Helmuth (Harry) Kahn Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains both personal and professional papers documenting the experience of Helmuth (later Harry) Kahn as a school teacher in Baisingen, Württemberg, his later research on German-speaking Jewry, and his particular interest in the Jewish community in his hometown of Baisingen.
The personal papers directly related to Helmuth Kahn are contained almost entirely in folder 1, while the rest of the materials reflect Kahn's interests. Folder 4 holds a photocopy of the Megillath Baisingen, a document written in old German script describing anti-Semitic riots that took place in Baisingen in April of 1848. Notes and other research materials related to the Megillath Baisingen are also included in this folder, as well as an English translation of a 1777 letter of protection for Callmann Lazarus from the Count of Baden. The family tree in folder 5, although fragmentary, traces the descendents of Natan Aron Hakohen of Baisingen back to the 18th century. Folder 6 contains notes, articles, and other research materials related to Werner J. Cahnman, a distant cousin of Helmuth Kahn. The documents in this folder that date back to 1887 are photocopies.
Dates
- 1887-2007
Creator
- Kahn, Max (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English and German.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to researchers.
Access Information
Readers may access the collection by visiting the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the Center for Jewish History. We recommend reserving the collection in advance; please visit the LBI Online Catalog and click on the "Request" button.
Biographical Note
Helmuth Kahn was born on June 20, 1912 in Baisingen (Württemberg, Germany). He worked as a school teacher in Baisingen and Rexingen until 1939. He was also a leader of the Jewish community and Jewish youth movement in southern Germany during the 1930s. He immigrated to the United States in 1940 and became a professor at the University of Vermont. After his death in 1987, the university's department of German and Russian began a lecture series in his honor.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection contains personal and professional papers of Helmuth (Harry) Kahn (1912-1987). Materials include vital documents, education records, and letters of recommendation for Helmuth Kahn from his time as a school teacher in Baisingen (Germany) as well as a family tree, clippings, and various research materials on the history of German Jewry in Württemberg. Materials related to a lecture series at the University of Vermont in Kahn's honor are also included.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged thematically.
Digitization Note
This collection was digitized and made available in its entirety with the exception of selections from folder 6, which are available onsite only due to copyright concerns.
Separated Material
Copies of pages from Paul Sauer's Die jüdischen Gemeinden in Württemberg und Hohenzollern: Denkmale, Geschichte, Schicksale were removed. This book can be accessed at the LBI Library.
Processing Information
Duplicates were removed. Folded materials were flattened. The June 1973 issue of Reconstructionist was removed from the collection except for the article related to Werner Cahnman, the title page, and the table of contents, which were retained in folder 6.
- Articles
- Baisingen (Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany)
- Burlington (Vt.)
- Cahnman, Werner J. (Werner Jacob), 1902-1980
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- College teachers
- Correspondence
- Elementary school teachers
- Kahn family
- Kahn, Harry H. (Harry Helmuth), 1912-1987
- Official documents
- Pogroms
- United States -- Emigration and immigration
- University of Vermont
- Title
- Guide to the Helmuth (Harry) Kahn Collection undated, 1887-2007 AR 25352
- 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
- Processing 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." Digitization made possible by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Revision Statements
- July 2015: dao links and digitization information added by Leanora Lange.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
