Zilboorg, Eugenia.

James Zilboorg was born Jakov Movshevich Zil'burg in Kiev, September 3, 1892. Eugenia Zilboorg was born Evgenia Minaevna Gel'fman in Kiev in the 1890s. James emigrated to the U.S. in 1914 and Eugenia followed in 1915. They became American citizens but lived for many years in Mexico. Several of James and Eugenia's family members also emigrated from Kiev, going to Denmark, France, Danzig, Palestine, New York and joining them in Mexico.

The Gel'fman name is also spelled Gelfman, Helfman and Helfmann. The Zil'burg name is Americanized as Zilboorg.

In 1914 James began a lifelong career in engineering working for Westinghouse Corporation in Pittsburgh. He later worked for their international subsidary in Mexico and for other international and Mexican companies in the electrical power industry. In 1961 James retired and the couple moved to Long Island, where James died in 1968.

Menashe Khaimovich Gel'fman, Eugenia's father, ran export and trade businesses in Kiev and Danzig, dealing in such products as flour, sugar, tobacco and wine. Eugenia's siblings include Minia (who emigrated to France and married a woman named Evgenia), Emma Andersen (who emigrated to Denmark and married Kai Andersen), IUzia (who emigrated to Haifa, Palestine and eventually to New York and married a woman named Hilda), Sofia Spektareva (who remained in Russia and worked in education), Vera (who lived with the Zilboorgs in Mexico before marrying Oleg Saitcevitsky) and Liza.

James's parents, Moshe M. Zil'burg and wife, also emigrated to Mexico and lived in Mexico City. Siblings of James include Esther Levitas (who emigrated to Mexico and married Solomon Levitas), Gregory (who emigrated to New York and became a notable scholar of psychoanalysis) and Basia Osherov. For further details about the life and work of Gregory Zilboorg, readers may consult the Gregory Zilboorg Papers, YCAL MSS 258 .

James and Eugenia Zilboorg had three daughters: Natalie Fiess, Olga Irvine and Lydia Cato.

From the guide to the James and Eugenia Zilboorg papers, 1898-1972, (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)