Respondent
Parker, Meyer
Interview Date
October 30, 1994
Abstract
Respondent. Businessman, born 1907.
[T1S1] Respondent talks about his immediate family; Respondent only sibling born in United States; father's job as construction contractor; why family emigrated from Russia; parent's families; growing up in traditional orthodox Jewish household; attending Beth Jacob Synagogue; childhood memories; attending shuls; Americanization of his first name. Respondent details his elementary and secondary education; religious instruction; Bar Mitzvah at Poale Zedeck; attending Duquesne University law school; working for father's construction company; parent's donating Sefer Torah to synagogue. Respondent continues talking about childhood; friendships; activities; importance of Irene Kaufmann Center; growing up in Hill District. Respondent elaborates on education at Duquesne's college, law school.
[T1S2] Respondent tells story about how he met future wife Edith; her family; how he proposed; their wedding in 1948; her death in 1980; their son; early married life; buying their first house on Forbes; moving to East End. Respondent details son's schooling; religious education. Respondent talks about close extended family. Respondent mentions his siblings; their careers, lives; sons worked in construction or architecture. Respondent recalls his parents; Jewishness didn't interfere with father's business. Respondent talks about experiences in WWII; worked in construction; stationed at Dutch Harbor; very few Jewish soldiers; remembers Jewish service on boat in gun turret; stationed in Hawaii 1943‑44; damage at Pearl Harbor.
[T2S3] Respondent recalls how he learned about Holocaust; watching debates at United Nations in 1948; happiness over creation of state of Israel. Respondent elaborates on father's career as carpenter. Respondent retells father's immigration story. Respondent talks about father's and brothers' company called Parker Bros.; jobs they did.
[T2S4] No abstract for this side.
[T1S1] Respondent talks about his immediate family; Respondent only sibling born in United States; father's job as construction contractor; why family emigrated from Russia; parent's families; growing up in traditional orthodox Jewish household; attending Beth Jacob Synagogue; childhood memories; attending shuls; Americanization of his first name. Respondent details his elementary and secondary education; religious instruction; Bar Mitzvah at Poale Zedeck; attending Duquesne University law school; working for father's construction company; parent's donating Sefer Torah to synagogue. Respondent continues talking about childhood; friendships; activities; importance of Irene Kaufmann Center; growing up in Hill District. Respondent elaborates on education at Duquesne's college, law school.
[T1S2] Respondent tells story about how he met future wife Edith; her family; how he proposed; their wedding in 1948; her death in 1980; their son; early married life; buying their first house on Forbes; moving to East End. Respondent details son's schooling; religious education. Respondent talks about close extended family. Respondent mentions his siblings; their careers, lives; sons worked in construction or architecture. Respondent recalls his parents; Jewishness didn't interfere with father's business. Respondent talks about experiences in WWII; worked in construction; stationed at Dutch Harbor; very few Jewish soldiers; remembers Jewish service on boat in gun turret; stationed in Hawaii 1943‑44; damage at Pearl Harbor.
[T2S3] Respondent recalls how he learned about Holocaust; watching debates at United Nations in 1948; happiness over creation of state of Israel. Respondent elaborates on father's career as carpenter. Respondent retells father's immigration story. Respondent talks about father's and brothers' company called Parker Bros.; jobs they did.
[T2S4] No abstract for this side.
Subjects
Business; Industries; Construction industry; Parker Brothers (Pittsburgh, Pa.); Russia
Birth Date
1907
City
Pittsburgh, PA
Profession
Attorney
Work
business
Residence
Hill District; Squirrel Hil
Occupation (father)
Construction business (Parker Bros.)
Length (hours)
1.2
Interviewer1
Valins, Debbie
Interviewer2
Bastacky, Shulami
Indexer
Frisque
Collateral Materials
Box 104 FF 51
Identifier
ais196440.339
Rights
All rights reserved. University of Pittsburgh
Reproductions