Sally Tuchklaper - March 2, 1983
Interview
The following is an interview with Mrs. Sally Tuchklaper on the morning of March 2, 1983 at her home in Southfield, Michigan. The interviewer is Anita Schwartz.
Could you tell me your name please and where you were born?
My name is Sally Tuchklaper and I was born in Radom, Poland.
And what was your family name?
Birnbaum.
Were you still living in Radom when the war broke out?
Yes.
Could you tell me something about what you remember of life in Radom before the war?
I come from a [pause] medium size family--the--my parents--we were three sisters and a brother. Besides that, that my grandparents--both sides--they happened to be large families, and, you know, we had very, very nice living which it wasn't elaborate as the way its--the United States, but it happens to be [pause] how can I describe you like--more like family--close family. And it--can I say that [pause] that we enjoyed life down there.
Were there other relatives living in Radom besides your grandparents?
I had from my father's side a family of ten uh, brothers and sisters. I had from my mother's side--it was family of five--three sisters and two brothers. And it was nephews and nieces and everything that nobody left except me and my two sisters. There's nobody left.
Could you tell me something about the home that you lived in, in Radom?
It was a moderate home. We enjoy it because we were together. That's why we enjoy it. We didn't need that much as we now experience in the United States. So we were satisfied with the things that we had.
Could you describe the home for me?
Yes. I had--we had uh, two bedrooms, one kitchen, and there was five people, and that's more than enough for Europe.
And what was your father's occupation?
My father was in transportation. We had the trucks which he transported merchandise from one city to the other.
And did your mother work outside of the home?
No. [pause] No.
© Board of Regents University of Michigan-Dearborn