Overview
- Brief Narrative
- 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.
- Date
-
emigration:
1938
- Geography
-
emigration:
Germany
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Nancy Shanes
- Markings
- b: back, lower right, tag, stitched, blue thread : [illegible text]
Physical Details
- Classification
-
Furnishings and Furniture
- Category
-
Household linens
- Object Type
-
Napkins (lcsh)
- Genre/Form
- Furnishings.
- Physical Description
- Set of six (a-f), square-shaped, off-white, cloth napkins bearing a matching blue and white woven pattern and satin-stitched initials in white. The repeating, blue scrollwork, heart, and leaf border is woven along the edge with a blue line bordering the inner edge. The border frames a scrollwork and floral design woven in white at the center, the initials embroidered below and to the right.
a. There are small, light, brown stains in the lower right section.
b. A cloth tag with a blue embroidered logo is stitched into the back, right edge. The logo depicts an outline of an owl over a stylized Star of David formed from an inverted, outlined triangle laid over a solid blue triangle. The cloth is slightly discolored with faint brown staining throughout. d. The top and bottom areas, especially near the initials are heavily stained with brown and yellow spots.
e. There are small, light, brown stains along the center of the right edge.
f. There are small, light, brown stains along the right side. - Dimensions
- a: Height: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm) | Width: 13.500 inches (34.29 cm)
b: Height: 14.500 inches (36.83 cm) | Width: 13.750 inches (34.925 cm)
c: Height: 14.250 inches (36.195 cm) | Width: 13.560 inches (34.442 cm)
d: Height: 14.500 inches (36.83 cm) | Width: 13.630 inches (34.62 cm)
e: Height: 14.000 inches (35.56 cm) | Width: 13.750 inches (34.925 cm)
f: Height: 14.250 inches (36.195 cm) | Width: 13.500 inches (34.29 cm) - Materials
- a : cloth, thread
b : cloth, thread
c : cloth, thread
d : cloth, thread
e : cloth, thread
f : cloth, thread - Inscription
- a. front, offcenter lower right, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders]
b. front, offcenter lower right, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders]
c. front, offcenter lower right, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders]
d. front, offcenter lower right, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders]
e. front, offcenter lower right, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders]
f. front, offcenter lower right, embroidered, white thread : HS [Hedwig Sanders]
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 napkins were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Nancy Shanes, the goddaughter of Beatrice Neu Melov.
- Record last modified:
- 2022-12-22 13:51:11
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn639377
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.
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 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.
