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HIAS-ICA Emigration Association HICEM Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 4729

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists entirely of photocopies of materials created by or for HICEM in its efforts to support the emigration of European Jewish refugees in the 1930s and 1940s. Included are minutes, correspondence, and other administrative records as well as copies of records from HICEM, HIAS, and ICA. Also included are reports and correspondence from the Hilfsverein der Juden in Deutschland, the Berliner Hilfsverein, the Fürsorge-Zentrale der Israelitischen Kultusgemeinde Wien, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and individual emigration consultants (Auswanderungsberater).

This collection was donated by the estate of Dr. Max Kreutzberger, former director of the Leo Baeck Institute.

Dates

  • 1933-1943, circa 1979

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German, English, and French.

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.

Historical Note

The HIAS-ICA Emigration Association HICEM was founded in 1927 to assist European Jews with emigration. It was created by the New York-based Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) for emigration outside of the US and the Jewish Colonization Association ICA, a Paris-based British charitable society. Also joining was the Berlin-based emigration organization Emig-Direkt. HICEM focused on assisting Jews in Nazi-controlled areas to emigrate to Western Europe and South America. The organization was based in Paris until the Nazis invaded France, at which point it relocated to Portugal, where it organized the emigration of refugees through the neutral port of Lisbon. Starting in 1940, HICEM worked with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, which also had offices in Portugal at the time. By the end of World War II, HICEM had helped some 90,000 Jewish refugees to emigrate.

References

Yad Vashem. “HICEM.” Shoah Resource Center. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Ardoin, Morris. "Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society." Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. 2nd ed. Vol. 8. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 620. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection contains records of the HIAS-ICA Emigration Association HICEM, an organization that supported the emigration of European Jews. It was created in 1927 by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the Jewish Colonization Association (ICA), and Emig-Direkt. Materials include minutes, correspondence, administrative records, and reports on the situation of Jews in various parts of Europe.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Digitization Note

The collection was digitized and made accessible in its entirety.

Related Material

Related materials at the LBI Archives include:

  1. Special meeting held at the Harmonie Club : 4 East 60th Street, New York City, on Friday, June 14th, 1935, at 10:00 o'clock" (AR 4089), which consists of a transcript of a special meeting of HICEM discussing efforts to assist Jewish emigration from Germany
  2. The High Commission for Refugees from Germany Collection (AR 7162)
  3. The Max Kreutzberger Collection, which contains similar documents from and related to many Jewish agencies.
  4. The HIAS-HICEM Collection, MF 97 reels 1-4.

Processing Information

Materials were rehoused into acid-free folders and an acid-free box. Duplicates were removed.

Title
Guide to the HIAS-ICA Emigration Association HICEM Collection 1933-1943, circa 1979 AR 4729
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 Leon Levy Foundation and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany. Digitization made possible by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany.

Revision Statements

  • March 2015: dao links and digitization information added by Leanora Lange.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

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