Hans and Käthe Stroh Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains documents and correspondence pertaining to Hans and Käthe Stroh's emigration to Shanghai and the United States, and materials for their restitution claims. There are also numerous family photos spanning the period roughly from 1900 to 1970.
The first series has birth certificates and marriage papers for Hans and Käthe Stroh, as well as a number of papers, including passports from Germany and Shanghai, affidavits, and letters of recommendations related to the Strohs' emigration from Berlin to Shanghai (1939) and then to the United States (1947). There is an inventory and appraisal of the couples valuables dating to 1938. In this series are also documents and correspondence concerning the Strohs' restitution claims.
The second series contains a variety of personal and family papers, such as Käthe Stroh's journal or notebook, some personal correspondence, a folder of jokes both typewritten and clipped from publications, and memorabilia such as Hans's prayer book from his military service. The largest group of materials in this series, however, consists of family photographs spanning much of the 20th century. The photographs document the family's domestic life in Berlin, Hans and Käthe's time in Shanghai, and their lives after the war. Among the pre-war photographs are several studio and group portraits, including a few in which family members are dressed for masquerade balls. The Shanghai photographs show street scenes and the Strohs with other refugees.
Dates
- 1899-1984
Creator
- Stroh, Hans, 1892-1957 (Person)
- Stroh, Käthe, 1902- (Person)
Language of Materials
This collection is in German, English, Hebrew and Mandarin.
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
Hans Stroh was born in 1892 in Waldenburg in Schlesien (now Wałbrzych, Poland) to Sigismund (1866?-1932) and Hedwig (née Saling, 1862?-1936) Stroh. The family moved to Berlin in 1905, and after his schooling Hans enlisted with the German army for World War I, for which he received the Iron Cross second class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse). After the war he worked in sales in the funerary textiles business, and started his own firm during the 1920s. He and Käthe Brann married in 1924. Together they fled Germany in 1939 for Shanghai, and they emigrated to United States in 1947. They settled in Boston and were naturalized as United States citizen in 1953. Hans Stroh died in Boston in 1957.
Käthe (later Kathe) Brann was born in Charlottenburg, Berlin, in 1902.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet (13 folders.)
Abstract
This collection contains documents and correspondence pertaining to Hans and Käthe Stroh's emigration to Shanghai and the United States, and materials for their restitution claims. There are also numerous family photos spanning the period roughly from 1900 to 1970.
Separated Material
Children's garments (chemise, skirt, lace scarf, shoes, and a leather coin purse containing a small Peruvian metal tray inscribed Regine Paul) have been removed to the LBI Art and Objects Collection.
Gebetbuch für die Synagoge in der Fasanenstraße ( Berlin: H. Ißkowski, 1925 ; printed book; Hebrew and German; 459 pages) has been removed to the LBI Library Collection.
Two family photograph albums have been removed to the LBI Photograph Collection as ALB 213 and ALB 214 .
- Association of Former Central European Refugees from Shanghai
- Brann family
- Brann, Karl
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Immigration records
- Jewish refugees
- Jews -- Germany
- Jews -- Germany -- History -- 1933-1945
- Jews -- Social life and customs
- Legal documents
- Photograph albums
- Photographic postcards
- Photographs
- Restitution -- Germany
- Stroh family
- Stroh, Hans, 1892-1957
- Stroh, Käthe, 1902-
- United Restitution Organization
- United States -- Emigration and immigration -- History
- World ORT Union
- Title
- Guide to the Hans and Käthe Stroh Collection, 1899-1984 AR 10330
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Timothy Ryan Mendenhall
- Date
- © 2011
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- October 24, 2014 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository