mr. Witkin was employed as a butcher and cattle buyer.

Interview

Mr. Witkin was interviewed in his apartment in Superior. One of the qualities of this particular interview was Mr. Witkin's accent which captures the flavor of his native Yiddish and adds to the value of this tape.

This interview was part of a research study on the early history of the Jewish community of Superior.

Abstract to the Interview

The tapes for this interview have two tracks: a voice track containing the discussion and a time track containing time announcements at intervals of approximately five seconds. The abstract below lists, in order of discussion, the topics covered on each tape, and indicates the time-marking at which point the beginning of the particular discussion appears.

Thus, the researcher by using a tape recorder's fast forward button may find expeditiously and listen to discrete segments without listening to all of the taped discussion. For instance, the user who wishes to listen to the topic on “First Impressions of Superior” should locate the place on the second track of tape one, side one, where the voice announces the 10:20 time-marking ( voice says at this point, "ten minutes, twenty seconds"), and at this point switch to the first track to hear the discussion. The discussion on “First Impressions of Superior” continues until approximately 11:05 at which point discussion of the next topic (“Louis Witkin's Butcher Business”) begins.

The abstract is designed to provide only a brief outline of the content of the tapes and cannot serve as a substitute for listening to them. However, the abstract will help the researcher easily locate distinct topics and discussions among the many minutes of commentary.

Acquisition Information

Accession Number: M77-378

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Laurie J. Tarlowe, February 1, 1978.

Audio 143A/Superior Tape 5 Tape/Side   1/1 Time   00:00	Introduction
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   01:00	When and Where Louis Witkin Was Born
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   01:45	Reasons for Immigration to the United States Scope and Content Note: Avoided the Russian Army.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   03:30	How Louis Witkin Found Work When He Arrived in New York Scope and Content Note: Difficulty because he didn't speak English; relatives helped him find work.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   05:15	Why Louis Witkin Moved to Superior, Wisconsin Scope and Content Note: Goldfine family were friends; discusses organized efforts to move Jews west; and Kaner and Kavon families in Superior.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   10:20	First Impressions of Superior Scope and Content Note: What the city looked like; Jewish businesses.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   11:05	Louis Witkin's Butcher Business Scope and Content Note: Bought a horse and wagon, slaughtered his own cattle “It was not so religious.” Anecdote about going to New York right before the Depression; returned in time to sell all his cattle.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   15:20	Discussion of Jewish Community Scope and Content Note: Hebrew Schools, population, relations with Gentiles, social events.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   19:45	Anecdote About His First Car in 1919
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   20:05	Types of Jewish Businesses Scope and Content Note: Yiddish junk shops, peddlers.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   21:40	Where Did Jews of Superior Live? Scope and Content Note: Most lived downtown, tells about “Shapsa Connors Punta.”
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   22:35	Most Jews Have Stores Downtown Scope and Content Note: Dry goods stores; discusses a large store on 10th Street and Tower Ave.; Conen family, Siegel family and their businesses.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   24:25	Synagogues in Community Scope and Content Note: Rabbis; high holiday services; the new temple and the relations between the two synagogues in 1977.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   00:00	Introduction
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   00:30	Relations with the Gentile Community Scope and Content Note: Contacts with because of business. Older people didn't speak English so they did not associate with Gentiles.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   01:10	Why Louis Witkin Liked Superior Scope and Content Note: Enjoyed the cool climate; close-knit community; had many friends. Area reminded him of Europe and many came from same vicinity.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   02:30	Louis Witkin's Family Scope and Content Note: Had four children.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   03:05	Separation Between the Two Synagogues Scope and Content Note: Germans, Jewish peddlers were separate. “They didn't want to associate with the Jewish peddlers.”
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   03:45	German Jews in Superior Scope and Content Note: Charlie Frank, an agent for the government.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   06:45	Stories of the First Jews Who Settled in the City Scope and Content Note: Doesn't remember many Kaners. Kaner family had junk shop. Many of their relatives were brought to Superior.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   07:55	Where Witkin Lived Scope and Content Note: Fifth Street and Ogden Avenue for forty-two years; lived amongst Jews, “more satisfied to live with Jews in a strange town.” No problems with Gentiles.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   09:20	Jewish Organizations in Superior Scope and Content Note: Zionist organization; B'nai Brith cemetery association. When Witkin arrived in Superior there was nobody interred at the cemetery.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   10:55	Jewish Families in Superior Scope and Content Note: Where they lived, where they came from.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   15:20	Barney Schneider Discusses “Oklahoma” -- Jewish Ghetto in Superior Scope and Content Note: Explains how Jews in city differed. Tells anecdotes in Yiddish and nicknames of local residents. Gives location of “Oklahoma” district. Peddlers lived in Oklahoma.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   23:05	Barney Schneider Discusses Cemetery Scope and Content Note: More people in cemetery than in city.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   23:40	Jews Excluded from Gentile Organizations in Superior or Duluth Scope and Content Note: Zionist organization was socialistic; “leaned toward communism.”
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   25:50	Schneider Helps Found Conservative Synagogue in Superior Scope and Content Note: Less than sixty families today.
	End of Interview