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Graf Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25689

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of several documents belonging to the Graf family. The first folder contains a passport of Simon Graf, a passport of Frieda Howard (née Graf) and the family register (Stammbuch). The second folder includes an album of photographs with comments beneath the pictures in English. Most of the pictures are from places and people in Palestine, such as the bus station in Tel Aviv, the opera or a synagogue. In the comments the author describes who or what the viewer can see in the picture. Only one picture is dated with "1914-1918". It is not visible, who the author of this album might be.

The third folder contains two letters. There is an internal letter of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from June 1945. In this letter the author calls attention to Josef Graf, who was denationalized in 1939. After six years in the concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald, he was a displaced person. His sister Frieda was informed about Josef by a letter she got from an American soldier, who found Josef in the concentration camp. Frieda has begun affidavit procedure with the Visa Division of the State Department. The letter to Frieda is also included in the folder. In folder four there are different documents from Palestine, such as a program of a concert of the Palestine Orchestra, bus tickets and a newspaper article with pictures of Palestine.

The last folder contained books, which were given to the LBI library. There are copies of the book covers in the folder: Das Gebetbuch der Israeliten and Arbeiterinnen erzählen. Kampf und Leben in Erez Jisrael.

Dates

  • 1867-1947

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in English, German and Hebrew.

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

Simon Graf was born in 1876 and married to Lea Graf (née Katz). Both were born in Offenbach, Germany. They married in January 1907 and had nine children. Simon Graf was denationalized in 1939.

Their daughter Frieda Howard (née Graf) was born in 1919. She got a Polish passport in 1935 by the Polish consulate in Frankfurt, Germany. In 1935 she was registered in Offenbach, but immigrated to the USA in 1938.

Josef Graf, a son of Simon and Lea Graf, was born in 1921. He was also denationalized in 1939 and was in Auschwitz and Buchenwald for three years each.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection comprises documents related to the Graf family from Offenbach, Germany. There are several photographs as well as official documents and letters.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in one series.

Title
Guide to the Papers of the Graf Family 1867-1947 AR 25689
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Maria Jäger
Date
© 2017
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from Graf_Family.xml

Revision Statements

  • August 23, 2018 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States