Hello Genners,
I recently interviewed an elderly aunt who revealed, to my surprise,
that her mother -- my paternal grandmother -- was illiterate. My GM
was born in what is now Poland around 1890 and immigrated to the US in
1924. I found her on the 1930 census, which indicates that she could
read, so I am somewhat dubious about my aunt's assertion. I know that
Jewish girls in the Russian Pale did not receive as much education as
boys, but I had always assumed most (especially those >from middle
class families like my grandmother) were literate. I'd like to hear
what others have to say on this.

Thanks!

David Laskin, Seattle, WA