Friedmans


Our Old-World Heritage - The Journeys of Our Reinsteins, Eisners, and Friedmans

This short book traces the journeys of the Reinsteins from Posen, the Eisners from Bohemia, and the Friedmans from the Russian Pale of Settlement to the United States. It contains Max Friedman's  40th anniversary wedding speech, describing the struggles and successes of the Friedmans in San Francisco. The narrative paints a picture of Henry and Helen Friedman and their children: Margaret, Milton, Virginia and Beatrice. The book also includes family trees and photographs of our ancestors. You can download Our Old World Heritage in pdf format or order your own softcover copy or hardcover copy at the Blurb website. 



Finding Friedmans Book 

This photo book tells the Eastern European origins of our Eisners, Reinsteins and Friedmans and their early lives in California. In addition, the book includes most of the 1913 anniversary speech given by Marx Friedman to his children. In it he tells of the trials and the triumphs of building a successful business in San Francisco. The book is presented in a slideshow format here. Just turn the page by clicking on numbers at the bottom of each slide. 


Our Reinstein Roots Book

This book contains four short biographies of Lena, Mary, Jacob and Oscar Reinstein. Oscar immigrated from Europe in the 1850’s, settling in California. Lena was a teacher, cook, and world traveler. J.B. was in the very first graduating class of UC Berkeley in 1873 and was appointed Regent of the University in the 1890s. Oscar was their father and our immigrant patriarch. You can download the second edition of Reinstein Roots here. If you want to purchase a print copy, go to blurb.com.



Milton Forrest Book

This photo book tells the story of Milt Forrest’s life through the lens of his art and poetry. Download the large 7 MB pdf file here or order a hardback copy from the Blurb website.


More Essays on the Friedmans and Reinsteins by Dave

Our Oscar

  • The story of Oscar Reinstein, our immigrant patriarch from Central Europe. Our Nanny Helen’s grandfather first came to California to sell his wares to gold miners, before the Reinsteins settled in San Francisco in the 1860s. 2023.

J.B. Reinstein - Cal’s First Apostle

  • The story of  J.B. Reinstein, who was in the first graduating class of Cal in 1873. He was a Regent of the University, overseeing the expansion of Cal early in the 20th century. 2019.

Lena Reinstein Eisner - A Life Well Lived

  • The story of Lena Reinstein Eisner, teacher, expert cook, and world traveler. 2019.

Our Family Name - Lost and Found 

  • Essay about the Friedmans, the Reinsteins and Eisners based on the research of Milt Silverman. 2017.

Marx Friedman Revealed 

  • The story of Marx Friedman’s journey from Eastern Europe to the US, including his life in Troy New York and the Bay Area. 2016.

Searching for Friedmans and Newmans  

  • Overview of the the Newman and Friedman families and their journeys from Eastern Europe to the US. 2013.

Family Trees, Photos, Interviews, and Maps

© Dave Forrest 2015