Kaethe Placzek Collection

The Kaethe Placzek Collection focuses on the family life of Kaethe Spiegel née Placzek, and especially on several years in the lives of Hermann and Melvine Placzek and Julian Spiegel. This collection consists entirely of correspondence, both that sent to Kaethe by her own family and that sent by Julian Spiegel. Prominent topics include spa treatments and culture in the early twentieth century and Julian Spiegel’s World War I experiences.

The collection is organized by family, with the first series containing the letters of Hermann and Melvine Placzek to their daughter Kaethe. The Placzeks were frequent guests at various European spas and their letters provide a large amount of information on the use of such facilities, including descriptions of various types of treatments as well as commentary on meals and activities. They also often provide Kaethe with advice while she was away from home, or once she was older, on the running of the household while they were absent. Their letters from the time of World War I also provide a sense of restrictions in Berlin at that time, especially on food, while some later letters show the preparations for the wedding of Kaethe Placzek and Julian Spiegel.

The second holds the letters of Julian Spiegel to his parents. Although one folder holds some letters and postcards from a trip to Zermatt, Switzerland with his brother Percy, the remainder of letters of this series were sent in 1915-1916 while Julian was stationed at Graudenz during World War I. These letters include some information on his role as an aircraft mechanic but especially focus on details of his daily life. They frequently include his requests for various items while there.