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Wald Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25698

Scope and Content Note

The Wald family collection includes two series. The first series contains official documents. Many of them were needed by the family to immigrate to the US. These documents provide a timeline of the family's experience in emigrating from Germany.

The second series is a compilation of letters of the Wald family. Most of them focus on the possibility of Hermann and Frieda Jacob's immigration to the United States and were written by Hermann Jacob. The existing correspondence is stored in three folders sorted by the year they were written. The letters make clear the increasing pressure and need to leave German. Until the end of the correspondence the authors had a great deal of hope in Rena Lehman, the sister of Frieda Wald living in New York.

Dates

  • Creation: 1923-1952
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1941

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German except two letters in French and one postcard in Hebrew.

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

Irmgard Edith Wald, née Jacob was born February 6, 1909 in Heddenheim, a district of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In January 1934 she married Chiel Chaim Wald (born June 29, 1901 in Rozwadowin, Galicia, today Rozwadów in Stalowa Wola, Poland). In the same year their first child Max was born. In 1938 their second child Rosalind Wald followed. Rosalind was often called Mutschi by her grandparents. After Rosalind was born Chiel Chaim Wald immigrated to the US, when he changed his name to Charles Wald. Irmgard Edith Wald and the children followed him in 1939; the family settled in Philadelphia. Irmgard Edith Walds parents Frieda and Hermann Jacob stayed in Frankfurt and were unable to leave Germany. In 1942 Hermann and Frieda were deported to Theresienstadt. In 1944 both were deported to Auschwitz. Hermann Jacob died in Auschwitz on October 22, 1944. Frieda Jacob survived the concentration camp and obtained American citizenship in 1952.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

The bulk of the collection consists of documents of the Wald family. Most of them were used to get American visas or citizenship. A body of correspondence is also part of the collection. The focus of these letters concerns emigration / immigration, and the possibility of fleeing Germany.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in two series.

Title
Guide to the Papers of the Wald Family undated, 1923-1952 AR 25698
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Stephan Daiber
Date
© 2017
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from Wald_Family.xml

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

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