Gigi Yellen-Kohn Family papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0856

Staff Only

Finding aid note: Forms part of the Houston Jewish History Archive. Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Scope and Contents

The collection is made up of documents including birth certificates, membership and business cards, correspondence, and event programs. The collection also contains photographs and scrapbook pages, as well as memorabilia like pins, nametags, keychains, and commemorative pens. The materials are in good condition and range in date from 1913 to 1973. Researchers interested in the extended Yellen family, Jewish members of the armed service, or members of the Houston Jewish community, would find this collection insightful.

Dates

Creation: 1913 - 1973

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Gigi Yellen-Kohn Family papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library.

The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.

Biographical / Historical

Born in 1949, Gigi Yellen-Kohn is a native Houstonian. With a natural ear for music, Gigi was early inspired to pursue her musical passions. She explored rhythm and music history at Wellesley College during her undergrad, where she studied under America’s future poet Laureate Robert Pinsky. As a graduate student in Spanish at Rice University, Gigi’s pursuits at the campus station KTRU led her to become the first female announcer on Houston’s classical music station, then known as KLEF.

Though Gigi settled in Seattle in 1986, she has interviewed, hosted, and written about classical music for radio stations as far removed as Washington D.C., where she produced arts features for NPR. Married to a professor at the University of Washington and the loving mother of two sons, Gigi’s music-related writings can be found in print and online.

Many of the documents also feature Gigi’s father, David Yellen. Native to Beaumont, First Lieutenant David Yellen served in the armed forces for three years during World War II. He spent ten months serving in the European theater, seeing action in Belgium and Germany before being stationed with Infantry forces in England.

Before the war, Mr. Yellen was employed by Sampson Iron Works. He went into business for himself as a dealer in scrap metals not long after the war. His business was called AA Iron & Metal. The name AA was inspired from the corner he and his wife lived on at the time in the Axelrad building located at the corner of Alabama and Alameda. The name also had the added benefit of placing his company first in the Yellow Pages.

Extent

.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Gigi Yellen-Kohn family papers are comprised of documents, news-clippings, photographs, and memorabilia from the Yellen-Kohn family. A family tree of the Yellen-Kohn family can be found in the control folder.