Fairbanks began in 1902. By 1904, a Jewish community formed with the arrival of Robert Bloom, a Lithuanian Jew, who came from Ireland via the Klondike in 1898. Bloom ran a general store from 1906 to 1941 and was a mainstay and leader of the Fairbanks Jewish Community for nearly half a century.

Between 1910 and World War II, few Jews remained; most were transient with the exception of the Bloom family. Bob Bloom brought his bride, Jessie, back from Ireland in 1912. Both of these remarkable people lived into their 90s and made a major contribution to the developing town of Fairbanks as well as to its Jewish community.

Bloom was one of the trustees of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines from 1921-1925. In later years he grew experimental strains of wheat. In 1925, Jessie founded the first Alaskan Girl Scout chapter and was active in many social and political causes. She left voluminous correspondence, reminiscences, and records which make a rich contribution to Fairbanks Jewish history and Alaskan history.

The Robert and Jessie Bloom Collection is housed in the University of Alaska Rasmuson Library Archives and the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Their daughter, Meta Buttnick, lives in Seattle and maintains an interest in the affairs of the Fairbanks Jewish community.

Robert Bloom
Regent: 1921-1925

1878 –Born in Siaulie, Luthuania, October 15. Educated in English, Russian, and Hebrew by private tutors.

1886 –Moved to Dublin, Ireland

1897 –Moved to Seattle, Washington

1898 –Entered Dawson, Yukon Territory, prospected for gold

1902 –Returned to Seattle where he assembled a stock of merchandise for shipment to Valdez.

1904 –Entered Alaska; he walked from Valdez to Fairbanks where he started a hardware and general merchandise store.

1912 –Married to Jessie Spiro, May17

1921-1925 –Member, Board of Trustees, Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines.

1950 –Retired from general merchandise business; established a home in Seattle, but maintained his residence in Alaska.

1974 –Died in Seattle, April 4 at the age of 95; he was the last surviving charter member of Igloo #4, Pioneers of Alaska.

    Member of:    Masonic Lodge
            National Jewish Welfare Board
            National Army and Navy Committee
            Honorary member, University of Alaska Alumni Association

Credits: BOR File