Papers From Our Past
Picture of Ship
Poland
Bobbie
These pictures of the ship the SS Lafayette and the SS Lafayette’s manifest was from Lilly F’s
maternal great grandmother, Ruth. Lilly F's maternal great grandmother came with her father, Azriel and her 3 sisters, Anna, Pauline, and Rosie to a new life in America. On the way to the ship, Lilly’s great grandmother’s brother and mother died and were buried in Prague. Lilly’s great grandmother, Breindal, was the youngest. Lilly’s great grandmother’s family was stated on the ship’s manifest with Lilly’s great-great grandmother’s last name. They were stated with her name because that was the last name of Lilly’s great grandmother’s cousins in Passaic, New Jersey. The cousins sponsored their family to come to America. The day that Lilly’s great grandmother’s family left on the SS Lafayette was October 14, 1941. After reaching America Lilly’s great grandmother’s family lived with their cousins for a few months. After a few months Lilly’s great-great grandfather didn’t want to live in Passaic because there were few Jews. Lilly’s great-great grandfather moved his family to the Lower East Side in Manhattan. He was a tailor and he sewed kapotes like he did in Poland.
Lilly’s great grandmother’s family had a better life in America.
Identity Card
Paris, France
This Government of France National Identity Card was given to Leila
D. paternal grandfather, Maurice D. He is a survivor of the
Auschwitz concentration camp. In April 1945, while still a prisoner of
the Nazis, Maurice escaped from a moving train and made his way to
Prague, Czechoslovakia. In Prague, he went to the French Embassy
and lied to the officials. He told them he was born in France, so he
could get permission to travel from Prague to Paris, France because he
was afraid to go back to his hometown in Poland. Several months after
he arrived in Paris, he applied for a French national identity card which
allowed him to travel through France and apply for a French passport.
This identity card is the original card and has a picture of Maurice in the
top left corner at the age of 22. Eventually, Maurice got permission to
move to the United States where he married and had two sons, Warren
and Sheldon. This identity card and other original war time documents
were given by Maurice D. to Leila D. father, Sheldon.
This identity card and other original war time documents
were given by Maurice D. to Leila D. father, Sheldon.
Diploma
Alabama
On June 25, 1906, Jordana N's maternal great grandfather, Charles Moses K was born. He grew up in Opelika, Alabama. He received this diploma from the college Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1927. Once he finished college, he went to work in Virginia. He worked for Ford Motor Company and was in charge of the plant that made the cars. In 1929, he married Jordana’s maternal great grandmother, Esther. Charles was also very handy which means that he was able to fix things. He also knew how to make shoes because his father, Jordana’s maternal great- great grandfather, was in the shoe business.
This diploma now belongs to Jordana’s maternal grandfather, David K.
Brochure
Flehingen, Germany
The B family lived in Flehingen, Germany for many generations in peace with their neighbors. However, when the Nazis came to power, the Jews were persecuted. By 1938, the violence against the Jews increased. One night in July 1938, Daniel’s grandfather, Walter B, and his parents left their home and took very little with them. Walter was only seven years old when they escaped from Germany. The B went on a train to Bahnhof Kehl, which is a city on the border of Germany and France. From there they took a train to Havre, France, which was where they boarded the ship RMS Britannic. This brochure from the ship has the passenger list which has Walter, his father's, and his mother's names and other details about the ship. The ship brought them to the port of New York. Walter kept the brochure because he always wanted to remember the ship that brought his family to America.
The brochure reminds the B family how grateful they are to have their freedom.
Census
Grunda, Russia
Jacob's maternal great grandmother, Rebecca came to the United States in 1907 from Grunda, Russia. She traveled with her mother, Sarah, and her three brothers: Morris, Nathan, and Louis. Rebecca was 11, Morris was 9 and Nathan was 7. Their father, Abraham had come alone to the United States in 1903 when he was 28 years old. Abraham came to the United States four years before the rest of the family joined him. One year later, the youngest brother Bennie was born in the United States. The document is an exact state census taken on June 1, 1915, showing the family living at 292 Brook Avenue, Bronx, NY.
The document is an exact state census taken on June 1, 1915, showing the family living at 292 Brook Avenue, Bronx, NY.
Birth Certificate
England
This birth certificate belonged to Sarah F’s maternal great grandmother. She was born in 1910. Her real name was Katie S but her family and friends referred to her as Kitty. Her parents were Aleck and Annie S. The birth certificate was issued on her birth date, July 14, 1910. This certificate was reprinted on December 19, 1929. She sailed to Brooklyn in September 4, 1929 on the ship called the Olympic. The trip took 5 days. This birth certificate is important to Sarah because it is over 83 years old.
Katie died on February 7, 2013 at almost 103 years old.
