Rosenberg-Aronheim Family and Nora Kronstein-Rosen Collection

The collection contains materials pertaining to the Rosenberg-Aronheim family and Nora Kronstein-Rosen. Series I contains documents and photographs pertaining to Fritz (Siegfried) Rosenberg (1883-1940), Kaethe Rosenberg (née Aronheim) (1893-?), other members of the Aronheim family, and to Alex Rosen (born Hans Alex Rosenberg) (1925- ). The documents include marriage, birth, and death certificates of members of the Aronheim and Rosenberg family, documents pertaining to Fritz Rosenberg's studies at the royal academy of art in Berlin ("Koenigliche Akademie der Kuenste zu Berlin"), school certificates of Kaethe Rosenberg, documents pertaining to the emigration of the Rosenberg family from Berlin to Palestine, and in particular documents pertaining to Alex Rosen (birth certificate, various identity and membership cards, school certificates from Germany and Palestine, documents pertaining to his work for a radio company, the Israeli Army etc., documents pertaining to his name change (from Rosenberg to Rosen), and especially documents pertaining to claims of restitution from Germany and to his application for German citizenship (including the certificate of naturalization). The photographs mostly contain pictures of the Aronheim family taken in Stettin, however also a collection of pictures pertaining to Fritz Rosenberg's studies at the royal academy of art in Berlin (including group pictures), and Fritz Rosenberg's military service as "Regiments-Bildhauer" (army sculptor) based in Brussels (showing several of his art works during these years).

Series II contains materials pertaining to Nora Kronstein. Subseries 1 includes letters by Robert Kronstein, Nora Kronstein's father, living in Vaduz (Liechtenstein) during World War II. The letters describe plans of emigration to the United States, the difficulties of obtaining a visa and permits to travel and stay in Switzerland. Furthermore, there is a collection of letters by architect and musician Guenter Wolf to his friend Nora Kronstein. Letters from January 1945 to January 1948 are sent from Amsterdam and reflect life directly after the end of World War II in the Dutch capital. Guenter Wolf had a small import-export business from the Netherlands to Switzerland and studied architecture in Amsterdam. In the Netherlands he was friends with composer and conductor Karel Mengelberg who is mentioned frequently. According to the letters his family emigrated from Germany to the Netherlands when he was a child. He spent several years (during World War II) in Switzerland.

Letters from September 1948 to February 1952 are sent from Tel Aviv, where Wolf settled approximately in 1948. They contain reflections on daily life during the Arab-Israel War (1948/1949) and early years in the newly founded state of Israel, reflections on the Hebrew language in Israeli society and cultural differences between immigrants from Western Europe, Eastern Europe and so-called "Sabras" (Jewish Israelis born in Palestine/Israel). This subseries also contains letters by the pedagogue and founder of the "École d'Humanité" Edith Geheeb and to a smaller extent letters by her husband, educational reformer and founder of the "Odenwaldschule", Paul Geheeb to Nora Kronstein. The letters deal with personal matters especially of former students and teachers, but also pertain to matters of the "École d'Humanité" and the "Odenwaldschule". Subseries 2 contains materials pertaining to Nora Kronstein-Rosen's work as an artist and in particular to several exhibitions which took place in the United States (e.g. Boston, Providence, New York), Germany (e.g. Maulbronn, Karlsruhe, Uelzen) , Austria (Vienna), and Israel (Kiryat Ono, Tel Aviv, Haifa). It includes correspondence with art dealers, curators, buyers of paintings, CVs of Nora Kronstein-Rosen, materials such as invitations, brochures, reviews (newspaper clippings), and catalogues. Subseries 3 contains materials pertaining to Nora Kronstein-Rosen and her family. It includes diaries, autobiographical notes, interviews, photographs, etc. Also included a CD with scans of Nora Kronstein-Rosen's art works.