Ivan Wolff Family Collection
Scope and Content Note
The Ivan Wolff Family Collection documents Ivan Wolff's research of the history of his family and consists of correspondence, documents, photographs, manuscripts and notes, genealogical tables and trees, and clippings. Additionally there is a small amount of books and pamphlets about genealogy.
Materials dealing with Ivan Wolff's genealogical research can be found throughout the entire collection, however the bulk of these materials are located in Series II: Research. These materials include vital and other documents, such as birth and death certificates, registries, marriage certificates, some manuscripts and notes, genealogical tables, and photocopies and printed materials, such as newspaper articles, internet lectures and some books and pamphlets. Additionally, there are some photographs of family members and synagogues as well as his journey to Germany and of a detailed study of the Jewish cemeteries, where the ancestors of Ivan A. Wolff are buried. Also included are tape recordings of the 4th International Seminar of Jewish Genealogy in Jerusalem from April 1994.
Series I: Correspondence includes correspondence with other researchers, genealogy institutes, and archives in Germany as well as in the United States and with family members.
Dates
- Creation: 1808-1999
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1952-1998
Creator
- Wolff, Ivan A. (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is primarily 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.
Readers may access the collection by visiting the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the Center for Jewish History. We recommend reserving the collection in advance; please visit the LBI Online Catalog and click on the "Request" button.
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
Born in the United States, Dr. Ivan A. Wolff was a chemist and research scientist at the Eastern Regional Research Center of the United States Department of Agriculture in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the Director of this facility from 1969 to 1980. In 1965 he became the President of the Society for Economic Botany.
After his retirement he started his genealogical research on the Wolff family and was able to trace his roots back to the 1700's.
Extent
2 Linear Feet
Abstract
The main content of this collection consists of materials documenting the genealogical research of Dr. Ivan A. Wolff. The bulk the material is correspondence with archives and genealogy institutes, as well as friends and relatives concerning Dr. Wolff’s ancestors and family history in Germany. The collection also contains papers relating to his research, including birth, death and marriage certificates, photographs, newspaper articles and family trees, specifically about his mother’s relatives from small towns such as Bebra, Pfungstadt, Essingen, Alsbach, Morschen, Binsfoert and Niederstein, all located in the state of Hesse. A study of Jewish cemeteries of this region as well as books and pamphlets concerning general genealogical research can also be found in the collection.
Arrangement
This collection is comprised of two series:
Microfilm
The collection is on four reels of microfilm (MF 995):
- Reel 1: 1/1 - 1/20
- Reel 2: 1/21 - 1/32
- Reel 3: 1/33 - 2/5
- Reel 4: 2/6 - 2/28
Subject
- Wolff, Ivan A. (Person)
- Wolff family (Family)
Genre / Form
- clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- manuscripts (documents)
- Official documents
- Photographs
- publications (documents)
Geographic
- Alsbach-Hähnlein (Germany)
- Bebra (Hesse, Germany)
- Essingen (Südliche Weinstrasse, Germany)
- Hesse (Germany)
- Niedenstein (Germany)
- Pfungstadt (Germany)
- United States -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- 19th century
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Ivan A. Wolff 1808-1999 AR 25154 / MF 995
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Robert Schmidt
- Date
- © 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from IvanWolff.xml
Revision Statements
- November 2009.: Microfilm inventory added.
- January 27, 2012 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