Immigration Card
Palestine
Nina T’s maternal grandmother, Hannah G, carried this card as she went through Ellis Island in 1938. She had to go to the American Consulate in Jerusalem, Palestine to receive her immigrant card a few days before her journey. After that, she went from Haifa to Italy. From there a boat called the Vulcania brought her across the ocean in July. She finally arrived in Ellis Island and had to wait on a line with this card in her hand for a very long time. While she was waiting, she somersaulted over metal bars to keep her calm. At the end of the line, she was taken into one big room. Hannah was very scared because a man used an instrument to turn her eyelids upside down. She was too scared to even know if it hurt! Afterwards, she was led into another room where they gave her a shot. Hannah and her family left Ellis Island and moved into tenements in the Lower East Side.
This card is important to the T family because Hannah carried this card throughout the process of her first taste of freedom.
Important Papers
poland, circa
Evan C’s Heritage Fair items are copies of Polish archives documenting his maternal Grandfather’s whereabouts after the Holocaust. Evan’s Grandpa, Marvin K - Moshe K, was born in Chzanow, Poland in 1922. His parents’ names were Shifra and Jacob and his sister’s name was Zeizle. His whole family died during the Holocaust, and he was put in a concentration camp for 2 years. After he was liberated by the Russians from the camp, he walked back 200 kilometers to his hometown in Poland while the war still raged on. Upon returning home, he discovered that he was left with nothing, no family, no home, no photos, no jewelry, no money, only memories.
That is why the C and K families cherish these archives.
Papers
United States of America
This border pass belonged to Max K’s maternal great grandmother, Fanny Fein. Fanny Fein was admitted to the United States in the year 1921. This pass states that Fanny is a legal immigrant of the United States. Back then, all immigrants over the age of 18 had to carry this pass with them at all times. The paper states that Fanny shall be allowed to enter the United States and live there as an immigrant. The paper is a letter from the courthouse that was sent to Fanny .The letter says that she will be admitted to the United States.
The letter says that she will be admitted to the United States.
Citizenship Paper
Castle Gardens
Eli L’s paternal great-great-great grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1872. His name was Moses Ziskind F, but everyone called him Moshe. Moshe traveled to New York after living in Suvalk, Lithuania. He had gotten married in Suvalk to Devorah Leah who came to the United States a year after Moshe came. Devorah came with their daughter whose name was Tobee Hannah F. Moshe traveled to the United States of America when he was forty years old. He came to the United States through Castle Gardens because Ellis Island did not exist yet. Then in 1887, he became a United States citizen, and that makes Eli L a sixth-generation United States citizen. Moshe’s father had also come to the United States of America, but he never became a United States citizen. Moshe was one of very few Jews in the United States. Most European Jews considered the U.S. a place with a lot of bad influence and if you went there, you would stop being Jewish. He and his family stayed religious even though it was difficult for his kids to get a Jewish education and to keep the laws of Kosher.
Eli L’s paternal grandmother treasures this United States citizenship paper.
Love Letters
Europe
Jenna maternal great grandfather, Kurt, wrote these enchanted love letters to Jenna’s great grandmother Kate prior to and after their marriage. These love letters traveled all throughout Germany, Holland, a prison in Amsterdam, and during the time of the Holocaust. The love letters usually came with flowers or a love poem to show Kate the love and passion that Kurt had for her. Most of the love letters are in German and are quite romantic. Right now these passionate love letters are being kept safe in Jenna’s grandmother’s house.
These love letters are beautiful and will be passed down to future generations.
Passport
Warsaw, Poland
Max P's maternal great grandfather, Harry R,used this passport to get into the United States. He was born in the year 1908 in Lacoch, Poland. He grew up with his mother Hana, and his sister, Itka, because their father was living in America. On March 27, 1924, they left from Warsaw on the Rotterdam to live with their father in Brooklyn, New York. The passport had information about the boat they traveled on, what they looked like, and a picture of the three of them. On the back page of the passport it says they are Russian, but it is crossed out because after World War I Warsaw was part of Poland.
In conclusion, this passport is valuable to Max’s family.
Family Tree
Dates back to Russian Empire
Jake G's family history traces back to Russia, dispersed throughout Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine. The family eventually came to America before World War II. These pictures are very important because they preserve the memories of these people, and the world which they came from.
These pictures are very important because they preserve the memories of these people, and the world which they came from.
Exit Document
Romania
This special exit document belonged to Rebecca A's paternal great grandfather, Moshe S and his family. It is currently in the possession of Rebecca’s grandmother, Ruth A. They used this document to exit Romania and travel to Israel after World War II on May 3, 1950. Ruth and her family needed to wait five long years in order for the Romanian government to grant them permission to leave the country on a boat to Israel. Finally, their wait was over, and they were able to go on the second to last boat leaving Romania. The government did not allow them to take anything of value, so this document was one of their only belongings. When Ruth, her father Moshe, her mother Fanny, her sister Renee, and her brother Gary boarded the boat, they were excited to have freedom. The passport is in poor condition because Moshe did not have anywhere safe to put it, and he stuffed it in his pocket. The S family changed their last name back to Rebecca’s great-great grandfather’s name E.
