Interview with Eugene Salvay

Kahn, Sybil

Interview with Eugene Salvay about his life and his family's experience with the Kansas City garment industry, with additional information provided by his nephew, Craig Salvay. He discusses his childhood in the 1920s, and his education in aircraft engineering which lead to job in World War II working on B-25s at the assembly plant in the Fairfax District in spite of antisemitism in the hiring process. He recalls his father's work as designer at Fashionbilt before moving on to mail-order company National Bellas Hess, and operating his own business designing custom coats. He also shares stories about his family roots in Lithuania, his Jewish identity and ancestry, and meeting Harry Truman in the 1930s. Salvay also mentions his participation in developing Israeli aviation and his relationship with Moshe Arens.

0:57:42

2011-06-04

Clothing industry
Aircraft industry

Garment Industry
Beth Shalom Synagogue
Fashionbilt Garment Company
National Bellas Hess Company, Incorporated
North American Aviation
Garment District

The relationship of the third speaker, Craig, to Eugene Salvay is not stated explicitly, but evidence in the conversation suggests he is Eugene's nephew. The Historic Garment Industry oral history project was conducted by the Historic Garment District Museum in cooperation with the Kansas City Public Library. The Historic Garment Industry oral history project was conducted by the Historic Garment District Museum in cooperation with the Kansas City Public Library.

Video Recording

Garment Industry Oral History Collection(SC229) See finding aid: https://kchistory.org/document/garment-industry-oral-history-collection-...

Fairfax
Downtown KCMO

SC229, Series 2

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