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![Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_001.JPG?width=280)
Interview with Shirley Cohn
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19597
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Subseries
- Many Voices Project Interviews subseries
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (16 min., 57 sec.) (50 min., 36 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (50 min., 36 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Eric Damer Interviewee: Shirley Cohn Location of Interviews: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Dates: April 14, 2023 and September 6, 2023 Total Number of Tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 67 min., 33 sec. Digital master recording (wav) recording of second interview (50 min., 36 sec.) was converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two recordings of oral history interviews with Shirley Cohn conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Registrar and Researcher, Eric Damer. The first interview was conducted on April 14, 2023 and the second interview was conducted on September 6, 2023. Summary of interview conducted on September 6, 2023: 0:00 – 16:09 Shirley Cohn shares background information about her parents who immigrated to Detroit from Hungary in the 1930’s. Shirley recalls what it was like for her parents being Jewish during World War II and how many of their relations were killed in the Holocaust. Shirley talks about her Jewish Hungarian heritage, what it was like growing up in Detroit, the Jewish community in Detroit and the Jewish holidays and traditions that her family celebrated. Shirley recalls her high school and University education and experiences, starting her career in social work and how she met her future husband, Theodore “Ted” Cohn. 16:10 – 18:27 Shirley shares the story about her father in law, Dr. Daniel E. Cohn who was Harry Houdini’s doctor at the time of his death in Detroit on Oct. 31, 1926. Shirley explains that she donated some of Dr. Daniel E. Cohn’s original documents pertaining to this event to the New York Public Library. 18:28 – 26:04 Shirley describes her experiences living and working in London Ontario while her husband was a professor at University of Western Ontario and Shirley worked as a social worker in family services. Shirley recalls experiences of anti-Semitism while living in London. Shirley talks about moving to Burnaby in 1977 after her husband took a job as a professor at Simon Fraser University. Shirley describes her experiences living in Burnaby, raising a family and working as a social worker at Burnaby General Hospital. 26:05 – 26:18 Shirley talks about her interests outside of work, her family’s involvement in the Burquest Jewish Community Association and being a member of Temple Shalom. Shirley conveys information about other Jewish synagogues in Greater Vancouver, describes Reform Judaism at Temple Shalom and some Jewish cultural practices that her family has been involved with. 26:19 – 33:12 Shirley describes her family’s experiences living in the Garden Village nieghbourhood in Burnaby, her involvement sharing Jewish cultural traditions at her children’s school and recalls her children’s experiences attending school in Burnaby. 33:13 – 40:46 Shirley conveys the career paths that her children took and talks about what she likes about living in Burnaby including; the walking and hiking trails, the cultural and art performances and her involvement in local politics. Shirley talks about her and her husband’s involvement in the SFU retirees association and the SFURA walking and hiking group. Shirley reflects on her husband’s academic career, experiences teaching at SFU and the role of the Hillel Jewish Students Association at the Simon Fraser University. Shirley talks about the difficulties of discussing political views about the State of Israel. Shirley describes some traditional Jewish foods, the roles that they play and a local bakery that carries Jewish bake goods. 40:47 – 50:36 Shirley describes her current daily life in Burnaby; working one day a week as a social worker, gardening, her involvement at Temple Shalom and the Jewish Community Centre and how she travels in Burnaby. Shirley recalls the changes that she’s encountered in Burnaby and in her career over the years, shares a story about her husband losing his thesis and describes what Burnaby was like while she was raising her family. Shirley shares what she thinks about the areas of development in Burnaby and conveys the importance of having parks and affordable housing. In closing, Shirley reflects on what is like to be a Jewish person living in Burnaby.
- History
- Interviewee biography: Shirley Tanner was born in Detroit in 1947. Her parents were both Jewish. Her mother fled Hungary as a refugee in 1939, while her father emigrated from there in 1934. Shirley attended public schools in Detroit, and then studied social work at the University of Michigan. After marriage, Shirley and Ted Cohn moved to Ontario where Ted had a faculty appointment at the University of Western Ontario in political science. Six years later they moved to Burnaby for Ted’s teaching position in political science at Simon Fraser University. While living in Burnaby, Shirley took care of a growing family while also practicing social work, mainly at Burnaby Hospital. The family enjoyed Burnaby’s libraries and parks. Shirley helped out at her children’s schools, became a Block Watch captain, and the family joined Burquest Jewish Community Association. The Cohns later became members of Temple Sholom Synagogue in Vancouver, while remaining in Burnaby. Beginning in 2009, Ted started an informal hiking group for retired Simon Fraser University staff. This group has been open to others, so now has a wide variety of members. Shirley has also helped lead hikes in the region. Interviewer biography: Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Education
- Recreational Activities - Hiking
- Organizations
- Organizations - Societies and Clubs
- Migration
- Persons - Jewish Canadians
- Religions - Judaism
- Social Issues - Racism
- Social Issues
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Names
- Cohn, Dr. Daniel E.
