Shimon Schwarzschild Collection

This collection consists of three series. Series I encompasses Shimon Schwarzschild’s family papers and genealogical information, as well as his correspondence with friends from Wertheim and the city’s mayor, Karl Scheuermann and travel arrangements about his trip to Wertheim. Also included are his manuscripts, “If Stones Could Talk,” “My German Childhood,” “The Reception”, and “Language of Shadows”. The series documents his life before leaving Germany and after his return there 40 years later, as well as correspondence with German and American friends while writing his manuscripts.

Photographs in Series II document the visit of Schwarzschild and his family to his birthplace, Wertheim 40 years later in 1975. They show his house, his school, a reunion with former classmates and neighbors, and a trip to Italy with friends. This series is one third of the collection and the photographs are in color, arranged chronologically.

Finally, Series III holds his correspondence and other materials about his creation of the documentary film, “Transcending Terror.” Also included are materials about the Stolpersteine (“Stumbling Stones”) project; Schwarzschild’s visit to Wertheim’s secondary school (Comenius Realschule) and his interactions with its students; and newspaper clippings pertaining to Wertheim’s Jewish community and former Jewish residents of Wertheim coming back to visit the town.