Chaya Ruchel Andres was first interviewed by Miriam Creemer in March 1981.

The image above is of Chaya as a young woman, taken in the 1920s. The image to left of the audio player was taken in 1920 and is featured in Chaya’s book Years Have Sped By.

 She was a prolific writer, especially in regards to poetry–often written in her native Yiddish. Chaya lived in Dallas for many decades, participating in a variety of organizations and raising a family, all of whom have been influential in the Dallas community.

Listen to her interviews below.

 1981:

Ruth and Richard Albert were interviewed by Rosalind Benjet on June 7, 1999.

Richard Melvin Albert was born in San Antonio and spent his childhood living in both Dallas and San Antonio. After a year at the University of Texas, Richard Albert went into the military. After his service, he attended SMU and later worked at the Byer-Rolnick Hat Company for over 40 years. Regarding the Jewish community, he was on the board of the American Jewish Committee and was involved with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. He was also president of the Dallas Golf Association.

Ruth Rolnick Albert grew up in both South Dallas and Highland Park and attended Highland Park High School. She was a Mortar Board alumni and served as president of the Mortar Board Alumni chapter in Dallas. She was also vice-president of the Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood and worked with her husband Richard Albert for the American Jewish Committee.

Listen to their interview below.

Herman Abrams was Interviewed by Ginger Jacobs on February 5, 1985.

Herman Abrams was a branch manager for Toddy Pictures Company, a distributor of black films in Dallas, in 1943. Later, Professor Bill Jones of SMU asked Abrams to appear on a panel for SMU’s black film festival in 1985 in order to discuss the background and history of black films in America along with Ossie Davis, William Greaves, and Dr. Barbara Bryant. In the interview, he talks about the history of black film distribution in America and Dallas and about Ted Toddy, the Jewish man who founded Toddy Pictures Company.

 Listen to his interview below.

Pearl Ablon was interviewed by Ginger Jacobs on July 21, 1982.

Pearl Rude Ablon’s brother, Sam Rude, was the first in the family to emigrate from Europe, arriving in New York in 1913. Later her parents followed Sam to America, bringing Pearl and siblings Joe, Max and Sandy.  They settled in Dallas, where Pearl’s father was in the dry goods clothing business.  Like many in the Jewish Community, Pearl attended Forest Avenue High School, where she excelled, graduating as class valedictorian. 

When they first came to Dallas, Pearl’s family, among many other Jewish families who had just arrived in the city, lived at the Ambassador hotel. Many of these families banded together to form great and lasting friendships. The Rude family later moved to the Jewish area of South Dallas in the 2900 block of Park Row.  At first the family attended the orthodox synagogue Tiferet Israel, and then later Temple Emanu-El. 

Old City Park offered great fun for families, and Pearl especially enjoyed the park during the hot summer months when everyone hung out by the fountains. During the Jewish holidays, after children’s services, the young people would go to Old City Park, while their parents remained at the Synagogue.  The park offered a safe place for all of the children to play.

Pearl’s family taught her the importance of giving back to one’s community. Each holiday season, the Rude Family gave free clothing to the needy.  Pearl belonged to two social clubs while growing up in Dallas because of her involvement at both school and at Temple Emanu-El.  Temple members were active at the Columbian Club, and her school group occupied Park View.

Pearl married Bernard Ablon in 1926 at the Adolphus Hotel.  Bernard was in the poultry business, and the couple built a home at 5314 Nakoma. Pearl and Bernard had two sons, Sam and Fred; both graduated from Highland Park High School and went on to study at Texas A&M University, graduating in the 1950s.

Pearled belonged to many Jewish organizations including; National Council of Jewish Women, Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood, Hadassah and ORT. She was also co-editor of the Hadassah news bulletin. The Ablons also enjoyed the culture of Dallas at the Dallas Symphony and the Opera.  The Ablons remained life long members of the Columbian Club.

Listen to her interview below.