The Jews of Boyle Heights, 1900-1950: The Melting Pot of Los Angeles

1992 THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JEWISH Historical Society sponsored a project to commemorate and record the history of the Jewish settlement of Boyle Heights. The historical society, Jewish social clubs, and two regional Jewish newspapers (the Heritage and the Journal) published announcements to solicit responses. Prior to the actual oral interviews, respondents received questionnaires to complete; approximately 110 questionnaires were completed by former residents of Boyle Heights. Complementing these completed forms, pictures, memorabilia, and detailed responses embellished approximately half the questionnaires.1 This study focuses on the statistical data and comments taken from participants' questionnaire responses.2 It will address only three of the many significant topics discussed by respondents: these are the formation of the community, its uniqueness, and recollections of school-days by its former children.