David Heimann Collection
Scope and Content Note
The David Heimann Collection is a very personal collection in a sense that the materials constituting the collection shed light on the lives of many members and many generations of the Heimann family.
Correspondence, being the core of the collection, is manifold and was authored by a number of the family members. The bulk of the correspondence was created during WW I and in the late 1930s. Correspondence from the 1930s sheds light on the efforts of those Heimann family members who were in safety to bring the rest of the family out of Germany. As a result of these efforts the majority of the Heimanns were saved.
Additionally, there is some business correspondence regarding Firma H. L. Heimann.
The other large segment of the collection consists of poetry and prose composed mainly by David Heimann for various family occasions, such as annual family gatherings, birthdays, weddings, and other celebratory events
Also included here are a few essays written by David Heimann for various contests as well as his memoir depicting his imprisonment in Dachau.
Other materials include a small amount of documents, genealogical materials, and photographs.
A substantial amount of correspondence was translated into English by Irene Miller.
Dates
- 1891-2008
- Majority of material found in 1901-1951
Language of Materials
The collection is in German and English.
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
David Heimann was born on July 6, 1879 in Oberdorf, Germany into a family of manufacturer of working clothing.
He attended school before becoming an apprentice in the Heimann family business. In 1902 his father made him the head of the family company, H.L. Heimann.
In 1909 David Heimann married Bertha Rosenfelder and they went on to have three boys. During WWII David Heimann served in the German army at the Eastern front.
In 1937 he was forced to sell both of his businesses, one in Oberdorf and the other one in Stuttgart, and in 1939 David Heimann and his family left Germany to settle in the United States.
With the help from the Jewish Agricultural Society, David Heimann and his brother Hermann were able to purchase a chicken farm and became quite successful farmers.
He retired in 1955 but remained on the farm.
David Heimann died in 1970.
Extent
3.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
The bulk of the collection consists of the personal correspondence generated by a number of the members of the Heimann family and prose and poetry composed by David Heimann for various celebratory family events. Other materials include photographs, documents, and genealogical materials.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into two series:
Microfilm
This collection is on five reels of microfilm (MF 1042):
- Reel 1: 1/1 – 1/4
- Reel 2: 1/5 – 2/2
- Reel 3: 2/3 – 2/5
- Reel 4: 2/6 – 3/6
- Reel 5: 3/7 – 3/11
- Reel 6: 3/12 – OS 2
Separated Material
Some photographs have been removed to the LBI Photo Collection
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of David Heimann 1891-2008 bulk 1901-1951 AR 7284 / MF 1042
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Yakov Illich Sklar
- Date
- © 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation
Revision Statements
- June 2010.: Microfilm inventory added.
- February 13, 2015 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
- December 2016:: Series I Scope and Content Note edited.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
