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Spevak family fonds

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101281
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
3 files, 3 photographs, audio cassette
Fonds No.
I0227
Date
1932, 1943-1944
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a 1932 letter of condolence to Samuel Spevak on the death of his wife, 21 letters from Jackie Spevak to his two sisters, correspondence to the family after the death of Jackie Spevak and four World War II medals.
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
3 files, 3 photographs, audio cassette
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a 1932 letter of condolence to Samuel Spevak on the death of his wife, 21 letters from Jackie Spevak to his two sisters, correspondence to the family after the death of Jackie Spevak and four World War II medals.
Date
1932, 1943-1944
Fonds No.
I0227
History / Biographical
Samuel and Sophie Spevak came from Russia, on their honeymoon, to relatives in Philadelphia. These American relatives were in the fur business. The Spevaks made their way to Ottawa and stayed briefly at Billings Bridge. Samuel Spevak established the Capital Hide and Raw Fur Company, located on George Street. Sheep, beaver, mink and racoon were some of the furs and hides which were handled. Business was prosperous and the family lived comfortably on Daly with two servants. During the depression of the 1930s, furs were no longer in demand. Samuel was active in the Ottawa Jewish Community, especially his synagogue, Agudath Achim, where he was president between 1923 and 1925, and the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society. The Spevak children included Ruth (b.1915) (m.Hy Soloway), Charlie, Sadie and Jack (1921-1944). Jack was educated at Osgoode School and Lisgar Collegiate and was a member of the Maccabean Athletic Association. He enlisted in the summer of 1942 and was awarded his wings at No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan in August, 1943. In September he arrived in Britain. On the night of July 24th and the early morning of July 25, 1944, his aircraft failed to return after bombing operations over Stuttgart, Germany. His aircraft went down near the French-German border, and he is buried at Bassu Communal Cemetery, Marne, France. Ruth and Hy had one son, Lawrence (b. August 6, 1950). Sadie Spevak married Joseph Wiseman of Brockville.
Notes
1. Donated by Ruth Soloway, October 24, 2006 2. Ruth Soloway remembered the family shop with wool being sheared from the sheep skins at the back, and other furs kept in a separate area according to grade. 3. Ruth Soloway also recalled her father’s work with JIAS Ottawa, meeting people at the train, locating them in homes in Lower Town, putting them to work on rented farms at Billings Bridge, and sometimes bringing people to his own home. Their hygiene was not well developed as she recalls. These were always men because only men could work on farms, and to her recollection, no one stayed in Ottawa, but moved on to Toronto or Detroit. A reunion of these individuals was held in the 1950s and Mrs Ruth Soloway attended. 4. Related material on Jack Spevak’s military service is a collection of reminiscences by members of the Ottawa Jewish Community who served in World War II.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Interview with Mrs. Ruth Soloway (Spevak).

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn106847
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Fonds No.
I0227
Date
July 23, 2001
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
sound recording
Responsibility
Sheila Baslaw
Date
July 23, 2001
Fonds No.
I0227
Storage Location
vault
Notes
1. Duration approx. 30 minutes. 2. Location: Audio Cassettes - Various fonds. 3. Summary: Mrs. Ruth Soloway (nee Spevak) speaks about her father Sam Spevak and her mother Sophie who became ill and died when Ruth was only 15. Her sister Sadie took over parenting Ruth and her younger brother Jackie. Her oldest brother Charlie moved to Detroit when Ruth was young. Her mother was preoccupied much of the time with bringing over her family from Russia. She and her husband enjoyed playing poker in one of the eight bedrooms of their large home on Daly Avenue. During the Depression years her father closed the Capital Fur & Hide company. Her sister Sadie supported the family by working for the government. Ruth worked in Sam Berger's law office and later worked at the National Film Board. She recalled that she was not allowed to play tennis at the Rideau Tennis Club because she was Jewish and that Jack Wolf and herself were the only Jewish children in her class at school. Mrs. Soloway recalled that her father was "larger than life" and "never did anything by halves". He was president of the Rideau Street shul and the Ottawa Jewish Immigrant Aid Society. Many of the immigrants that worked on the farms near Billings Bridge moved on to Detroit.
Name Access
Sheila Baslaw
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Less detail

Flight Sergeant Jack Spevak.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn104017
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Fonds No.
I0227; OJA 1-730
Date
[194-?]
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Date
[194-?]
Fonds No.
I0227
Item No.
OJA 1-730
Storage Location
vault
Acquisition Source
Ruth Soloway
Notes
On July 25, 1944, Jack Spevak's aircraft failed to return after bombing operations over Stuttgart, Germany. His aircraft went down near the French-German border, and he is buried at Bassu Communal Cemetery, Marne, France.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
Less detail

Flight Sergeant Jack Spevak.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn104066
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Fonds No.
I0227; OJA 1-735
Date
[194-?]
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Date
[194-?]
Fonds No.
I0227
Item No.
OJA 1-735
Storage Location
vault
Acquisition Source
Ruth Soloway
Notes
On July 25, 1944, his aircraft failed to return after bombing operations over Stuttgart, Germany. His aircraft went down near the French-German border, and he is buried at Bassu Communal Cemetery, Marne, France.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
Less detail

Engagement photograph of Ruth Soloway's parents, Samuel and Sophie Spevak. Photograph taken in Russia.

https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn104240
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Fonds No.
I0227; OJA 1-800
Date
[189-?]
Collection
Spevak family fonds
Description Level
Item
Material Type
graphic material
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w
Date
[189-?]
Fonds No.
I0227
Item No.
OJA 1-800
Storage Location
vault
Notes
Original, belonging to Ruth Soloway (Mrs Hy Soloway) , was copied by Lux Photographic Inc, September 2007. Loan came from her niece Sheila Baslaw.
Archival / Genealogical
Archival Descriptions
Repository
Ottawa Jewish Archives
Images
Less detail