Gunter J. Neumann Family Collection
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains private and official papers, diaries and photographs pertaining to three generations of the Neumann family. The first series of the collection includes official documents, papers, dreams and notes of Gunter J. Altmann. He wrote diaries, which referred partly to his early childhood and youth, additionally to events and dreams of the 1980s to 1990s, the time when the diaries were created. The second series holds official papers, such as those used in migration, identification papers and certificates, particularly of Yetti, Simon and Gunter Neumann. A collection of family photographs, dated from the 1930s to the 1950s, is also part of the collection.
Dates
- 1899-2001
- Majority of material found in 1928-1940, 1964-1993
Creator
- Neumann, Gunter J., 1935-2015 (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is mainly in English, German and Hebrew. One document is in Polish.
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
Gunter Julius Neumann was born in Leipzig, Germany on May 9, 1935, the son of Yetti (Itte, Jetty) and Simon Juda Neumann. His mother, née Yetti Hellfeld, was born in Dzurow, Galicia, Poland (today Ukraine) on February 19, 1906. His father was born on October 5, 1906 in Leipzig, Germany and worked as a warehouseman. All three family members were Polish citizens, and as such they were forced to leave Leipzig, when, from fall 1938 on, Polish Jews were expelled from Nazi Germany. In January 1939 Yetti, Simon and Gunter Neumann fled to the United States, where they lived in Brooklyn and Queens in New York City. Gunter Neumann became a professional singer and in the 1960s served in the American military. At the age of 30 Gunter Neumann converted to Christianity. In his 30s and 40s he battled schizophrenia and manic depression, later cancer. In addition to his work as soldier and professional singer, Gunter Neumann was interested in religion and the arts.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
The collection holds papers, photographs, notes and documents pertaining to three generations of the Neumann family.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
Separated Material
Previously developed negatives were removed from the collection. Films were removed to the LBI Audiovisual Collection.
Processing Information
The collection was arranged by dividing the material into two series pertaining to Gunter J. Neumann and the Neumann family. Part of the material was previously arranged in this manner.
- Brochures
- Christian converts from Judaism
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Dreams
- Emigration and immigration
- Jews -- Persecutions -- Germany
- Legal documents
- Leipzig (Germany)
- Memoirs
- Neumann, Ester, 1877-
- Neumann, Gerschon, 1876-1934
- Neumann, Gunter J., 1935-2015
- Neumann, Simon, 1906-1972
- Neumann, Yetti, 1906-1989
- New York (N.Y.)
- Newsletters
- Official documents
- Photographs
- Schizophrenia
- Transcripts
- Title
- Guide to the Gunter J. Neumann Family Collection 1899-2001 AR 25570
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Sophia Stolf
- Date
- © 2016
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from Gunter_J_Neumann_Family.xml
Revision Statements
- February 2017:: dao links added by Emily Andresini.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
