Oral history interview with Rosa From Poliakoff, 1995.

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Oral history interview with Rosa From Poliakoff, 1995.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48850873

Interview begins with a discussion of Ms. Poliakoff's parents, Israel and Bertha From, who immigrated to the U.S. (ca. 1905) from Poneveys, Lithuania. She recounts details of their separate journeys to America (via. England and Germany). Poliakoff describes her childhood in Union, South Carolina, (where hers was the only Jewish family) including details of her birth, orthodox Jewish upbringing and parent's determination to maintain their Jewish identity. Also mentioned are Israel From's successful business, I. From Dry Goods and Notions; worship services held at the family home; and attendance at a synagogue in Spartanburg, SC. Other family-related topics include Bertha From's correspondence and aid to relatives in Lithuania, and a detailed account of a family automobile trip to Worchester, MA. Discussion includes references to African American workers employed by the From family. Other topics include circumstances surrounding the meeting of Rosa From and her husband, Myer Poliakoff. During the interview, Ms. Poliakoff frequently mentions the importance of Jewish identity and tradition in both the From and Poliakoff families. She describes her mother's extreme adherence to orthodox Judaism, her family's quest to keep a kosher household and her own struggle to adhere to the practices while attending Agnes Scott College. Other subjects include the amicable relationship between the Froms and the Poliakoffs, solidarity among Jewish merchants during the Depression, and Rosa's childhood memories of groups soliciting donations for Jewish academies.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette.Transcript : 28 p. ; 28 cm.

College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7598644

College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library

Related Entities

There are 10 Entities related to this resource.

Poliakoff family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6037snj (family)

I. From Dry Goods and Notions (Union, S.C.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63545df (corporateBody)

Poliakoff, Myer, 1911-1985.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66q3wcr (person)

Poliakoff Department Store (Abbeville, S.C.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6wb0vrj (corporateBody)

From, Bertha, 1885-1969.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nk5dz0 (person)

Rosengarten, Dale, 1948-...

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m04dd8 (person)

Agnes Scott College

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k6913b (corporateBody)

Agnes Scott College was chartered in 1889 in Decatur, Georgia as the Decatur Female Seminary. In 1890, due to a large donation by George W. Scott, the school was renamed Agnes Scott Institute to honor his mother. In 1906 the name again changed to Agnes Scott College and by 1907 the College was admitted to the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools as a college member. From the description of Faculty meeting minutes, 1931-1946. (Agnes Scott College). WorldCat record id...

Froom family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rg4w6f (family)

From, Israel.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69g7mw6 (person)

Poliakoff, Rosa From, 1914-1999,

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b58jwz (person)

Rosa and Myer Poliakoff lived in Abbeville, SC. The family business, Poliakoff Department store, operated in Abbeville from 1900-2000. From the description of Oral history interview with Rosa From Poliakoff, 1995. (College of Charleston). WorldCat record id: 48850873 ...