Jewish Oral Histories
What is the Jewish Oral History Project?
Salt Lake City is home to many different communities that have come to thrive in Utah, and these communities are by no means limited to a select demographic. Different ethnicities, religions, economic backgrounds, and more all come together to create a distinctly diverse culture which is made clear by oral history. The Jewish oral history project services this culture by providing a catalogue of the lives of Jewish Americans living in Utah. From 1972 to 1977, countless hours of audio and written interviews were conducted by the American West Center so that the stories of those who have been a part of Salt Lake City since the turn of the 20th century are not lost to history. The Jewish oral history project is only one facet of the center’s extensive work, but this collection in particular is hard to ignore for its sheer quality and quantity of content. With stories ranging from childhood immigration to growing up in Salt Lake City, the range of these stories is tremendous. Often these interview revolve around common themes experienced throughout the Jewish community, namely immigration, work, influential figures, and everyday life in Utah. The following sections will delve into these stories and help identify these common themes in Jewish life, helping us to understand a culture that is now deeply ingrained in Utah history.
The Jewish oral history project is only one facet of the center’s extensive work, but this collection in particular is hard to ignore for its sheer quality and quantity of content. With stories ranging from childhood immigration overseas to Utah to growing up in Salt Lake City itself, the range of these stories is tremendous. Often these interview revolve around common themes experienced throughout the Jewish community, namely immigration, work, influential figures, and everyday life in Utah. The following sections will delve into these stories and help identify these common themes in Jewish life, helping us to understand a culture that is now deeply ingrained in Utah history.