In this oral history interview conducted by son Joel Halpern, Carl Halpern recalls the Electro Chemical Company where he worked from 1917-1965. He talks about a variety of illegal practices in the company, the people that he worked with, their responsibilities, education, an accident with the acid tanks, union people, companies nearby in the Bronx, taking the train for business travel. Carl also talks about his parents, where they lived in Manhattan after they married and their move to the Bronx. He describes the schools that he attended and troubles he had with an anti-semitic teacher, as well as his neighborhood, memories of his childhood, class and welfare, the desperate things people would do to survive, religious traditions in the family, his dad's membership in the Workmen's Circle, food in the house and reading The Forward newspaper.
