Interview with Shirley Koplowitz
IntervieweeInterview with
Shirley Koplowitz
(American, 1927 - 2007)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Bruce M. Stave
(American, 1937 - 2017)
InterviewerInterviewed by
Sondra Astor Stave
Date2007 March 27
Mediumdigitized audio cassette tape
DimensionsDuration: 1 Hour, 7 Minutes, 52 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2009.85.23
DescriptionAudio cassette tape of an interview with Shirley Koplowitz. She was interviewed on March 27, 2007 by Bruce M. Stave and Sondra Astor Stave at the Staves' home in Coventry, Connecticut.
Shirley Koplowitz was born in 1927 in Westfield, Massachusetts. She grew up in Suffield, Connecticut. She started working at G. Fox & Co. in 1948 working for one of the executives, Marshall Cashman. In 1953, she moved to Beatrice Fox Auerbach's office as a receptionist, a position she held until 1955. In 1955, BFA's personal private social secretary left, so Shirley took over the position and held it until BFA's death in 1968. She then stayed at G. Fox for another 8 years working for Richard Koopman and Bernard Schiro. She discusses what her job as a receptionst for BFA entailed. BFA had a social secretary, two business secretaries, and a receptionist in her office. She explains that BFA opened and read all the mail that was sent to G. Fox. She discusses shopping at G. Fox and the various price levels of the clothing departments: Specialty Shop, Farmington Shop, Sports Department, Budget Departments, and the Budget Basement.
Shirley's husband worked at Brown, Thomson & Co. as an Assistant Furniture Buyer and Buyer of Large Appliances. After Brown, Thomson's closed, he moved to G. Fox to work as a Rug Department Assistant. She discusses the Connecticut Room and Centinel Hill Hall. She discusses her experience visiting BFA's home. She discusses how BFA hired African Americans and women and her knowledge about labor unions and G. Fox. She discusses the Moses Fox Club. She discusses her perception of Hartford. She discusses how the store changed after the sale to the May Company. She discusses her relationship with the Koopman and Schiro families.
Shirley Koplowitz was born in 1927 in Westfield, Massachusetts. She grew up in Suffield, Connecticut. She started working at G. Fox & Co. in 1948 working for one of the executives, Marshall Cashman. In 1953, she moved to Beatrice Fox Auerbach's office as a receptionist, a position she held until 1955. In 1955, BFA's personal private social secretary left, so Shirley took over the position and held it until BFA's death in 1968. She then stayed at G. Fox for another 8 years working for Richard Koopman and Bernard Schiro. She discusses what her job as a receptionst for BFA entailed. BFA had a social secretary, two business secretaries, and a receptionist in her office. She explains that BFA opened and read all the mail that was sent to G. Fox. She discusses shopping at G. Fox and the various price levels of the clothing departments: Specialty Shop, Farmington Shop, Sports Department, Budget Departments, and the Budget Basement.
Shirley's husband worked at Brown, Thomson & Co. as an Assistant Furniture Buyer and Buyer of Large Appliances. After Brown, Thomson's closed, he moved to G. Fox to work as a Rug Department Assistant. She discusses the Connecticut Room and Centinel Hill Hall. She discusses her experience visiting BFA's home. She discusses how BFA hired African Americans and women and her knowledge about labor unions and G. Fox. She discusses the Moses Fox Club. She discusses her perception of Hartford. She discusses how the store changed after the sale to the May Company. She discusses her relationship with the Koopman and Schiro families.
Collections
Funding Note: In 2006, the Connecticut Historical Society received a grant from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support the collection of oral histories, the cataloging of G. Fox & Co. materials and Fox and Auerbach family materials, and the creation of web pages. Additional funding for the oral histories was provided by The Prospect Fund, The Brookside Fund, and The Maple Tree Fund. The Connecticut Historical Society gratefully acknowledges these generous supporters. Without such generosity, this project would not have been possible.
Status
Not on view2007 June 7