Daniel Lessmann Collection
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains 77 letters and essays by Daniel Lessmann. The letters start in 1813 when Daniel Lessmann was just 19 years old and they continue to the year 1831 when he died. The letters are elaborate; they picture not only the life of Daniel Lessmann, but also the times and people in various countries. The events in the life of Daniel Lessmann include two wars against Napoleon. The letters are written in several languages. They are all polite and respectful as it was common during that time.
The collection also contains an overview of the letters and essays with numeration and location (first folder) that was made in 1979.
Dates
- 1813-1904, 1979
- Majority of material found within 1813-1831
Language of Materials
The collection is in German with some French, English and Yiddish.
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
Daniel Lessmann was born in Soldin, Neumark (today Myślibórz, Poland) on January 18, 1794. When he was just 19 years old, he traveled a lot through different countries. In 1831 he started writing letters to his family that told about his situation in different circumstances. The events in the life of Daniel Lessmann include two wars against Napoleon. He joined the Prussian army in 1813 as a soldier and as a physician in 1815. He traveled through Europe and described numerous people, places, and events. Originally a student of medicine, he later switched to history and poetry. Later he converted to Christianity. He committed suicide in the region near Wittenberg on September 1st, 1831. Daniel Lessmann addressed a lot of his letters to his father Gotthold Lessmann. Besides his father, he mentioned a friend called Eduard Levy.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
The collection contains 77 letters and essays by Daniel Lessmann. The letters start in 1813 when Daniel Lessmann was just 19 years old and they continue to the year 1831 when he died.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
Other Finding Aid
Another finding aid was made by LBI Staff in 1979.
Processing Information
The collection is ordered by letters and other documents. The collection was processed in 1979 and keeps the document’s numeration from that time in the new finding aid.
- Berlin (Germany)
- Christian converts from Judaism
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Erfurt (Germany)
- Essays
- Jewish soldiers
- Koblenz (Germany)
- Lessmann, Daniel, 1793 or 1794-1831
- Lessmann, Gotthold
- Levy, Eduard
- Myślibórz (Poland)
- Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815
- Notes (documents)
- Otmuchów (Poland)
- Personal papers
- Vienna (Austria)
- Voyages and travels
- Wrocław (Poland)
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Daniel Lessmann (1794-1831) 1813-1910, 1979 AR 4728
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Marie-Theres Kohn
- Date
- © 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from DanielLessmann.xml
Revision Statements
- March 25, 2015 : dao links added by Emily Andresini.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
