Title: Oral History Interview with Barnet David Schneider
Inclusive Dates: 1977 February 17

Creator:

• Schneider, Barnet David, 1894-

Call Number: Superior Tape 3; Tape 659A

Quantity: 1 tape recording (58 minutes)

Repository:

Housed at 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:

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

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

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Tape-recorded interview conducted February 17, 1977, by Laurie J. Tarlowe with Barnet Schneider, concerning his youth in New York City and Superior, Wisconsin, his work and military experiences, and the Jewish community in Superior.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-tape00659a

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Barnet David Schneider was born about 1894 in New York City. The second of six children born to Jewish immigrant parents, Mr. Schneider moved with his family to Superior, Wisconsin, in 1908. Educated in the public schools and a veteran of World War I, he has lived in Superior for almost seventy years. Until his retirement, he was employed as secretary and treasurer of the Superior Transportation Authority.

Interview

Because of his extensive residency in Superior and his commitment to his fellow Jews, Mr. Schneider was chosen to participate in an oral history project utilized in a study of the history of the Jewish community of Superior.

The strength of this interview lies in Mr. Schneider's candor and humor on a variety of subjects. The interview took place February 17, 1977, at the Schneider home in Superior and includes remarks by Rose Vogel Schneider, who was later taped independently of her husband.

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 container list notes, 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 “Comparison of Superior and New York” should locate the place on the second track of tape one, side one, where the voice announces the 03:25 time-marking (the voice says at this point, “three minutes, twenty five seconds”), and at this point switch to the first track to hear the discussion. The discussion on “Comparison of Superior and New York” continues until approximately 06:40 at which point discussion of the next topic (“Discussion of Barney Schneider's Mother's Family”) begins.

Notice that in most cases sentences beneath each headline explain more about the contents of the topic. For example, the sentences underneath “Comparison of Superior and New York” give further details on what appears on the tape between 03:25 and 06:40.

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, it will help the researcher easily locate distinct topics and discussions among the many minutes of commentary.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Laurie J. Tarlowe, February 1, 1978.

Processing Information

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

Tape/Side   1/1 Time   00:00	Introduction
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   00:50	Background
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   01:05	Reasons Schneider Family Moved to Superior Scope and Content Note: Father's business bankrupt in New York and father's brother who lived in Duluth urged family to join him. Father went to Superior, family followed one year later. Discussion about Barney Schneider's brothers and sisters.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   03:25	Comparison of Superior and New York Scope and Content Note: Many more Jews in New York; in Superior Jews forced to live together because of anti-Semitic feelings. Discusses anti-Semitism in Superior and Gentile community reaction to Jewish peddlers. Description of peddling and description of father's fruit peddling route.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   06:40	Discussion of Barney Schneider's Mother's Family Scope and Content Note: Mother's family lived in New York and Chicago; anecdote about his cousin Sonny Werblin and Joe Namath.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   08:00	Jewish Neighborhoods and Superior's Synagogues Scope and Content Note: Location of Jewish neighborhood; discussion of rabbis who served the community.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   10:45	Jewish Businesses in Superior Scope and Content Note: Siegel Brothers were peddlers first; mentions Lasky family.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   11:45	Barney Schneider as a Secretary to Superintendent of the Soo Line Railroad Scope and Content Note: First job after graduation from high school; traveled in a private car with porter and cook but quit when he didn't get a raise. Took another job with the Great Northern Railway.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   12:50	Barney Schneider Enlists in Army Scope and Content Note: Appointed acting corporal. Anecdote about fight he had with another soldier who had made anti-Semitic remarks to him. Schneider reprimanded but wired his boss at the Great Northern Railway who informed captain of Schneider's good character.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   16:40	Captain Offers Barney Schneider Job in Duluth Scope and Content Note: Accountant and secretary.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   17:45	Discussion of Barney Schneider's Childhood Friends and Prominent Families in Jewish Community
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   19:25	Schneider Family as Synagogue Members Scope and Content Note: Discussion of women in the synagogue; Jewish organizations in Superior.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   21:30	Grocery Store Opened by Barney Schneider's Father
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   21:55	Schneider Family Kept Kosher Scope and Content Note: Three or four kosher butchers in Superior.
Tape/Side   1/1 Time   23:50	Jewish Population Trends in Superior Scope and Content Note: About three hundred families in 1907-1908. Children began to leave because of lack of opportunities. City industry disappeared; only older people remained.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   00:00	Introduction
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   01:35	Schneider's Work as Mining Engineer Scope and Content Note: Received large bonus every year.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   02:00	Anti-Semitism in Superior
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   03:50	Schneider's High School Experiences Scope and Content Note: Less than ten students were Jewish; his wife Rose was blonde and did not look Jewish. Talks about parties and Jewish basketball team called Young Men's Hebrew Association. Had some Gentile friends.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   07:15	Barney Schneider's Parents Scope and Content Note: Father well-educated; mother remarried after his father died. Mother came to Superior to join husband.
Tape/Side   1/2 Time   09:40	Delivering Meat by Sled to Rabbi's House