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Fish Family papers

 Collection
Identifier: IWA1023

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Scope and Contents

The Fish Family papers date from 1922 to 2015 and measure 5 linear inches. The papers are split into four series Ben Fish Tire, Jewish Community, Photographs, and Artifacts.

The Ben Fish Tire series (1922-2015) contains materials related to the Fish family’s business, Ben Fish Tire. It includes a legal documents pertaining to its founding, newspaper articles, a coupon book, and publicity for its’ 100th anniversary.

The Jewish Community series (1942-1960) contains materials related to Jewish life in Sioux City. It includes packets distributed by Jewish youth groups and women’s groups on the observance of various Jewish holidays including Hanukkah, Simchat Torah, Sukkot, and Purim, and a publication by the parents of the local Beth Shalom Schools entitled The Jewish Home Beautiful. This series also contains a hardcover copy of The New Hadassah (1942) and Cooking with Shaare Zion, a cookbook put out by the women of Sioux City’s synagogue, Shaare Zion.

The Photographs series contains four photographs of the Fish family, and Ben Fish Tire from the 20th century.

The Artifacts series includes memorabilia from Ben Fish Tire’s 100th anniversary celebration including a frisbee, a beach ball, and a t-shirt, and also houses a porcelain figurine of a woman skating, a spoon collection, and a Jewish National Fund money box.

Dates

  • Creation: 1922-2015

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The papers are open for research.

Biographical / Historical

The Fish family lived and operated an auto repair shop, Ben Fish Tire, in Sioux City, for over 100 years. They were members of a local Jewish community that included the Beth Shalom and Shaare Zion congregations. Ben Fish, an immigrant from Russia, began selling groceries in Sioux City in 1915. He added tires and auto accessories to his stock in addition to food and eventually transitioned to running an exclusively auto repair shop, Ben Fish Tire. After his retirement, Ben Fish’s son, Louie Fish, continued to run the store. Ben Fish continued to visit the store every day until the age of 98 and died in 1982 at the age of 99. Louie Fish’s son, Ron Fish, purchased Ben Fish Tire in 1982. After his death in 2001, his sister, Sarilye Atlas began operating the store. Ben Fish Tire celebrated its centennial in 2015.

Extent

5.00 linear inches

1 DVD [d0346] shelved in the digital collection. item

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

A Sioux City Jewish family that owned and operated the auto repair shop, Ben Fish Tire.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers (donor no. 1417) were donated by Sarilye Atlas in 2015.

Title
Fish Family papers
Author
Anna Tunnicliff
Date
2018
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Iowa Women's Archives Repository

Contact:
100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City IA 52242 IaU
319-335-5068
319-335-5900 (Fax)