Records of the HICEM Office in Prague
Scope and Content Note
The bulk of the collection consists of files of Marie Schmolka, a HICEM representative, who was also involved with the National Committee and with a number of German-Jewish immigrant groups. Marie Schmolka was killed by Gestapo agents in the fall of 1939 several weeks after she returned from a HICEM sponsored immigration conference in Paris.
The records contain minutes from the National Committee for Refugees Coming From Germany, correspondence of the HICEM Prague office concerning organizational activities and regarding assistance of refugees, and refugee case files.
Many topics are covered in this collection, especially assistance provided to refugees and conferences concerning them, victims of applications of the Nuremberg Laws in Czechoslovakia and Austria, dealings with authorities concerning identity papers, and coordination of activities among aid organizations.
The materials are written in various languages, principally Czech, German, English and French.
Dates
- 1927 - 1939
Creator
- Hias-Ica Emigration Association (Organization)
Language of Materials
The materials are written in various languages, principally Czech, German, English and French.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to the public. Permission to publish part or parts of the collection must be obtained in writing from the YIVO Archives.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: archives@yivo.cjh.org
Historical Note
The HICEM Office in Prague was established in 1936 to facilitate relief for the growing mass of German-Jewish refugees in Czechoslovakia. The HICEM office was the successor to the National Committee for Refugees Coming From Germany which coordinated relief work from 1934 to 1936. The National Committee sought to coordinate the activities of the various member groups and present a single voice when dealing with Czech government officials and with the European High Commissioner for Refugees.
Extent
5 Linear Feet (12 5 in. legal boxes, 1 3 in. oversize box, 9 microfilm reels)
Abstract
Collection consists of records of the HICEM Office in Prague, documenting efforts to assist Jewish refugees from Czechoslovakia. Records include minutes of National Committee Meetings, correspondence from the HICEM office, including with various aid societies, and extensive individual refugee case files.
Organization
The records are divided into three series as follows:
- Series I: Minutes of National Committee Meetings, 1934-1937
- Series II: Correspondence of the HICEM-Prague office, 1927-1939
- Series III: Refugee Case Files, 1936-1939
Arrangement
Series I and part of Series II is arranged by subject and in chronological order within. Series III is arranged alphabetically by last name.
Provenance
Collection was received in 1955 from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, then known as the United HIAS Service.
Alternative Form Available
Microfilm Reels MKM 15.135-15.143
Processing Note
Originally arranged in 1979 with the assistance of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Inventory prepared in 1997 with the assistance of a grant from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, New York
Originally cataloged as Record Group 245.4, Series XXIX.
- Case files
- Correspondence
- Jewish refugees
- Jews -- Persecutions -- Czechoslovakia
- Legal assistance to refugees
- Minutes (administrative records)
- Mischlinge (Nuremberg Laws of 1935)
- National Co-ordinating Committee for Aid to Refugees and Emigrants Coming from Germany
- Refugee aid organizations
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Refugees
Source
- YIVO Archives (Organization)
- Title
- Records of the HICEM Office in Prague, 1927 - 1939 RG 245.10
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Gunnar Berg and other members of YIVO staff
- Date
- © November 2001
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from hicemofficeprague.xml.
Repository Details
Part of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Repository
