Growing up Jewish in Lithuania

Scope and Contents

Sam Kantrowitz discusses his immigration from Russia first to New York then to Hartford to join his sister. He left because of violence and pogroms. He became a furrier, which had been his family's trade in Russia and was the owner of Connecticut Furriers into the 1960s. He met his wife Gussie in 1910 and they married in 1912.

Abstract GREATER HARTFORD JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONTape No.: 6 No. of Tapes: Name of Interviewee: Samuel Kantrowitz Date of Interview: October 1968 Occupation: Furrier Date of Birth: Circa 1897 Place of Birth: Pinsk, Lithuania Transcript (yes/no): yes No. of Pages: 8Abstract: Mr. Kantrowitz has been in the furrier business known as Connecticut Furriers for 50 years in partnership with Israel Neiditch. He came to America in 1906 at age 17...

Scope and Contents The majority of this file contains information concernin the variety of entertainment events that Louis Katz participated in, often in the role of MC. While he was most known for his entertainment, his official profession was the opperation of the cafeteria in the Kolodney building on Capital Ave for nearly three decades. The file primarily contains newspaper articles and clippings about these events, various lettes of correspondence, and several programs/posters for events he participated...

Scope and Contents

Subjects covered during interview include: Family history in Lituania, Work, Marriage (Ethel), theater (some topics not found in incomplete transcript).

Family history in Hartford/Mass area, Sophie Tucker, his time as an entertainer at various society functions in CT and up and down te eastern seaboard.

Katz family all related-at times unclear how. See Katz Family Tree for more information.

Scope and Contents

subjects of interview include: growing up Jewish in Lithuania pre-world war II; anti-semitism in Lithuania; World War II; the Kovno Ghetto; the Holocaust; attempt to escape the Kovno Ghetto; hiding with a farm family; failure of US forces to adequately halt Holocaust in final days of war; immigration to United States; lingering anti-semitism in America at low level but still dangerous.