Welcome to the JHSFC Oral History Collection
The JHSFC Archives is the repository of over 426 personal histories.
This includes audio tapes, video tapes, CDs, DVDs, media and digital files.
These personal recollections and reminiscences provide researchers with an
intimate understanding of the Jewish experience in Fairfield County.
These are a unique collection of unpublished primary source materials
that document the Fairfield County Jewish experience and beyond.
Sub-collections include the following:
Evelyn "Evvy" Fowler Oral History - June 9, 2009
Evvy Fowler's Oral History is part of the Oral History Project initiated
by The Jewish Historical Society of Fairfield County to record the life
stories and contributions of residents who have enriched the Jewish
history of Fairfield County.
During this national moment of reckoning, do you wonder about the history of
racial unrest and race relations in Fairfield County? What is the story in Stamford,
and who can tell us about what happened in the sixties? From the JHSFC Archives to you,
here is an interview with Mort Lowenthal, who will tell you about the role he played as the first
Chair of the Human Rights Commission, set up by Mayor Thomas C. Mayers.
Around the time of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., there
was unrest and violence all over the county. In Stamford, people were
beginning to gather in the streets. The Human Rights Commission came up
with an unconventional strategy to prevent riots. Mort Lowenthal tells
the story of how the city of Stamford achieved a monumental moment of
social justice by insisting on respect and compassion. Do you want to
know how they did it? Watch the video and listen as Mort describes one
long night that averted a potential catastrophe.
Mort Lowenthal Oral History - March 14, 2016
Carl Bennett Oral History - April 17, 2017
Carl Bennett, the founder of Caldor department stores, was an entrepreneur and philanthropist. His legacy includes the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital, Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University, Jewish Senior Services (Bridgeport) and contributions to Greenwich Hospital.
Paul Plotkin narrates his WWII active duty military experiences,
including surviving the disastrous sinking of the SS Léopoldville,
the Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo passenger liner converted for
use as a troopship. On December 24, 1944, while sailing between Southampton and
Cherbourg, the ship was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine
U-486. Of the 2,235 US servicemen on board, about 515 are presumed to
have gone down with the ship. Another 248 died from injuries, drowning,
or hypothermia. An unknown number of British soldiers died. The American
soldiers were ordered not to tell anyone about the sinking of the ship
and their letters home were censored by the Army during the rest of
World War II. Paul celebrated his 100th birthday on June 19, 2021 and was honored by the Derry, NH VFW.
This interview was conducted in conjunction with the Veterans History
Project of the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Paul Plotkin Oral History - May 23, 2021
Oral Histories
We have the technology to record oral histories today for future generations, and like an extended family where grandparents share their wisdom with the next generations, we want to learn about and share your family's stories.
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