Shaie Yoseph Biderman

Scope and Content: This accession consists of the handwritten and typed memoir of Shaie Yoseph Biderman. The memoir is written in Yiddish and details his life in Chenchine, Poland, the shtetl where he was born and grew up before immigrating to Toronto.

Custodial History: The memoir was in the possession of Robert Biderman, the grandson of Samuel, before it was donated to the Archives. Robert had received the manuscript years ago from his father, Benjamin.

Administrative History: Shaie "Samuel" Yoseph Biderman (1891-1978) was one of five children born to Mikha'el ("Michael") and Malka "Molly" Biderman. His brothers were Avrom Wolf, David, Alec and Morris. In Chenchine, Polant, Samuel married his wife Chaia and together they had seven children: Rose, Benjamin, Helen, Charles, Alex, Pearl, and Ida. In 1926, Samuel immigrated to Toronto, followed shortly thereafter by his son Baruch ("Benjamin") in 1928 and his wife and children in 1929. His father had preceded him in 1912 and his mother and brothers in 1920.; Samuel worked in the garment industry. His father Michael had been a rag picker and had worked for Granatstein's. Although a religious man himself, Samuel's brothers and his children were secular communists, particularly his brother Morris Biderman who was a contemporary of J. B. Salsberg.