Leo Gompertz Collection
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of this collection consists primarily of correspondence with former members of Haus Berta, which Leo Gompertz initiated in 1963 in order to compile an article about the institution for the Leo Baeck Institute. (The completed article can be found online.) He published short notices, which are included in the collection in Series I, in several German, Israeli and American newspapers asking former members of Haus Berta to contact him. The letters he received, sent from émigrés in South Africa, Germany and Israel, contain information about Haus Berta and the fate of its former members. These letters comprise Series II. Leo Gompertz was also in touch with Kurt Neuwald of the Jüdische Kultusgemeinde in Gelsenkirchen. Series I additionally contains several clippings about Haus Berta, photographs and a few documents. There are also copies of clippings about an exhibition about Haus Berta in 1998.
A few personal items related to Leo Gompertz will be found in Series I, such as a membership card for the Jüdischer Kulturbund Rhein-Ruhr, a military certificate, and materials related to the wedding of his parents.
Dates
- 1896-1998
- Majority of material found within 1963-1967
Creator
- Gompertz, Leo (Person)
Language of Materials
The 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 and Historical Note
Leo Gompertz was born in Krefeld on January 15, 1887, the son of Albert Gompertz and Sophie Rubens. He lived in Gelsenkirchen, where he owned a fur store. He was also a philanthropist, Jewish community leader, and director of Haus Berta, a vacation camp and youth training and recreation center sponsored by the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten in Schermbeck, Germany. Gompertz emigrated to the United States via the Netherlands in 1939. In New York City he reestablished himself in the fur industry with the firm L.F. Gompertz Manufacturing Furriers. Leo Gompertz died in New York City on February 26, 1968.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Abstract
The Leo Gompertz Collection primarily documents Leo Gompertz's search for information on Haus Berta, a recreation and training institution for Jewish youth during the late 1930s. The collection also includes a number of photographs of Haus Berta, its staff and residents, as well as some other documents on it and a few personal papers of Leo Gompertz.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series:
Separated Material
Several photographs and a photo album have been removed to the LBI Photograph Collection.
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Leo Gompertz 1896-1998 AR 1990
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by LBI Staff and Dianne Ritchey
- Date
- © 2013
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from LeoGompertz.xml
Revision Statements
- April 08, 2015 : dao links added by Emily Andresini.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
