Martha Lev-Zion Genealogy Papers
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains genealogical research materials pertaining to Martha Lev-Zion’s ancestors from Franconia, Hessen, Thüringen, and the Courland region in Latvia from the earliest traced ancestors through their lives in America. Lev-Zion was able to trace her ancestors back as early as the 17th century. The collection contains original correspondence Lev-Zion had with relatives and other researchers, genealogical tables, family trees, photographs, maps, family histories, and newsletters. However the majority of the collection is made up of reproductions of archival materials such as family registers, census tables, ship manifests, birth and death certificates, articles and chapters of books about Jews in Latvia and Germany, clippings, and other documents created by her ancestors.
Family names that appear prominently in this collection include: Strauss, Einstein, Eckstein, Edelstein, Frensdorf, Hamburger, Hyman, Lesser, Gunst, Rothschild, Weinberg, Barnet (Bernet), Himmelhoch (Himelhoch), Lehman (Lehmann), Himmelreich (Heavenrich), Levinsohn (Levinson), and Levor (Lefor) .
Dates
- 1708-2011
- Majority of material found within 1890-2011
Creator
- Lev-Zion, Martha, 1940- (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English, German, Hebrew, Russian, and Latvian.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Biographical Note
Dr. Martha Levinson Lev-Zion (1940-2014) was a historian of modern European intellectual history at the Ben Gurion University, in Be'er Sheva, Israel. She wrote and lectured about the Jews of Franconia and Thüringen [Germany] and Courland [Latvia]. Lev-Zion was founder and president of the Negev (southern) branch of the Israel Genealogical Society, and she was associated with the Center for Judaic Studies of the University of Latvia. Martha Lev-Zion died in 2014.
Extent
3.75 Linear Feet (four paige boxes and one oversize folder)
Abstract
Dr. Martha Lev-Zion (1940-2014) was a genealogist and a historian at the Ben Gurion University in Be’er Sheva, Israel. This collection contains materials relating to her genealogy research, including family trees, genealogical tables, maps, photographs, family narratives, newsletters, correspondence, and vital records regarding her family.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series based on material type.
Separated Material
Two CDs and one audio cassette of her lectures were removed to the LBI audiovisual collection.
Processing Information
Before processing, most of the documents were bound together using plastic protectors and sometimes labeled. There was also a significant amount of loose correspondence and other materials. In 2015, the collection was rehoused into archival folders. Groupings created by Lev-Zion were maintained by the archivist. Rolled materials were flattened and put into a shared oversized box. Duplicates were discarded. In July 2015, additional materials that were found in the repository were incorporated into the collection.
- Barnet family
- Bavaria (Germany)
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Correspondence
- Courland (Latvia)
- Franconia (Germany)
- Genealogical tables
- Himmelhoch family
- Himmelhoch, Isaac
- Jelgava (Latvia)
- Jews -- Genealogy
- Jews -- Germany -- Genealogy
- Kuldīga (Latvia)
- Lehmann family
- Lehmann, Max
- Lev-Zion, Martha, 1940-
- Levinson family
- Rothschild family
- Title
- Guide to the Martha Lev-Zion Genealogy Papers 1708-2011 (bulk, 1890-2011) AR 25594
- Author
- Processed by Nicole Greenhouse
- Date
- © 2015
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation.
Revision Statements
- July 2015: Additonal materials found in the repository were incorporated into the collection.
- May 09, 2018 : dao links added.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
