Interview with Karola Epstein, October 23, 1981, Madison, Wisconsin

Partial Transcript: 1937-Came to Chicago from Germany-lived with Aunt and Uncle-later parents came

Partial Transcript: Lived in apartment with parents, Father sold eggs and noodles door to door, first job with dress manufacturer. Sister helped family by working.

Partial Transcript: Father went to night school to learn English

Partial Transcript: Family spoke German at home

Partial Transcript: First job at a drug store soda counter, lied about her age to get it, worked after school and evenings

Partial Transcript: Worked as head bookkeeper in Chicago, and stayed until her marriage in September of 1946.

Partial Transcript: Worked overtime, gave all money to parents and received a small allowance for herself. Father worked six days a week, mother never worked outside.

Partial Transcript: Experienced some anti-Semitism, felt she was not advancing and left the job

Partial Transcript: Did not work outside of the home and was bookkeeper for husband in the cattle business. Eventually went into meat packing business

Partial Transcript: Husband worked as a cattle dealer, his father had done the same in Germany. Passed away in 1951.

Partial Transcript: Cattle dealers buy and sell livestock, some for dairy, some sold to packing plants. Karola's husband did not meet any Jewish farmers. In 1950 switched to farm real estate.

Partial Transcript: Husband travelled in 35 mile radius around Green Bay to sell cattle

Partial Transcript: Karola and Husband payed farmer's cash or check

Partial Transcript: Knew some other Jewish families in Green Bay, 100-150 families, one synagogue. Karola active in Synogogue.

Partial Transcript: Karola and husband go into meat packing business, opened plant in 1960.

Partial Transcript: Problems between the town and the plant, expansion issues, union issues, complaints from homes surrounding the plant.

Partial Transcript: Experienced anti-Semitism through publicity, derogatory articles written about Karola and her husband's packing business

Partial Transcript: Other plant tried to put Karola's plant out of business unsuccessfully

Partial Transcript: Independent employee union started at packing plant, Karola feels unions took control of business.

Partial Transcript: Karola's feels packing company paid employees well, gave bonuses at end of year, threw Christmas party and picnics.

Partial Transcript: Husband active in civic affairs, supported colleges in Green Bay and Jewish community.

Partial Transcript: Husband not an orthodox Jew, but proud to be Jewish

Partial Transcript: Karola has four children, a daughter and three sons. All live in Green Bay except for one son who is in law school. Meat packing business sold after the death of Karola's husband.

Partial Transcript: Karola still has friends from before achieving success and says "Never forget where you came from, that's the most important thing-that you started out small and that the next one is just as good, whether they have five dollars in their pocket or ten dollars in their pocket, that doesn't mean anything."

Partial Transcript: Karola and husband did not live in Jewish area of Green Bay, instead lived on outskirts and built a house on Deborah Lane.

Partial Transcript: Jews in Green bay did not own packing plants, they owned dry goods stores, jewelry, real estate, department stores

Partial Transcript: Karola's plant covered hospital charges, insurance from company