Ernst Pincus Collection
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:
- Series I: Family Papers, 1882-1945
- 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