Ernest and Elise Marx Family Collection

The Ernest and Elise Marx Collection documents the lives of Elise, Hans and Claire Marx in Frankfurt am Main from 1938-1946, and to a lesser extent provides information about Ernest Marx’s years in Cairo, Egypt.

The collection consists of personal correspondence, legal and professional documents, and printed material.

The bulk of the collection consists of letters Elise Marx wrote to Ernest Marx after his departure to Egypt. The correspondence covers the years 1939-1945 and has been translated. Elise’s letters cover topics such as emigration, the Jewish community in Frankfurt and the status of mixed Jews in Germany. Elise’s letters are sent in three stages: 1939-1941 she writes constant letters to Ernest; 1941-1944 the couple communicates through Red Cross Telegrams; 1945-1946 Elise writes of post-war life and plans to immigrate to Palestine. Hans and Claire’s letters are also included in this collection.

Series I contains legal and professional documents related to Ernest Marx, such as his visa-filled passport, and papers issued by the British Army.

Series II contains letters sent to Ernest Marx from 1938-1946 by family and friends. Family correspondents are Elise, Hans and Claire Marx. Other correspondents include Alfred Lindenberger, Erich Wronker, Willard Lassers and others.