Senta Gerstein Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains the text of several speeches delivered by Senta Gerstein (née Meyer), as well as numerous award certificates for Gerstein's social work and a few letters of recommendation dating to her life in 1930s Hamburg.
The first folder contains a few letters of recommendation and recognition from Jewish organizations and newspapers for which Meyer worked. There is also a single program for a lecture held by Gerstein in Hamburg. The next folder documents Meyer's social work and engagements after emigrating to the United States and consists primarily of award certificates and certificates of recognition. The final folder contains photocopies of manuscript drafts of various speeches and essays composed by Gerstein. All of these manuscripts pertain to German-Jewish experience and culture and discuss topics ranging from the works of Rosenzweig and Buber to Kristallnacht and the Holocaust.
Dates
- 1930-1990
Creator
- Meyer-Gerstein, Senta, 1905-1991 (Person)
Language of Materials
This collection is in German and English.
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
Senta Gerstein, née Meyer, formerly Elias, formerly Urbach, was born in 1905 in Hamburg. She studied at the University of Hamburg and worked as a journalist and a social worker. She was a youth leader in the Deutsch-Jüdische Jugend and active in interfaith work. After 1933 she helped to organize the emigration of German Jews. In 1939 she emigrated to the United States and went into manufacturing of simulated pearl costume jewelry. In 1950, she married and moved to Denver where she went again into social work and participated in the local chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. She moved later to Florida, married Sol Gerstein, a concentration camp survivor originally from Riga, and lectured widely on topics of the Holocaust. She died in 1991 in Florida.
Extent
3 Folders
Abstract
This collection contains the text of several speeches delivered by Senta Gerstein (née Meyer), as well as numerous award certificates for Gerstein's social work and a few letters of recommendation dating to her life in 1930s Hamburg.
Other Finding Aid
A handwritten, itemized inventory list provided by donor is available in folder 1.
Separated Material
Clippings have been removed to the Senta Gerstein Clippings Collection , call number AR 6207 C .
- Title
- Guide to the Senta Gerstein Collection, 1930-1990 AR 6207
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Timothy Ryan Mendenhall
- Date
- © 2012
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- April 09, 2012 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
