Charles Corfield's Oral History

Charles Corfield, technological innovator and Yiddish enthusiast, was interviewed by Christa Whitney on July 6, 2011 in Boulder, Colorado. Charles begins his interview with a briefing on his limited knowledge of his family's lineage. With two parents from Wales, Charles remembers his life in the newly developed, liberal democratic, and diverse town of Win Garden City in the United Kingdom. His life growing up was very secular, and he remembers the tolerance of his community. He reminisces about how the town's shul was built next to the Friend's meeting house, as one of many examples of his town's common ongoings. Charles describes his time growing up as very educationally focused, however, he remembers school sports and outings as a particularly enjoyable time in his childhood. Charles describes his move from the United Kingdom to the United States, a move guided by his decision to follow his education at St. Johns College at Cambridge in mathematics and astrophysics with a doctorate in astrophysics and fluid dynamics from Columbia University. When Charles arrived in New York he explains how his Jewish identity developed in a way it never had before. It was in New York that Charles learned Yiddish. He retells stories of sitting in the Jewish Theological Seminary library, meeting Yiddish speakers on park benches, and his parents' interest in his Yiddish language acquisition. The interview goes on to cover Charles' career in technological innovation as well as museum work and his move to Boulder, Colorado where he now resides. Charles talks about his current Yiddish use, his running and mountain climbing, and describes how his Jewish experience of running on Shabbes differs from others in his community. This section of the interview also covers the incredible story of how Charles' project at his alma mater, Cambridge, literally unearthed an 11th century Jewish community. He laughs as he recalls his decision to throw out his prepared speech in favor of off the cuff Yiddish remarks. Recalling numerous stories, the middle section ends as Charles describes his favorite climbs, including stories of his connections with the people of Nepal. The final portion of the interview focuses on Charles' thoughts regarding the future of Yiddish both in Denver and abroad. Charles comments on his awareness of anti-Jewish sentiment, a sentiment he didn't notice growing up. The interview closes with a beautifully reflective story about Charles discovery of a shul in Leadville, CO, and the possible projects he might undertake to discovery its history more fully