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Sussmann-Hirsch Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 25042

Scope and Content Note

The material of the Sussmann-Hirsch Family Collection consists of letters, documents, a manuscript, photos and various items written or belonging to the family members of Lilli Sussmann née Hirsch. It covers the period from 1859 to 1980. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence. Most of it are letters from the Western Front (Feldpostbriefe) that Herbert Hirsch, Lilli's elder brother, wrote to his family during the First World War.

The collection also contains a copy of the family book (Stammbuch) of the Hirsch family (Sigmund and Rosa Hirsch), which gives clues about both Lilli Sussmann's parents and children as well as about other relatives. The manuscript of Lilli Sussmann's memoirs covers the period of her marriage from 1928 until 1980. The memoirs describe the issue of the immigration and the new lives of the Sussmann family in the United States.

Dates

  • Creation: 1893-1995
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1914-1918

Creator

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.

Readers may access the collection by visiting the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the Center for Jewish History. We recommend reserving the collection in advance; please visit the LBI Online Catalog and click on the "Request" button.

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 Note

Lilli Sussmann was the third daughter of Sigmund and Rosa Hirsch (née Oberdorfer) born in 1904. She was married in 1928, in Pforzheim, to a branch manager of the L.S. Mayer jewelry company, S. Fred Sussmann. After her husband was arrested by the Nazis in 1937 Lilli and S. Fred decided to emigrate and applied for visas for both Cuba and the United States of America. Between the end of 1938 and the spring of 1939 they escaped from Germany. For some time they stayed in France and Belgium. Then they had to recognize that Cuba had closed its borders for immigrants and thus they tried to get an affidavit for their immigration to the U.S. They finally left Europe in March 1940. The family settled in Providence, Rhode Island.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

Abstract

The Sussmann-Hirsch Family Collection sketches the history of the Hirsch family from 1859 until 1980. The collection centers on the correspondence and memories of Sigmund and Rosa Hirsch, Herbert Hirsch and Lilli Sussmann. Most of the documents date from the First World War.

Related Material

The LBI Archives has a related collection: Alsbach a.d. Bergstrasse, Jewish Community Collection (AR 3568) .

Separated Material

A class picture and an army group photo of Herbert Hirsch have been removed to the LBI Photograph Collection.

Processing Information

The collection was previously arranged and has retained the previous order. Series descriptions were added during processing in 2011.

Title
Guide to the Papers of the Sussmann-Hirsch Family 1893-1995 AR 25042
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Maria Neumann
Date
© 2011
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from Sussmann-HirschFamily.xml

Revision Statements

  • 2011 June 17: Timothy Mendenhall -- made minor corrections to controlled access points before sending out for digitization; added hyperlink to photograph.
  • November 28, 2011 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States