Shades of L.A. is an archive of photographs representing the contemporary and historic diversity of families in Los Angeles. Images were chosen from family albums and include daily life, social organizations, work, personal and holiday celebrations, and migration and immigration activities. Made possible and accessible through the generous support of the Security Pacific National Bank, Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners, Photo Friends, California Council for the Humanities, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation
Images available for reproduction and educational use. Please see the Ordering & Use page at http://tessa.lapl.org/orderinguse.html for additional information. The contents of this collection are restricted to personal, research, and non-commercial use. The Library cannot share the personal and/or contact information of the donors, their descendants, or associates who contributed photographs and oral histories to the collection.
Description
Image is a reproduction. Max Zimmer was a Los Angeles contractor and philanthropist born in 1894 in Austria. Zimmer emigrated to the United States around 1914 where he met his wife, Pauline, a Russian immigrant who had arrived in the U.S. two years prior. The couple married around 1917 and had three daughters; one daughter was born in New York and two more were born in Ohio where the family had moved prior to relocating to Los Angeles in the mid to late 1920s. Zimmer launched his career in construction when he talked a Lynwood merchant into letting him remodel his storefront. The project was successful and Zimmer went on to develop an assortment of commercial buildings throughout Los Angeles including many of Los Angeles' first supermarkets. The Zimmer family were of Jewish faith and Max helped found the old Mt. Sinai Hospital in Boyle Heights, the Los Angeles Jewish Federation, the University of Judaism and the Jewish Home for the Aging in the San Fernando Valley. He was responsible for building seven Los Angeles synagogues, including Temple Emanuel and Temple Beth Am in Beverly Hills, Temple Israel in Hollywood and Temple Isaiah in Westwood. In recognition of his philanthropy, Zimmer was awarded an honorary doctorate on his 100th birthday by the University of Judiaism (The American Jewish University). Max Zimmer lived to be 105 years old before he passed away in 1999. Left to right, Ninel Khayat, Dr. Eli Khayat, Melissa Khayat, Edith Flier and Max Zimmer at the Seder table. The great-granddaughter, Melissa, born in Israel, reads and speaks Hebrew. From her American-born mother, she learned fluent English. From her Moroccan-born grandparents, she learned French, As a child, she shifted languages from person to person, often acting as interpreter for the adults. Melissa, now married lives in Los Angeles.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Zimmer, Max Seder Aggada Passover--California--Los Angeles Reading--California--Los Angeles Families--California--Los Angeles Fasts and feasts--Judaism Children--California--Los Angeles Girls--California--Los Angeles Prayer--California--Los Angeles Couples--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Dwellings--California--Los Angeles Shades of L.A. Jewish photographs Shades of L.A. Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
