Thea Hoffmann Engelberg Collection
Scope and Content Note
The Thea Hoffman Engelberg Collection contains family documents of the Hoffman-Engelberg family. It is made up of photos of members of the family, class photos, a newspaper clipping, and material regarding the wedding of Bernhard Schön and Ernestine Benas (Thea's grandparents) in 1886 and their 25th anniversary celebration. Postcard correspondence between friends and family members is included, as well as correspondence in regards to the death of Leanora (Thea's mother) and a manuscript of one-frame cartoons entitled, "W.T.W. in Bild und Wort."
Dates
- 1865-1972
- Majority of material found within 1865-1971
Creator
- Engelberg, Thea Hoffman, 1923-2004 (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English and German.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org
Biographical Note
Thea Engelberg, née Hoffmann, was born in Berlin on January 16, 1923. Her parents were Adolf (1896-?) and Leanora (Nora) Hoffmann (1888–1972). Nora Hoffmann was born Leanora Schön, the oldest child of Bernhard and Ernestine Schön, née Benas. Ernestine's father was named Jack Benas, and owned a wool factory. Bernhard and Ernestine were married in 1886 and celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1911. Leanora had two siblings; Margarethe (Marga) Schön and Erich Schön. Leanora married Adolf Hoffmann, and in 1941, they buried a few decorative silver vessels in their garden at the family vacation home in Klausdorf, Brandenburg. Leanora and Thea appear to have lived in Germany until at least 1942. After immigrating to the United States, Leanora lived in Brooklyn until her death on October 6, 1972. Thea married Dr. Lazar Engelberg, and they had two children, Garry and Bernard. Thea died on May 19, 2004 in Goshen, NY after living in Middletown, NY for 50 years with her husband and children.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Thea Hoffman Engelberg Collection is composed of the documents of Thea Hoffman Engelberg and her relatives. Most of the papers are related to the wedding of Bernhard and Ernestine Schön (Engelberg's grandparents) and her mother Leanora's death. The collection also contains many photos of the family, dating back to the mid-nineteenth century.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in four series:
Separated Material
Transferred to the Art and Object Department: 2 decorative silver vessels, commemorating a 25-year anniversary on June 1, 1915 with the initials J E B; a silver (Kiddush?) cup; a silver snuff box; a lady's fan; a china (coffee?) pot with the inscription "M. Gieldzinski." Some of these items were buried at the family vacation home in Klausdorf.
Some photographs have been removed to the LBI Photograph Collection.
Processing Information
Correspondence was placed into separate folders by receiver. Order changed by family member.
Creator
- Engelberg, Thea Hoffman, 1923-2004 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Thea Hoffmann Engelberg (1923-2004) 1865-1972 AR 25286
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Nicole Greenhouse
- Date
- © 2011
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from TheaHoffmannEngelberg.xml
Revision Statements
- October 28, 2014 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
