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Ernst Pincus Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25873

Scope and Contents

The Ernst Pincus Collection largely comprises papers and correspondence of Ernst and his wife Käte Pincus, along with some papers of the larger extended family. It also includes several folders of family trees.

The focus of this collection is on Ernst Pincus and his wife Käte (also spelled Käthe, née Zorek), whose papers are located in Series I. Their personal papers and correspondence form over half of the collection's first series, with one folder of correspondence sent to them. Although there are a few letters sent prior to the 1930s, the bulk of the correspondence is letters sent to them, primarily from their parents, during the 1930s and 1940s after Ernst and Käte were already living in the United States. Their papers largely focus on their education and Ernst's early professional work as a lawyer; such papers include many school documents of Käte's, university documents of Ernst, and official notifications from the court in Berlin regarding potential positions for Ernst there.

Series I additionally holds papers and a small amount of correspondence of other family members. The family papers include school writing of Theodor Pincus, as well as documents relating to his death. In addition, the series contains some photographs of family members.

Series II contains a number of family trees, with a focus on the Pincus and Silberstein branches of the family. One tree pertains to the Zorek branch of the family.

Dates

  • 1882-2015
  • Majority of material found within 1900-1945

Language of Materials

The collection is in German, English, Latin, and small amounts of French and Hebrew.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection.

Biographical Note

Ernst Siegfried Pincus was born in Posen in 1904, the son of the pediatrician Theodor Pincus (1869-1932) and Martha Pincus née Kantorowicz. He had one sister, Charlotte (called Lotte). Ernst Pincus studied law in Freiburg im Breisgau and received his doctoral degree there in 1928, with a dissertation on contract law (Das Vertragsschließungsrecht der deutschen Länder). He worked in Berlin and married Käte (also spelled Käthe) Zorek. She was born in Posen in 1909, the daughter of Emil Zorek and Else Zorek née Silberstein. By the late 1930s the couple had emigrated to Memphis, Tennessee.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

1 Folders (1 oversized folder in a shared oversize box)

Abstract

The Ernst Pincus Collection contains papers and correspondence of the lawyer Ernst Pincus and his wife Käte (née Zorek). The collection also includes some papers and correspondence of their parents, family members, and friends, along with family photographs and genealogical information.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in two series:

  1. Series I: Family Papers, 1882-1945
  2. Series II: Genealogy, undated, 1979-2015

Separated Materials

One duplicate family tree printout was removed from Series II during processing of the archival collection.

Title
Guide to the Papers of Ernst Pincus
Author
Dianne Ritchey
Date
2021
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

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