- Cohn, Shirley
- Cohn, Theodore H. "Ted"
- Burquest
- Hillel Jewish Students Association
- Simon Fraser University
- SFURA walking and hiking group
- Simon Fraser University Retirees Association "SFURA"
- Temple Shalom
- Responsibility
- Damer, Eric
- Accession Code
- BV023.16.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Summary, recording and transcript of second interview available on Heritage Burnaby
Images
![Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023 thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_001.JPG)
Documents
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
Interview with Shirley Cohn, [1926-2023] (interview content), interviewed 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0016_0001_003.mp3![Burnaby Girl Guides, [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920 (date of original), copied 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2015/2015_0035_0164_folded.jpg?width=280)
Burnaby Girl Guides
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4592
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920 (date of original), copied 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (textual records + 2 digital files : (pdfs) + 102 photographs : (tiffs))
- Scope and Content
- File consists of images and selected contents from a scrapbook with 38 double sided pages containing mostly photographs with some newspaper clippings, written material and emphemera including a page of badges and ribbons which reads "Enrolment & Membership Card of / Joan Bailey 1926 / 1st Burnaby" …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Girl Guides fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 scrapbook (textual records + 2 digital files : (pdfs) + 102 photographs : (tiffs))
- Scope and Content
- File consists of images and selected contents from a scrapbook with 38 double sided pages containing mostly photographs with some newspaper clippings, written material and emphemera including a page of badges and ribbons which reads "Enrolment & Membership Card of / Joan Bailey 1926 / 1st Burnaby" and an embroidered alphabet of the Morse Code. The third page of the scrapbook includes a four page chronology titled "History of Guiding - Burnaby / 1913 - 1960" compiled by Mrs. Dolly Weber, Mrs. J. Heaps, Miss Eileen Periton, Mrs. J. Albertson and D. Fowler. The scrapbook also includes an original letter and post-script from Lady Olave Baden-Powell to Mrs. Fowler dated November 5, 1961; a typewritten copy of: "TSOONA" / PROVINCIAL GUIDE CAMPSITE - ROSEDALE B.C." and a three page typewritten copy of "THE CAMPFIRE / Volume 1, No. 4 _ November 1935 _ Vancouver, B.C.". Many of the events documented in photographs [between 1914 and 1969] are identified on each page and read as the following: "Burnaby Brownies - Guides & Rangers" / "Early 1920" (1 photograph); "Ambulance / Display / 1st. Co."; "Girl Guide Rally - New Westminster and / Burnaby - June 16, 1923" (5 photographs); "Girl Guide Rally - New Westminster and / Burnaby - June 16, 1923" (5 photographs); "Burnaby Guides and / Brownies / June 17, 1923" (5 photographs); "April 1923" (1 photograph); "June 1923 / 2nd Burnaby Company" (1 photograph); "Burnaby May Day / 26.5.28"(2 photographs); "Sechelt 1929_ 2nd "B" Company" (2 photographs); "Leaders and Seconds / 2nd Burnaby / Grouse Mountain" (1 photograph); "Sechelt 1929 / Commandant Mrs. Peal" (1 photograph); "2nd Company / June 1930" (1 photograph); "1932 / 2nd Company at Rally / Municipal Hall Grounds" (1 photograph) ; "First Burnaby Folk Dancing team / Winners of the E.F.D. cup 1940--41-42" (1 photograph); "1st Burnaby Company / winners of Bessborough Shield / 1942 / Captain L. Crane" (1 photograph); "May 6th 1935 / Dedication of flag at Central Park" (1 photograph); "May Day Celebration / Burnaby B.C. May 6th 1935 / Stride Studios Photos" (1 photograph); "Mrs. Don Wilks / Mrs. Georgie / Runcie / Publicity Photo re- / Brownie / Training / 1958-60" (1 photograph); "Kathleen Anderson / about 1958-60?" (1 photograph); "1957 / Burnaby Camp Site / at / Wilson Creek" (1 photograph); "Work Party (1958)" (1 photograph); "Burnaby Camp Site / Spring 1958 / Cabins & Staff Houses / Dining Shelter / Cabins" (3 photographs); "Can. Girl Guide Assoc. - Provincial Leaders Conference / April 14-15/61 Civic Centre, Prince George, BC" (1 photograph) ; "June 8th, 1958 / Opening / Ceremonies / Burnaby Site / Wilson Creek / Camp Site" (4 photographs); 2 unidentified photographs [ca.1915] of a large group of Girl Guides gathered on the Pacific National Exhibition grounds (photo credit- Leonard Frank); 1 unidentified photograph of a group of Girl Guides gathered for a group portrait [ca.1914]; "Girl Guide Camp / Granthams / Landing / July 1923" (4 photographs); 4 unidentified photographs of girl guides gathered on the ship "Lady Evelyn" [ca. 1920]; "Burnaby Girl Guides" 1918; "First Burnaby Girl Guides 1920" (2 photographs on page); "2nd Co. 1923" (1 photograph) "1st Burnaby Co." [1923] (1 photograph); "Gypsy Scene - Concert / Mar 17, 1923 / Unveiling / War / Memorial / Edmonds / 1923" (3 photographs on page); "Faith Jacobson / 1961" (2 photographs); "Eve MacLean / 1961" (1 photograph); "Beverley Simkin of Montreal and Judy Robins / of the S.R.S. Royal Oak taken on the day they / sailed from Montreal for the Ranger Camp at / "Our Chalet" in Adelboden, Switzerland, May 1962" (1 photograph) and "Religion & Life Emblem / Diane Peters 11th Bby. Co. / Rev. G.W. Luetkehodeter / 1961" (2 photographs on one page).
