Helen Golden Family Papers

Helen Phyllis Golden was born in Boston, Massachusettes on November 27,1922, to Sydney Samuel Goldstein (b.1888 - d.1959) and Sylvia (Savage) Golden (b.1896 - d.1954). She had one sibling, an older sister Alice born July 7, 1917. Their father, Sydney, immigrated to the United States from London, England in 1907, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1919 and using the name “Golden” starting soon after. Sydney worked several jobs, including as a vulcanizer for Plymouth Rubber, Co., but primarily worked as a taxi driver. Her mother, Sylvia, immigrated in 1910 from Liverpool along with her mother, Rose Savage, and siblings Morris, Sam, Anna, Harry, Bertha, and Irving (Isadore).

As a girl Helen took classes at the Sara Horlick dance school and joined in school spirit groups like the “Wello’s Club” . Helen's social circle is well documented in the album, making it a rich resource for family genealogists looking to fill in gaps in their ancestor’s story. In her 20’s and 30’s she documented trips to the beach, park picnics, wedding processions, and backyard gatherings with girlfriends and their growing families.

Helen never married, she worked for the Gilette Company in South Boston for roughly 40 years as a product inspector. In the early 1940s, she purchased a two-family home in Mattapan with her parents and maternal uncle, Samuel Savage. In this home the family celebrated the engagement of Alice Golden and Charles Posner in 1942 and went on to host many gatherings in the large yard. Helen cared for her parents and Uncle Sam until their passings in 1954, 1959, and 1979 respectively. Helen passed away in February of 2010 and is buried alongside her parents and extended family at Beth El Cemetery in West Roxbury.