(SWJA)

Julia Kaufman-Strauss

Julia Kaufman was born on July 14, 1850 in Memphis, Tennessee. Her parents were Anna and David Kaufman. Julia married Charles Strauss on May 10, 1868. The Strauss' remained in Memphis for a few years and managed to have four children. Their children were Rosalie, who died from diphtheria at the age of six years; Gertrude; Mabel; and Charles Moses Junior. Charles Senior became politically active in Memphis and these experiences would later aid him in his adventures in Tucson.

The couple moved to Tucson in 1880 because of Charles Senior poor health. In Tucson, Charles and Julia had another child. The Strauss family became extremely active in the social activities of their new found community. Julia and Charles's home became a center for culture including literary and musical programs. It was said that Julia performed often on the piano at these events. The Lotus Club, which was made up mainly of Jews, had its first meeting hosted by Julia in the Strauss' home. Membership to The Lotus Club included many prominent Jewish women from Tucson.

Charles decided to seek the position of Mayor of Tucson in the 1880s. Despite an outburst of anti-semitism from his opponent, Julia encouraged Charles to continue in the political race. Charles won the election and became Tucson's first Jewish mayor.

On March 13, 1892 Charles died of tuberculosis in the family home. All of Tucson went into mourning over the death of this prominent politican. Julia and her children would leave Tucson and re-settle in Los Angeles, California. Julia died in Los Angeles at her daughter Gertrude Strauss-Reed's home. The death date has not been confirmed but is believed to be sometime in 1935.

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