Gertrude Glogower (Audio Only)
Interviewed by Mary Baroff
November 1975
Home of Gertrude Glogower
Gertrude Glogower (Audio Only)
Video 01:02:47
Gertrude Glogower (Audio Only)
Audio 01:02:47
Abstract
Gertrude Glogower speaks about her childhood and family life, being a teacher in St. Louis, and about marrying Samuel Glogower in 1914 and moving to Detroit, where he worked. Once in Detroit, she discusses her activities including joining Temple Beth El and taking part in the Jewish Women’s Club, which would become the National Council of Jewish Women, Detroit Chapter.
She discusses some of the programs she participated in, like the Penny Lunch program, which was a catalyst to the school lunch program in public schools.
Gertrude talks about the formation of the Jewish Community Center and serving as the president. She recollects Jewish life in the 1910s through 1940s, when many of the aid organizations formed or were unified under the Jewish Welfare Federation and reflects on many of the communal leaders.
History of Narrator
Gertrude Glogower was born in New York City on June 27, 1884. Her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri when she was five years old. After completing high schools, she completed a four-year program to become a teacher. She taught for twelve years, until her marriage to Samuel Glogower in 1914. Gertrude joined her husband in Detroit, where he worked for Johnson & Johnson, company which manufactured surgical supplies. Mr. Glogower passed away in 1937.
Gertrude was prolific in her community involvement. She served on the National Jewish Welfare Board, National Council of Jewish Women, United Service Organization, Jewish Welfare Federation, and the first woman in the country to become president of a Jewish Community Center. In 1952, she was the recipient of the Frank L. Weil Award, the first woman to receive the award. Gertrude Glogower passed away on July 23, 1979, at the age of 95.
Transcript
Important Subjects
Important Names
Credit as: Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives, Gertrude Glogower Oral History Interview (2017.03.3), Nov 1975.