Lismann Family Collection

The Lismann family of Frankfurt am Main (Germany) and surrounding towns can be traced back to around 1700. The social status reached by the family by the 19th century can be seen in the life of Heinrich Lismann, who was born in 1870 and became a successful banker. He founded the bank Gebrüder Lismann in Frankfurt am Main and garnered respect for his service as an aid worker during World War I. For this and his other community service contributions in Frankfurt, he was awarded the Ehrenplakate (Plaque of Honor) by the city of Frankfurt in 1930.

Heinrich Lismann married Rose (alternatively Rosi) Blankenstein (1887-1972), and their son Gerhart (alternatively Gerhard) was born on May 3, 1909.

Ludwig served in the Germany army during World War I and was awarded the Iron Cross. He was taken ill during the war and suffered bad health thereafter as a result.

Gerhart married Else (alternatively Elsie) Levistein (born 1908) in 1934. In April 1935, Gerhart took over shared ownership of the business Julius Reinmann & Co. in Freiburg. He and Else immigrated to the United States on March 8, 1938 and settled in Richmond, Virginia. Gerhart changed his name to Gerald Lisman and worked as a photographer. Gerald and Else had one son, John, in 1944.

In the early 1940s, Heinrich Lismann and his brother Rudolph fled Germany to Switzerland, where they lived as refugees until 1946, when Heinrich immigrated to the United States to join Gerald and Else.

In 1954, Gerald successfully claimed restitution for damages to his own career advancement (Schaden im beruflichen Fortkommen).

A dedicated genealogist, Gerald documented the Lismann family history throughout his lifetime starting in the 1930s. He wrote a family chronicle in 1968 as a wedding gift to his son, which can be found in this collection.