This document has sentimental value to Rebecca’s family because it reminds them of their family history.
Ketubah
U.S.A
This object is Julia H’s maternal great grandmother's and great grandfather's Rae and Joseph K’s Ketubah. This Ketubah was written in August 1945 in Budapest Hungary. Rae and Joseph K were married in a shul in a DP camp with 20 other couples. Each couple used the same ring for all the ceremonies. This Ketubah was written with three different pens.
This Ketubah is very special to Julia’s family.
Document
West Hartford, CT
This important document was used by Orli C’s paternal great grandfather to change his last name, and is very important to the C family lineage. Phillip and Blanche Shumarsky were married in April 1947. Shortly after, Phillip’s brother, Harold Shumarsky, decided to change his last name to something "not so Jewish". Their last brother, Milton Shumarsky, along with Phillip and Blanche, agreed with Harold. However, their father, Max Shumarsky, kept his last name. On August 29 ,1947, Orli’s paternal great grandparents sent in an application to the court in West Hartford, CT. Throughout August and September, they waited for the document that was to signify the changing of their last name from Shumarsky, to Sherman. On September 11, 1947, the court of Connecticut received the request, and on October 16,1947, Phillip and Blanche received the official document, complete with the signature of the head of court, and the Connecticut stamp of approval.
Presently, the document is in possession of Orli’s paternal grandmother, Anita C.
Life Magazine
America
This original copy of Life magazine represents the heritage of a Jewish sixth grader, Fiona S. Fiona’s family was honored to be chosen to represent the Jews in the United States of America. During the Holocaust, America became the homeland to many Jews. Soon the Jews began to make themselves at home and started to adapt to American life. They began to forget their Jewish heritage. Life magazine did a story on the three great religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism .They chose the F (Fiona’s great-great-great grandfather) to represent the Jewish religion.
This magazine is proof that Fiona’s family never gave up on their Jewish heritage.
Inspection Cards
france
These inspection cards belonged to Becky T’s paternal grandmother, great aunt, and great grandfather. Becky’s great grandmother, Helen Rosenberg and her great grandfather, Rabbi Samuel Rosenberg boarded the ship Ile De France in 1929. It sailed to America from France. Helen hid from the authorities that she was pregnant because she was afraid they wouldn't let her on the boat. A day later, Helen gave birth to Becky’s grandmother. The captain of the ship threw a big party to celebrate the first baby born on his ship. He gave Helen and Rabbi Samuel a gift of $200. While on board, Helen was visited by a man named John D. Rockefeller. He was traveling with his 9 year old son David Rockefeller. Mr. Rockefeller told Helen that children born on boats were lucky. He offered to buy and adopt Becky’s grandmother for $5,000. That was an enormous amount of money. Helen replied “If she’s going to be lucky, I’ll need her a lot more than you do.” These inspection cards are important to Becky’s family because they remind them of an amazing story.
This story will be passed down through Becky’s family for a long time.
Marriage Certificate
Israel
This is Joey S's grandparent’s civil marriage certificate issued by State of Israel in May 1958. Joey's grandparents Mendel and Irene B are Holocaust survivors from Hungary. Joey's grandfather, Mendel immigrated to Palestine in 1947 to join his two sisters and two brothers in Haifa,Israel. He lived there for twelve years. Joey's grandmother, Irene, immigrated to the United States in 1947. When she was in America, she lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan until 1958. That year she decided to take a sabbatical from her work as an assistant clothing designer in the Garment District to live in Israel with her family in Bnei Brak. She had many first cousins in Israel and she wanted to reunite with them. During her yearlong stay in Israel,she met and married Joey's grandfather Mendel. The Israeli government issued them a civil marriage certificate. What is beautiful about this certificate is that they state the names of Joey's grandparents’, and the tribes that they were born into. Joey’s grandmother is a Bas Levi and Joey’s grandfather is Ben Yisroel.
Joey’s grandparents were married in May and G-d willing they will be happily married fifty five years.
ID Card
Romania
This ID card belonged to Lauren P’s great-great grandmother. Her grandmother was named Mali S and was married to Abraham Schauer. Mali used this ID card during the Holocaust and was in a concentration camp called Copaigorod. This was all happening during 1940s in Radauti, Romania. Her job in the concentration camp was to cook and clean for the Germans.
She used this ID card so that the Germans would know all her information such as her name, her date of birth, where she lived, and the number of her ID card: 10380. Lauren P’s family will value this ID card forever.
Family Tree
United States
This family tree belongs to Aden C's great grandmother Lilly. The family tree goes back ten generations. His great-grand mother is 103 years old and lives in London, England. Lilly's father and mother were Elvira L and Gustav K. She escaped from Germany before the war and moved to London. This family tree was done with the help of Wolfgang, a retired school teacher who had been researching Holocaust survivors for many years.
The family will always treasure this incredible object.