Interview with Janis Doctrow, March 7, 2016

Interview Summary

Janis (Gay) Weisenberg Doctrow was born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Her grandfather immigrated from Germany and her grandmother was born in St. Louis. Her parents later worked in the Owenton Department Store in Owenton, Kentucky that was owned by her grandparents. Janis' father was orthodox and her mother was reform. She discusses some of the Jewish practices of her family, and says that her large extended family played a significant role in her Jewish upbringing because of the large family gatherings for Jewish holidays.

Janis Doctrow attended Indiana University for her first year of college. In her second year she attended the University of Kentucky where she joined the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority. She discusses the different aspects of her Jewish student life including her membership in Hillel, meeting other Jewish students, and the activities of the sorority which she became president of in 1956.

Janis met her husband, David Louis Doctrow, on a blind date in Cincinnati and they continued to live there for 10 years after they were married. After Cincinnati, they moved back to Lexington, Kentucky where they raised their family. Janis and her husband were involved with the Jewish community in different capacities throughout their lives including as presidents of the men's and women's associations at Ohavay Zion Synagogue, B'nai Brith, and many others.

Interview Keyword

Jewish Kentucky Jewish businesspeople Small business--Ownership Jewish children Indiana University

Interview LC Subject

Jewish leadership--Kentucky--Lexington Jewish families. Jews--Kentucky--Lexington. Lexington (Ky.) University of Kentucky Greek letter societies. College students--Religious life Jews--Identity. Family histories. Worship (Judaism)

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.