Guide to the Samuel E. Goldfarb Papers
1912-1981

Biographical Note

Samuel E. Goldfarb was often called "the father of Jewish music in America." He was born in 1891 on the Lower East Side of New York City to a musical family. He sang as a choirboy in the synagogues and learned to read music from his older brother, Israel. Samuel Goldfarb studied music at Columbia University while he supported himself by playing piano in a nickelodeon and for a Yiddish vaudeville theater. After attending Columbia, Goldfarb did some composing, arranging, accompanying, and choir conducting. He spent a year in Reno, Nevada, from 1923 to 1924, where he played theater piano and organ and also played for parties and dances. While in Reno, he was appointed acting cantor at Temple Emanu-El, where he organized a choir. Goldfarb returned to New York in 1925 and decided to devote himself to Jewish music. He was appointed head of the music department of the Bureau of Jewish Education.

Goldfarb was a prolific composer of songs and other music. Together with his brother, Rabbi Israel Goldfarb, he composed hundreds of songs which are sung in Jewish schools. In 1925 the two brothers compiled the first American collection of Jewish songs, The Jewish Songster. This collection, in two volumes, was used in schools throughout the country and included some of Goldfarb's songs. The brothers also compiled Friday Evening Melodies. Among Samuel Goldfarb's compositions are biblical operettas, the best known being "The Jews in Egypt" (1926), Bible songs, festival songs, and choral music. His most famous song is "The Dreidel," which is sung during Chanukah by children throughout the world.

In 1930 Samuel Goldfarb visited Seattle to attend a wedding and accepted the post of music director of Temple de Hirsch. Goldfarb built an impressive music program at Temple de Hirsch. Over the years he established three children's choirs and trained generations of children in music. In addition to the children's choirs, he directed the adult choirs, the graduate school glee club, the Sisterhood Chorus, the Professional High Holy Days Choir, and the Temple Quartet. Goldfarb also served as organist and conducted from the organ. Besides directing his choirs, he coached singers and taught Hebrew School classes. At times more than 1,200 adults and children were under his tutelage.

Outside of the temple, "Mr. G," as he was affectionately known, directed the Halevy Singers and the Sephardic Men's Choir. He also arranged music for Susan and Maurice Friedman's "Cavalcade of Jewish Music" and coached Maurice Friedman.

While at Temple de Hirsch, Goldfarb continued to compose and arrange music for use by his choirs. He also composed some secular music, such as "I See an America," a musical setting of a speech by Adlai Stevenson. This widely hailed work was performed in a choral arrangement by the Seattle Chorale in 1965.

At his 25th anniversary celebration at Temple de Hirsch in 1956, Goldfarb and his wife were presented with a trip to Europe and Israel. The Goldfarbs returned from Europe aboard the Andrea Doria and were rescued at sea after their ship collided with a Swedish vessel. In 1968 Goldfarb retired as music director at Temple de Hirsch. He died in Seattle in 1978.

Scope and Content

The papers document the life and work of Samuel E. Goldfarb. Accession No. 2784-001 contains an oral history interview from 1978 in which Goldfarb discusses his life and work, and also a small collection of letters, clippings, and ephemera. Accession No. 2784-003 is comprised largely of Goldfarb's compositions of sacred and secular vocal and instrumental music, and of songbooks composed or compiled by Goldfarb. This grouping of material also includes biographical information, correspondence, sound recordings, and other materials.

Arrangement

The collection is comprised of two accessions:

• Accession No. 2784-001, Samuel E. Goldfarb papers, 1923-1978
• Accession No. 2784-003, Samuel E. Goldfarb papers, 1912-1981

Restrictions on Use

The creator's literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Restrictions on Access

The papers are open to all users.

Original analog audio discs are not accessible due to preservation concerns; however, listening copies are available in the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries.

Access to archival recordings: Due to the fragility of archival tape recordings, potential users may be required to arrange for transfer to digital format before the material can be accessed. Please contact Special Collections for further information.

Separated Material

Duplicate books, records, and music, as well as materials outside the collecting scope of the University of Washington Libraries were donated to Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle.

Preferred Citation

Samuel E. Goldfarb Papers. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

Acquisition Info

The bulk of the collection was a gift of Samuel Goldfarb's son, Michael Goldfarb, and Michael's brothers, January 16, 1984.

Processing Info

A small number of papers that were donated by Samuel Goldfarb in 1978 have been consolidated with Accession 2784-003. These consist of several letters, issues of the Temple Tidings newsletter, and newspaper clippings. A Workman's Circle membership certificate, Accession 2784-002, donated in 1982, is also included in Accession 2784-003.

The photographs included in Goldfarb's papers were relocated to the Washington State Jewish Archives Photograph Collection, PH Coll 650, in the Special Collections division, University of Washington Libraries, in May 1985 and April 1986.

Sheet music and 5 audio discs were transferred to the University of Washington Music Library on May 16, 1984. Nine songbooks and hymnals were transferred to the Music Library on March 29, 1985.

Other Finding Aids

The photographs that form part of this collection are described and indexed in A Guide to the Washington State Jewish Archives Photographs Collection, available in the Special Collections division of the University of Washington Libraries.

Inventory