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Dezider Scheer Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25398

Scope and Content Note

The Dezider Scheer Collection documents select periods throughout the life and career of Dezider Scheer. The collection consists of correspondence, legal and identification documents, original and photocopied photographs, clippings, Sosúa reunion documents and a scrapbook. Scheer's correspondence consists of typed, photocopied and hand-written correspondence with a variety of correspondents in several languages. The Scheer Family series includes Dezider Scheer's passport, original photographs of the Scheer family children, typed accounts of Scheer family Holocaust survivors and righteous Gentiles, and typed and handwritten memoirs. Also included are photocopied Scheer family trees, deportation lists, and photographs with notations identifying Scheer family relatives. Series III: Jewish Settlement in Sosua contains Sosúa-related press clippings in English and Spanish, as well as documents and a scrapbook related to the Sosúa reunions and settlers.

Dates

  • 1940-2002
  • Majority of material found within 1940-1991

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German, English, Czech, Hungarian, Slovak and Spanish.

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 "Reserve" 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 and Historical Notes

Biographical Note Dezider Scheer was born on April 26, 1918 in Mošovce, Slovakia. Throughout the 1930s, Jewish persecution under the Nazi regime steadily increased in Central Europe. Working as a teacher in 1938, Scheer was told he could no longer teach because he was a Jew. As the political situation worsened, Scheer looked to emigrate.

In 1939, Scheer left Slovakia hoping to get to Palestine. In 1940 he was interned in a refugee camp near Salerno, Italy. A representative of the Dominican Republic Settlement Association came to the camp and selected a group of young people, including Scheer, to join a growing Jewish agricultural colony in Sosúa, Dominican Republic. Scheer spent 10 years in Sosúa clearing land, planting and raising vegetables, and establishing and maintaining a farm in addition to becoming the director of a school created for Jewish refugees and Dominican children. In 1950 Scheer left Sosúa to join his brother in Canada. Establishing a new life as a Canadian citizen, Scheer married in 1954 and remained in Montreal.

Scheer along with his wife, Shirley, and their three sons, Allan, Mark and Leonard attended the 50th anniversary of the settlement of Jewish refugees in the Dominican Republic in 1990.

Historical Note In 1938 many Jews in Central Europe were unable to find countries willing to take them in. The Évian Conference was convened at the initiative of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1938 to discuss the issue of increasing numbers of Jewish refugees. In the end the Dominican Republic was the only country willing to accept a large number of Jews, offering citizenship for up to 100,000 refugees.

Biographical Note

Dezider Scheer was born on April 26, 1918 in Mošovce, Slovakia. Throughout the 1930s, Jewish persecution under the Nazi regime steadily increased in Central Europe. Working as a teacher in 1938, Scheer was told he could no longer teach because he was a Jew. As the political situation worsened, Scheer looked to emigrate.

In 1939, Scheer left Slovakia hoping to get to Palestine. In 1940 he was interned in a refugee camp near Salerno, Italy. A representative of the Dominican Republic Settlement Association came to the camp and selected a group of young people, including Scheer, to join a growing Jewish agricultural colony in Sosúa, Dominican Republic. Scheer spent 10 years in Sosúa clearing land, planting and raising vegetables, and establishing and maintaining a farm in addition to becoming the director of a school created for Jewish refugees and Dominican children. In 1950 Scheer left Sosúa to join his brother in Canada. Establishing a new life as a Canadian citizen, Scheer married in 1954 and remained in Montreal.

Scheer along with his wife, Shirley, and their three sons, Allan, Mark and Leonard attended the 50th anniversary of the settlement of Jewish refugees in the Dominican Republic in 1990.

Historical Note

In 1938 many Jews in Central Europe were unable to find countries willing to take them in. The Évian Conference was convened at the initiative of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1938 to discuss the issue of increasing numbers of Jewish refugees. In the end the Dominican Republic was the only country willing to accept a large number of Jews, offering citizenship for up to 100,000 refugees.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection documents select periods throughout the life and career of Dezider Scheer. Containing material related to his personal and professional life, the collection is made up of correspondence and clippings, as well as original and photocopied photographs, historical documentation and ephemera.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series in the following manner:

Related Material

Various published photographs can be found in the online collection of the Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Related information can be found at the Sosúa Virtual Museum.

Processing Information

With no perceptible original order, an order was imposed. Once evaluated, the contents of the collection were divided and grouped together by subject. Due to deterioration the photo album was taken apart; the one page with a notation was photocopied. Photographs were placed in archival envelopes for preservation purposes.

Title
Guide to the Papers of Dezider Scheer (1918- ) 1940-2002 AR 25398
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Kate Jadwin
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 DeziderScheer.xml

Revision Statements

  • August 24, 2012 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States