Self-published Memoir – Alain Lang, 2010

This collection contains official documents, such as visa and travel documents, and correspondence pertaining primarily to Eugen Julius and Matje Baum. Also included is a photograph and a memoir by Alain Lang.

Folder 1/1 contains official documents and correspondence. Included is a copy of Eugen’s birth certificate from 1901, reissued by the Third Reich in 1937 as well as Matje Cohen’s Dutch birth certificate from 1917. Also included is Karl and Luise (née Frank) Baum’s wedding certificate from 1871, reissued by the Third Reich in 1937. In addition, it contains declarations of citizenship and religion with translations, Eugen Baum’s declaration of good conduct from 1935, his declaration of moving from Kehl to Rotterdam in 1937, and Eugen and Matje’s Dutch wedding certificate, signed in 1937 in Rotterdam.

Further documents regard their emigration to Haiti, including papers supporting their naturalization in Haiti, Eugen’s Certificate of Naturalization from 1940 and Eugen and Matje’s Haitian passports. These passports include stamps for their immigration admission to the United States. The folder also holds proof of financial independence for Eugen regarding his immigration to the United States and a Certificate of Literacy from the University of the State of New York for Eugene Baum in 1952. Other documents pertain to Eugen and Matje’s daughters Mina and Reina. These include a French declaration of Mina’s birth regarding the claiming of French citizenship for her in 1938, and a document certifying the registration of Mina as a French citizen, issued at the French consulate in the Netherlands in 1939. In addition, it holds alien registration cards for Mina and Reina Baum for the United States from 1945 and correspondence regarding their citizenship from 1951.

Folder 1/2 contains a copy of a photograph of Sallie Cohen with his sons Barend, Max, Harry, and Louis from 1942, all wearing a yellow star. Folder 1/3 holds a self-published photo book/memoir titled ‘Mon Histoire de 1939 a 1968’ by Alan Lang from 2010. It contains a handwritten note, indicating that it was gifted to Mina Bernhard by Alan’s son Philippe.