Oral history interview with Albert M. Franco, July 13, 1978.

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Oral history interview with Albert M. Franco, July 13, 1978.

Oral history interview with Albert M. Franco, July 13, 1978.

https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv13281?q=albert%20franco

Franco describes his parents, who emigrated from the Isle of Rhodes in 1909 and 1910. They came to Seattle and started a produce business in Pike Place Market. His father was active in the Jewish Welfare Society, the Sephardic Talmud Torah, and the Seattle Progressive Fraternity. His mother was an early president of the Women's Auxiliary of Ezra Bessaroth. Franco talks about his family's home on Yesler Way and his academic education. He describes his Jewish education at the Sephardic Talmud Torah at Ezra Bessaroth and at Temple de Hirsch Religious School. He recalls a debate over forming a Jewish day school. He also discusses friction between Sephardim and Eastern European Ashkenazim, and the blackballing of Sephardic students by Jewish fraternities and sororities until the end of World War II. He notes that German Reform Jews led by Rabbi Koch were helpful to local Sephardim. Franco describes Sephardic youth groups of the 1920s: the Young Hebrew Literary Club (later the Junior Sephardic League), Seattle Progressive Fraternity, and the Ladino theater. He recounts meetings at the Settlement Center and efforts to amalgamate the two Sephardic synagogues. Franco discusses his involvement in B'nai B'rith. He drew up the 1947 charter for their Hillel Foundation at the University of Washington. He was also active in their Anti-Defamation League, and talks about the League's efforts to establish the Washington State Fair Employment Practices Commission and their support for the Black community, stressing the importance of cooperation among minorities. Franco also served as president for the American Jewish Committee and compares this organization with the Anti-Defamation League. He describes his role in AJC intergroup relations. He also mentions his work with the Federated Jewish Fund in the in early 1960s, his chairmanship of the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation (1966-1970), his three terms on the Mayor's Human Rights Commission (Seattle), and his service in U.S. Army Intelligence during World War II. Franco closes the interview explaining the history of Zionism among Sephardim.

Sound recordings: 2 sound cassettes : analog, mono.Transcript: 45 leaves.

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