Lederer Family Collection

Collection

Identifier: AR 25911

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection holds some of the correspondence between Emil Lederer and several of his closer family members, such as Georg and Wilma Iggers. These letters mostly report on the process of emigration, as well as the hardships Emil had to face after buying and running a farm for approximately one year. The letters further report on the welcoming nature and outstanding friendliness of the Canadians Emil had dealt with.

The collection also includes the copy of a picture of Otto and Paula Lederer. Besides the letters from the 1930s and 1940s, the collection further holds one letter from 1987 written by Emil regarding his brother Hans who emigrated to Israel and had three children of his own. It also mentions the Zionist ideals of Emil’s parents, Otto and Paula Lederer.

The collection holds five booklets of unpublished writing of circa 40-60 pages each, which are placed in the second folder. One of these, a small beige book, holds 49 poems by Paula Lederer. The other four booklets contain drama plays written in German. These are titled “Das Recht im Leben”, “Wie es kam”, “Im Zeichen des Krieges” as well as one untitled play about the Judeans of ancient Lechi (Hebrew Lehi or Ramath Lehi).

Dates

Creation: 1930-1987
Creation: 1930-1940

Creator

Iggers, Wilma (Person)

Language of Materials

The collection is in German.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact: Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011 email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

Biographical Note

Paula Lederer was originally from Czechoslovakia and married to Otto Lederer. The Lederer family, including their son Emil Lederer with his wife and children, had emigrated to Canada in 1938.

Paula was the author of a book and multiple plays, mostly published under the male name Paul Lederer. After their emigration to Canada, the Lederers settled in Novia Scotia and later Ontario.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection holds the correspondence of Emil Lederer to his family and friends in Czechoslovakia. Emil had emigrated to Canada and tried to establish his own farm. The collection also holds manuscripts for a book and several plays written by Emil’s mother Paula Lederer, who published under the name Paul Lederer.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series.

Related Materials

ggers, Wilma/ Georg, Zwei Seiten einer Geschichte. Lebensbericht aus unruhigen Zeiten, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Verlag, 2002, available at the LBI Library.

Iggers, Wilma, Boehmische Juden. Eine Kindheit auf dem Lande, Monika Richarz (Hrsg.), Hentrich & Hentirch 2021, available at the LBI Library.