Oral histories

Abstract Dorothy "Dokes" Berry (nee Kobey) was born in Aspen, Colorado in 1905 to Harris and Leah Sheffel Kobey. During Berry's childhood Aspen's primary industry was mining and very few Jewish families lived in the town. Her father and his brothers were businessmen who owned and operated apparel stores in Aspen, including the Kobey Shoe and Clothing Company. After she graduated from Aspen High School, Dorothy Kobey taught at a county school in Cow Creek, Colorado, outside Steamboat Springs. She...

Abstract

Major subjects covered in the interview include the Shwayder and Kobey (originally Kobersky) families, immigrating to Colorado from Poland, Hannah Shwayder Berry’s grandmother Miriam "Mary" Kobey (a Denver midwife nicknamed the “Angel of Mercy”) and refers to book “The Tale of the Little Trunk”; a copy of the book can be found in the Beck Archives.

Abstract

Topics include how family came Russia to Manchester England to Central City to Apsen, Colorado. Started as peddlers. Kobey family of Aspen, Colorado, ran a store in Aspen. Very religious family. Mother died in 1920 and aunt died in 1921 so family moved in with uncle. Talks about school in Aspen. Moved to Denver in 1924 with his sister, brother already there. Mining and injury from it. Also worked in a Potato Chip factory.