- Names
- Girl Guides of Canada
- Accession Code
- BV015.35.164
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920 (date of original), copied 2016
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Edmonds Area
- Maywood Area
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Digital images were created of the scrapbook prior to selective retention of original records that were removed for conservation purposes
- Some textual records that were selected for retention have been described at file level under BV015.35.164: "Tsoona" Provincial Guide Campsite - Rosedale B.C." and Burnaby Girl Guides newsletter, "The Campfire" (November 1935)
- Photographs that were retained from scrapbook have been described at item level (BV015.35.221 to BV015.35.284)
- Some textual records and ephemera that were selected for retention have been described at item level (BV015.35.320, BV015.35.321, and BV015.35.334 to BV015.35.348).
Images
![Burnaby Girl Guides, [1914]-1969, predominant ca. 1920 (date of original), copied 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Images/2015/2015_0035_0164_folded.jpg)
Documents
Drs Blythe and Violet Eagles papers
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription57955
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1939] -1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File contains records pertaining to Blythe and Violet Eagles including correspondence from the Burnaby Historical Society, pamphlets on Burnaby and various conferences, notes on the Eagle's visit to Robert Burnaby's grave and ration books from World War II.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1939] -1978
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Subseries
- Eagles family subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 file of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS032-001
- Accession Number
- BHS1987-07
- Scope and Content
- File contains records pertaining to Blythe and Violet Eagles including correspondence from the Burnaby Historical Society, pamphlets on Burnaby and various conferences, notes on the Eagle's visit to Robert Burnaby's grave and ration books from World War II.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
Mary Forsyth Keepables
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88247
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1923-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various research records compiled by Mary Forsyth and includes; records from a Burnaby Historical Society photo presentation and contest held at Irving House; a letter to the directors of the B.C. Historical Society from Don N. Brown re: Accomodation for the Burnaby Historical Soci…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1923-2006
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Physical Description
- 2 cm of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS185-045
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Accession Number
- 2014-27
- Scope and Content
- File consists of various research records compiled by Mary Forsyth and includes; records from a Burnaby Historical Society photo presentation and contest held at Irving House; a letter to the directors of the B.C. Historical Society from Don N. Brown re: Accomodation for the Burnaby Historical Society; a Corporation of the District of Burnaby Re: "Suggestions submitted to the Post War Rehabilitation Council" dated August 4, 1942; notes and information re: a natural resources map; genealogical notes for the Hern family; a copy of the 2003 Greater Vancouver Regional District Board of Directors for 2003; a Simon Fraser Week publication dated June 27, 1985 about the history of Simon Fraser University; Corporation of the District of Burnaby "A Sound Investment...Burnaby British Columbia Reverted Lands" with map 1926; a copy of a Deed of Gift letter from the Burnaby Historical Society for items donated to the archives dated January 5, 1989; pamphlets about B.C. Hydro rail and Burnaby's Central Park Tramline; National Housing Adminstration Sketch Designs for houses 1946; an invitation for Glenwood Elementary School 100th birthday; a family memoir from the Rorisons; a Victorian Order of Nurses home visit document in March 1923; Corporation of the District of Burnaby By Law No. 1354; 1991 Community Services Directory for New Westminster and Burnaby; Hudson's Bay Company Annual General Report 1947; typewritten history of the Gulf Islands and various Burnaby Now papers for 1990, 2001, 2004 and 2006. Biographical and historical information was compiled by Mary Forysth with the intention of publishing a book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Transcribed title
Timms family and Smith
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription88166
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1915 (date of original) -[199-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one typewritten history, titled "The Timms family" by Mary Forsyth, handwritten notes about the Timms and Smith families, a copy of World War I Daily Orders from the 131st Westminster Overseas Battalion. C.E.F dated December 6, 1915 with the name Smith, C.H. (marked in pencil) and …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1915 (date of original) -[199-]
- Collection/Fonds
- Mary Forsyth fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS185-021
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Accession Number
- 2014-27
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one typewritten history, titled "The Timms family" by Mary Forsyth, handwritten notes about the Timms and Smith families, a copy of World War I Daily Orders from the 131st Westminster Overseas Battalion. C.E.F dated December 6, 1915 with the name Smith, C.H. (marked in pencil) and handwritten notes. Biographical and historical information was compiled by Mary Forysth with the intention of publishing a book.
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Notes
- Transcribed title