Denise Wilde Family Collection

The Denise Wilde Family Collection documents the lives of members of the Wilde and Szymanski families, especially of the dentist Herbert Wilde. Most of the collection pertains to his education, profession and the immigration of his family. Restitution and genealogy of the families are also prevalent subjects. The collection includes many official documents issued by government agencies and educational institutions as well as professional and personal correspondence, restitution correspondence and documentation, and a few photographs and family trees.

Series I holds the papers of Herbert and Johanna Wilde. Although the series holds personal papers, such as their wedding telegrams and a poem, much of the series consists of Herbert Wilde's documents. These documents relate to his education in Berlin and study in the United States, his dental practice in Brussels during World War II, and his family's immigration from Brussels to the United States. An association of Herbert Wilde with Albert Schweitzer is also validated with a handful of copies of letters and photographs. Two folders pertain to restitution claims. Some official certificates likely used in their emigration are also present for Johanna Wilde.

Papers that relate to the extended Wilde and Szymanski families make up Series II, with documents on Herbert Wilde's parents Alfred and Bertha and brother Heinz and some genealogical information on the Szymanskis. Restitution claim documentation is also present in this series as well as photographs of a few members of the Wilde family and a copy of a photograph of the Szymanski family.