Gertrud Kolmar Collection
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of this collection consists of typescript drafts, with some handwritten corrections, of a compilation of Getrud Kolmar's correspondence with her sister Hilde Wenzel. Other materials include notes and commentaries on this correspondence, photocopies of some of original Kolmar drafts and letters, and two letters and a passport pertaining to Kolmar's relatives in the Chodziesner and Lindenheim families. Two items signed by Kolmar, a condolence letter and a leaf from a poetry album, are also present.
Dates
- 1867-1965
Creator
- Kolmar, Gertrud, 1894-1943? (Person)
- Langer, L. (Person)
- Smith, Henry A. (Person)
Language of Materials
This collection is in German and English.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Use Restrictions
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
The poet Gertrud Kolmar was born 1894 as Gertrud Chodziesner in Berlin. She was raised in an assimilated Jewish family in the Charlottenburg district and was a cousin of Walter Benjamin. She attended private schools and received a certificate in English and French. She worked in various capacities as a translator, interpretor, teacher and secretary.
Chodziesner's poetic career began in 1917 with the publication of her first volume of poems, for which she assumed the pseudonym Kolmar, the German name for the Polish city of Chodzież, from which her surname was derived. She continued to publish regularly until 1938. After that time, further publication became impossible because of the political circumstances in Germany. She was eventually deported to Auschwitz and was executed, likely in 1943.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection is comprised mainly of typescript drafts of a collection of correspondence between Kolmar and Hilde Wenzel, along with some original and photocopied correspondence and family documents.
Other Finding Aid
The original German-language inventories are available in folder 1.
Separated Material
Photographs have been removed to the LBI Photograph Collection.
See also:
- L. Langer 's 1976 manuscript Survival Through Art: The Career of Gertrud Kolmar , LBI call number MS 449
- Henry A. Smith 's manuscript Gertrud Kolmar: 1894-1943. A survey of her life and work , LBI call number MS 450
Bibliography
- Title
- Guide to the Gertrud Kolmar Collection, 1867-1965 AR 1346
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Timothy Ryan Mendenhall and LBI Staff
- Date
- © 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- November 28, 2011 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
- March 21, 2012 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
