Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Fork that survived Kristallnacht and was brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The fork was originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
- Date
-
emigration:
1938
- Geography
-
emigration:
Germany
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Nancy Shanes
- Markings
- back, handle, stamped: [illegible hallmark]
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Household Utensils
- Category
-
Flatware
- Object Type
-
Forks (lcsh)
- Genre/Form
- Tableware.
- Physical Description
- Silver-plated, brass-colored metal table fork with four elongated, equal length, pointed tines. Initials and a year are engraved on the end of the handle, and a hallmark is stamped on the underside of the stem. The plating has worn away in several places due to use, and the surface is heavily tarnished.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 8.080 inches (20.523 cm) | Width: 1.000 inches (2.54 cm) | Depth: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm)
- Materials
- overall : silver, metal
- Inscription
- front, handle end, engraved initials: H. S / 14. [Hedwig Sanders / 1914]
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Kristallnacht, 1938
- Geographic Name
- Germany.
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The fork was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Nancy Shanes, the goddaughter of Beatrice Neu Melov.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-02-10 11:03:59
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn639354
Also in Neu family collection
The collection consists of documents, photographs, books, and artifacts relating to the experiences of Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu and their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov), in Germany and the United States before and during the Holocaust.
Date: 1914-1954
Bright blue porcelain bird that survived Kristallnacht owned by Hedwig Sanders Neu
Object
Painted porcelain bird that survived Kristallnacht and was brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The bird was originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Fork bearing Hedwig Sanders Neu's initials that survived Kristallnacht
Object
Fork that survived Kristallnacht and was brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The fork was originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Spoon bearing Hedwig Sanders Neu's initials that survived Kristallnacht
Object
Spoon that survived Kristallnacht and was brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The spoon was originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Pair of engraved gold wedding rings owned by Hedwig and Richard Neu
Object
Pair of engraved, gold wedding bands (a & b) worn by Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu following their marriage in Germany in 1932. The rings were among the possessions that the couple brought with them when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Certificate of Citizenship document holder owned by Richard Neu
Object
Document holder for a United States Certificate of Citizenship issued to Richard Neu on March 1, 1945. Richard and his wife, Hedwig Sangers Neu, immigrated to the US with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Certificate of Citizenship document holder owned by Hedwig Sanders Neu
Object
Document holder for a United States Certificate of Citizenship issued to Hedwig Sangers Neu on March 1, 1945. Hedwig and her husband, Richard Neu, immigrated to the US with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Napkins with blue scrollwork design and Hedwig Sanders Neu's initials that survived Kristallnacht
Object
Set of six monogrammed, blue and white napkins that survived Kristallnacht and were brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The napkins were originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack, and some of those that survived, like several of these napkins, were stained by iodine from broken medicine bottles that they had originally been wrapped around. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Napkins with white butterfly and floral design and Hedwig Sanders Neu's initials that survived Kristallnacht
Object
Set of nine monogrammed, white napkins that survived Kristallnacht and were brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The napkins were originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack, and some of those that survived, like several of these napkins, were stained by iodine from broken medicine bottles that they had originally been wrapped around. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Tan, white, and blue striped hand towel with Hedwig Sanders Neu's initals that survived Kristallnacht
Object
Striped hand towel that survived Kristallnacht and was brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The hand towel was originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack, and some of those that survived, like the towel, were stained by iodine from broken medicine bottles that they had originally been wrapped around. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Pillow sham with floral and geometric design and Hedwig Sanders Neu's initials that survived Kristallnacht
Object
White, decorative pillow sham that survived Kristallnacht and was brought with Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu when they immigrated to the United States with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The hand towel was originally part of Hedwig’s trousseau, and among the possessions that the Neu family packed in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Thin cloth wallet used to hold Beatrice Neu's Certificate of Citizenship
Object
Cloth wallet used as a document holder for a United States Certificate of Citizenship issued to Beatrice Neu (later Melov) on April 21, 1954. Beatrice immigrated to the US with her parents, Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu, in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Beatrice Neu Melov papers
Document
The papers document the experiences of Beatrice Neu Melov and her parents, Hedwig and Richard Neu, following their immigration to the United States from Partenheim, Germany in 1939 through family photographs, correspondence, and certificates, including naturalization certificates. The materials capture Melov’s post-war experiences between the 1950s and 1980s, including her work as a public school teacher and principal, her return visit to Fränkisch-Crumbach, Germany, her marriage to Alfred Melov, and family celebrations. Other materials include typewritten accounts of her family’s experience on Kristallnacht, Jahrzeit reminder cards for Hedwig and Richard Neu, a German and Hebrew sympathy book for her great-grandfather Issak Oppenheimer, and a portrait photograph of her grandparents, Nathan Neu and Bertha Oppenheimer Neu.
Hebrew language book for children owned by Beatrice Neu
Object
Hebrew language book used in Beatrice Neu’s (later Melov) studies in the United States following her immigration there with her parents, Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu, in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
My Hebrew Reader book owned by Beatrice Neu
Object
Hebrew language book used in Beatrice Neu’s (later Melov) studies in the United States following her immigration there with her parents, Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu, in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
