Sonia Marder Better Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection contains personal documents of Sonia Marder Better. The materials include correspondence; official documents; transcripts of school records; poems; notes; and photographs. The majority of the materials relate to the correspondence between Sonia and her parents, documents related to her life in the UK and USA, as well as photographs that document the life of Sonia Marder Better and her family.
Series I contains the personal papers of Sonia Marder Better. The bulk of this series relates to the personal correspondence of Sonia, mainly letters from her parents addressed to Sonia during the time 1939 to 1941. The content of the letters is mainly related to the daily lives of the parents, other family members, and concerns about Sonia. Additionally, the series contains official documents, e.g., related to the Kindertransport and transcript of records of Sonia’s schooling. Other folders contain personal notes, correspondence with friends, poems, and official documents, such as a bank card and Eddie Better’s notice of classification for his military service.
Series II contains photographs dating from 1928 to the 1970s. These includes pictures of Sonia Marder Better’s family during her childhood until her wedding on November 12th, 1944. Furthermore, there are pictures of Sonia Marder Better and her family and friends in the USA or on vacation after the war, for example to California, Florida, or Israel.
Dates
- 1928-1976
- Majority of material found within 1939-1944
Language of Materials
The collection is in German, with some English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers.
Conditions Governing Use
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection.
Biographical Note
Sonia Marder was born in Berlin, Germany on May 15th, 1925. Her parents were Ignatz and Stephanie Marder. Her father died in 1927, and her mother got married to Zigmund Pukacs who had a daughter from a prior marriage, Sonia’s stepsister Helga Pukacs. In circa 1939, Sonia and Helga were sent on Kindertransports to England.
Sonia Marder Better married Eddie Better in Leeds, England on November 12th, 1944. The couple had a son, Michael Better in 1945. The family moved to New York City in November 1947. They lived in Downtown Manhattan and later moved to New Jersey. Sonia Marder Better died on July 27th, 2013, in New Jersey.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection contains personal documents of Sonia Marder Better. The materials include correspondence; official documents; transcripts of school records; poems; notes; and photographs. The majority of the materials relate to the correspondence between Sonia and her parents; documents relating to her migration the United Kingdom and USA; as well as pictures that document the life of Sonia Marder Better and her family.
Arrangement
Arranged into two series according to document types.
- Personal Documents, 1939-1944
- Photographs, 1928-1975
Processing Information
Materials were rehoused into acid-free boxes and folders.
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of the Sonia Marder Better Collection, 1928-1976
- Author
- Processed by Marlene Wulf
- Date
- 2022
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
