Anne Stern Solomon sits down for a third interview in 2015 (see also Mss. 1035-484 and -485) and adds details about her life, especially in the years before, during, and after World War II. She worked at Fort Jackson in her hometown of Columbia, SC, following her graduation from Winthrop College in 1940. About three years later, she left the fort to help her father, Gabriel Stern, in his dry goods store on Assembly Street. She describes what information they were getting about events in Europe during the war years; they were aware that people were trying to leave, but they did not know specifics about the treatment of Jews. Shortly after her fiance, Ted Solomon, returned from overseas duty in 1945, they were married by Rabbi David Karesh in House of Peace Synagogue on Marion Street. Ted and Anne's brother, Henry, also newly returned from service in World War II, took over Gabriel's store. Anne discusses race relations in Columbia in the 1960s and says of her family: "We were all taught not to be prejudiced because we knew that, especially in Europe, how bad it was when it came to antisemitism." She cites a few examples of antisemitism that she and her sister experienced, but notes that it generally was not an issue in Columbia. Anne recalls the arrival, in 1949, of Holocaust survivors Ben and Jadzia Stern, with their daughter, Lilly, the interviewer; they were sponsored by Anne's father, who was an uncle. Anne talks about her children, Bonnie, Teri, Charlene, and Joel, and about a program she started at the Jewish Community Center, called Stems, which engaged girls, ages ten through thirteen, in activities for enrichment, fund-raising, and recreation. Anne was active in local civic organizations, Jewish and non-Jewish, and went to work for realtor Tillie Lewenthal after her children were grown. When Tillie retired, Anne took over the business. The interviewee describes her involvement in Hadassah, her feelings about the State of Israel, and her Jewish identity.
Caroline, Irvin, and Raymond Rosenblum reminisce about growing-up in Anderson, South Carolina, recalling their older siblings, relatives, neighbors, and Jewish religious observance. Their parents, Nathan and Freida Rosenblum, Polish immigrants, lived in several small South Carolina towns and Miami, Florida, before settling in Anderson in 1933. Caroline recounts her work history, and Irvin describes his eleven months in the navy at the end of World War II. Raymond served in the Naval Reserves while he attended medical school. Under the Berry Plan, his active duty was deferred until he completed his residency in urology.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his brother, Armant Legendre, wishing him a happy birthday, describing a lunch he had with a friend and weekend spent at a relative, Kathrine and Uncle Charlie’s, house.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, discussing his options of where and when to leave his Navy post and the post-war changes being made to the island. Enclosed is a letter from Robert F. Knoth to Sidney Legendre regarding the possibilities and profit of the timbering of Medway Plantation.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his wife, Gertrude Legendre, regarding the atmosphere of the island now that the Pacific war was drawing to a close, the issues on the island with workers unionizing, and his new assignment in the Navy to present men with medals. Enclosed is a second letter from Sidney Legendre to Gertrude Legendre, regarding the business affairs of the dress shop and describing a house where he had attended dinner.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding a pair of earrings she recently bought at Cartier and her disappointment at already losing one down a subway vent.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding life in New York after her return from Europe, the return of a friend from the war, and the week she spent with their relatives, Katherine and Charlie. Gertrude continues in her letter to discuss a possible scheme to join him in Hawaii.
Letter from Sidney Legendre to his brother, Armant Legendre, lamenting Armant’s lack of release from the Navy and recounting a story he heard about the entire fleet chasing a single submarine around the Pacific.
Letter from Gertrude Legendre to her husband, Sidney Legendre, regarding their daughter, Bokara’s, birthday party, discussing business affairs, Sidney’s dress shop in Hawaii, and his return to the continental United States.
