Brody family papers
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Abstract
The papers consist of material related to the Brody family of Brooklyn, specifically brothers (Israel) George Brody and David Allen Brody. The papers document the brothers days as students in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and include school publications, class photographs, autograph books, and certificates. It also contains a bound transcript of an oral history interview with George Brody, conducted by the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In the interview, Brody discusses his youth in Williamsburg and the Eastern European Jewish immigrant experience during the 1920s and the Great Depression.
Biographical note
Samuel Brody was born around Kaunas, Lithuania, in about 1880. His wife, Lillian ("Lily") Brody, was also born in this area around 1890. Samuel immigrated to New York City in 1906, where he met and married Lily. Both were of Jewish descent. For a time they lived at 75 Johnson Avenue, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and later moved to 79 Johnson Avenue. Samuel became a naturalized citizen in 1928. He worked in the garmet industry for most of his life. They had two sons, Israel George Brody and David Allan Brody. Samuel died in 1940, followed by Lily in 1955.
Israel George Brody (later he legally shortened his name to "George Brody") was born in Brooklyn on December 4, 1913. He was a graduate of Isaac Remsen Junior High School (1927) and the Eastern District High School. He then attended the City College of New York (Class of 1942). After graduating from CCNY, he moved to Detroit and then attended the University of Michigan Law School (Class of 1947). He later attended New York University, eventually obtaining a Master of Law degree in taxation. He was appointed a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for the Eastern District of Michigan around 1960, a postition he held until retirement in 1988. After retirement, he continued to work as a bankruptcy judge in San Diego on a part-time basis. He never married. He died on March 6, 2008.
David Allan Brody was born in Brooklyn on June 24, 1916. He was a graduate of Isaac Remsen Junior High School (1930) and Boys' High School (1932). He attended the City College of New York (Class of 1936) and then Columbia Law School (Class of 1940). He moved to Washington DC, and then married Beatrice Kramer in 1943. He served in the Navy during World War II, and after the war was hired by the Anti-Defamation League in 1949. In 1965 he was appointed Washington Director, serving as the chief lobbyist for the ADL. He retired in 1989, and died on June 26, 2004.
Samuel Brody was born around Kaunas, Lithuania, in about 1880. His wife, Lillian ("Lily") Brody, was also born in this area around 1890. Samuel immigrated to New York City in 1906, where he met and married Lily. Both were of Jewish descent. For a time they lived at 75 Johnson Avenue, in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and later moved to 79 Johnson Avenue. Samuel became a naturalized citizen in 1928. He worked in the garment industry for most of his life. They had two sons, Israel George Brody and David Allan Brody. Samuel died in 1940, followed by Lily in 1955.
Israel George Brody (later he legally shortened his name to "George Brody") was born in Brooklyn on December 4, 1913. He was a graduate of Isaac Remsen Junior High School (1927) and the Eastern District High School. He then attended the City College of New York (Class of 1942). After graduating from CCNY, he moved to Detroit and then attended the University of Michigan Law School (Class of 1947). He later attended New York University, eventually obtaining a Master of Law degree in taxation. He was appointed a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for the Eastern District of Michigan around 1960, a position he held until retirement in 1988. After retirement, he continued to work as a bankruptcy judge in San Diego on a part-time basis. He never married. He died on March 6, 2008.
David Allan Brody was born in Brooklyn on June 24, 1916. He was a graduate of Isaac Remsen Junior High School (1930) and Boys' High School (1932). He attended the City College of New York (Class of 1936) and then Columbia Law School (Class of 1940). He moved to Washington DC, and then married Beatrice Kramer in 1943. He served in the Navy during World War II, and after the war was hired by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in 1949. In 1965 he was appointed Washington Director, serving as the chief lobbyist for the ADL. He retired in 1989, and died on June 26, 2004.
Sources
- "Conversations with George" oral history transcript, 1996, 2001
- Donor correspondence, 2014
Scope and Contents
The papers consist of material related to the Brody family of Brooklyn, specifically brothers (Israel) George Brody and David Allen Brody. The papers document the brothers days as students in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and include school publications, class photographs, autograph books, and certificates. It also contains a bound transcript of an oral history interview with George Brody, conducted by the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. In the interview, Brody discusses his youth in Williamsburg and the Eastern European Jewish immigrant experience during the 1920s and the Great Depression.
Inventory
School publications
The Blue and Gold. Isaac Remsen Junior High School. June 1927
Eastern District Daisy. Eastern District High School. June 1930
Forum Latinum. Boys' High School. 2 issues, 1931-1932
Senior Recorder. Boys' High School. 3 copies, June 1932
Class photographs
Eastern District High School class photograph, 1930
Boys' High School class photograph, 1932
School certificates
NYC High School admission certificate, Israel Brody, 1927
University of the State of New York college entrance diploma, David Brody, 1932
School autograph books
Isaac Remsen Junior High Schools, 1927 and 1930
Other items
1 clipping from the Toledo Blade, circa 1950
"Conversations with George Bundy" bound typescript; oral history conducted by The Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2001
Subjects
Organizations
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Schools publications and class photographs are in the public domain. Copyright for "Conversations with George Brody" is held by the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brody family papers, 2014.005, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Existence and Location of Originals
The George Brody oral history interview transcript included in these papers was conducted by the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. To access the recordings, please see the Michigan Oral History Project.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Ann Brody, 2014.
Other Finding Aids
Item level description and digital versions of some images from the collection are available for searching via the image database in the library. Please consult library staff for more information.