Aryian, Jamiel 1997-08-08

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This interview features Jamiel Aryian as he discusses his father and his retail business. In this interview, Aryian describes his family’s background and his father’s immigration to the United States. He then moves on to recall his father’s work as a traveling salesman. Aryian goes on to explain how his father built up his own store and the stores he owned in Littlefield, Brownsville, Navarro, Sudan, and Seminole.


General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Jamiel Aryian

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: August 08, 1997

Location: TTU SWC Conference

Interviewer: Sandra D. Harvey

Length: 02:07:06


Abstract

Introduction and background information, His father's homeland and immigration to the states, Traveling to America via a ship; peddling goods, Discrimination against Jewish people; stories from Aryian's father, Aryian's father's customers; how he carried his goods, The dangers of being a traveling salesman, How his father learned to count American money; language barrier, How his father sustained himself while he was a traveling salesman, Discrimination; owning a business, His father's first business partner, Problems with the law, Opening up a store in Sudan, Texas during the depression, Living in the back of the store; World War II years, The Navarro store continued


Access Information

Original Recording Format:

Recording Format Notes:

Transcript: Transcript available in reading room



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