Caroline Klein Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists almost exclusively of correspondence written to Caroline, later Caroline Klein, in the 1880s by relatives and friends living in Germany, Austria, and Hungary. The letters are in German and Hungarian. Also included are a few letters written by Caroline to others, one letter written by her daughter Elsie, two poems, and a short story. An email from the donor with biographical information is also included because it provides biographical information that is not otherwise contained in the collection.
Dates
- 1884-1909, 2010
Language of Materials
The collection is in German, Hungarian, and English.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Biographical Note
Caroline Klein 1 was one of three daughters born to Katerina Feldman (possibly Feldmann) and her first husband. Caroline’s sisters were named Adele and Josephine, and she had twin brothers, Max and Julius. She also had a half-sister named Marie, the daughter of Katerina and her second husband, whose last name was Herman (possibly spelled Herrmann). Caroline married Jacob Klein in 1888, and they lived in Miskolcz, Hungary before immigrating to the United States and settling on the Lower East Side of New York City. Caroline suffered from tuberculosis and traveled back to Europe in an effort to recover her health. She returned to New York uncured and eventually died of her illness.
Caroline and Jacob Klein had one daughter, Elizabeth (alternatively Elsie) Klein. Elizabeth married William Koomer in 1920 and had no children. After her death in 1996 at the age of 104, the letters in this collection were found by a daughter of Elizabeth’s cousin, who donated them to the LBI Archives.
Footnotes
- 1 Caroline's maiden name cannot be determined from the documents in the collection; while the donor suggests it is Feldman, which was Caroline's mother's married name, some letters to Caroline from Jakab Buterman are signed "from your loving father."
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection consists of correspondence written to Caroline Klein in the 1880s by relatives and friends living in Hungary, Austria, and Germany. Also included are a few letters written by Caroline to others, one letter written by her daughter Elsie, two poems, and a short story. An email from the donor with biographical information is also included.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by the name of the correspondent writing to Caroline. This is followed by a folder of correspondence not addressed to Caroline, a folder containing the poems and short story, and finally a folder for the donor’s email with biographical information.
Processing Information
Materials were unfolded and flattened. Letters were taken out of envelopes, and the envelopes were retained next to the letter it held. Items that were torn or otherwise badly damaged were placed in Mylar sleeves.
- Title
- Guide to the Caroline Klein Collection 1884-1909, 2010 (bulk 1884-1890) AR 25404
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Leanora Lange
- Date
- © 2013
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- Made possible by the Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives Grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources through The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support "Illuminating Hidden Collections at the Center for Jewish History."
Revision Statements
- April 02, 2015 : dao links added by Emily Andresini.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
