Nellie Wiesenthal Fink photograph album
Contains one photograph album concerning the Wiesenthal family.
- Provenance
- .
- Genre/Form
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Photograph albums.
- Extent
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1 oversize box
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Nellie Fink
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Record last modified: 2023-02-24 13:40:29
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn50985
Also in Nellie Wiesenthal Fink family collection
The collection consists of artifacts, correspondence, and photographs relating to the experiences of Ernestine Wiesenthal, her son, Fritz, his wife, Gertrude, and their daughters, Illa and Nellie, in Germany, England, and the United States before and during the Holocaust. Some of these materials may be combined into a single collection in the future.
Date: approximately 1800-1939
Decorated porcelain teacup saved by a German Jewish prewar refugee
Object
Meissen, ivy-patterned teacup brought with Gertrude Wiesenthal when she emigrated from Berlin, Germany. In March 1939, Gertrude joined her husband, Fritz, and daughters, Illa and Nellie, in the United States. The teacup bears the Meissen, crossed swords maker’s mark and the number 44 beneath, which may be a date stamp indicating it was produced in 1844. Pieces bearing the ivy pattern are often accented with gold lines, and the lack of those here may suggest that this is a factory second, which Gertrude enjoyed acquiring. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Following the passage of the Nuremberg laws in 1935, Gertrude’s husband, a doctor, began looking for places where the family could immigrate because life was becoming increasingly difficult for Jews in Germany. Later that year, Gertrude and Fritz sent Illa to boarding school in England. When Nellie was no longer allowed to attend public school, she moved to her grandmother Ernestine’s home in order to attend a Jewish school nearby. Eventually, Jews were no longer able to practice medicine, and the family needed to emigrate. In 1938, Fritz left for the US in order to make living arrangements for his family and begin studying for the medical boards he needed to pass in order to practice medicine. He sent for Illa in August 1938, and Nellie arrived in the US escorted by a governess in January 1939. Later in the year, Ernestine arrived in London, England. In late 1942, Ernestine joined her family in the US.
Brown leather billfold brought with a German Jewish prewar refugee
Object
Leather, bifold wallet taken with Ernestine Wiesenthal when she emigrated from Berlin, Germany, to London, England in 1939. The billfold originally belonged to her husband, Otto Wiesenthal, who passed away in 1930. Otto had been a physician, and a slip of paper, identifying his status as a Privy Medical Consultant, is still adhered to the interior. This was an honorary title bestowed on respected medical doctors with more than 20 years of experience. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Following the passage of the Nuremberg laws in 1935, Ernestine’s son, Fritz, began looking for places where the family could immigrate as life became increasingly difficult for German Jews. Later that year, Fritz, a doctor, and his wife, Gertrude, sent their daughter, Illa, to boarding school in England. When their daughter, Nellie, was no longer allowed to attend public school, she moved into Ernestine’s home and attended a local Jewish school. Eventually, Jews were no longer able to practice medicine, and the family needed to emigrate. In 1938, Fritz left for the US in order to begin studying for the medical boards he needed to pass in order to practice medicine. He sent for Illa in August 1938. Nellie arrived in January 1939, and Gertrude arrived in March. Once in London, Ernestine spent her time knitting for the Red Cross. In the fall of 1942, she traveled to the US aboard a freighter in a Greek convoy.
Nellie Wiesenthal Fink family papers
Document
Contains photographs and correspondence illustrating the experiences of the Wiesenthal family and their flight from Berlin, Germany.
Monogrammed silver ladle brought with a German Jewish prewar refugee
Object
Large, silver ladle engraved with Ernestine Unger Wiesenthal’s initials and taken with her when she emigrated from Berlin, Germany, to London, England in 1939. The long stem suggests that this ladle was used to serve liquids from deep dishes, and the fiddlehead shape of the handle was very popular in the 1800s. The maker’s mark might refer to Emil Harnisch, and the 12 Lothian silver purity mark on the back suggests this piece was made prior to the 1888 change in German silver marks. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Following the passage of the Nuremberg laws in 1935, Ernestine’s son, Fritz, began looking for places where the family could immigrate as life became increasingly difficult for German Jews. Later that year, Fritz, a doctor, and his wife, Gertrude, sent their daughter, Illa, to boarding school in England. When their daughter, Nellie, was no longer allowed to attend public school, she moved into Ernestine’s home and attended a local Jewish school. Eventually, Jews were no longer able to practice medicine, and the family needed to emigrate. In 1938, Fritz left for the US in order to begin studying for the medical boards he needed to pass in order to practice medicine. He sent for Illa in August 1938. Nellie arrived in January 1939, and Gertrude arrived in March. Once in London, Ernestine spent her time knitting for the Red Cross. In the fall of 1942, she traveled to the US in a Greek convoy.
Monogrammed dinner knife brought with German Jewish prewar refugee
Object
Dinner knife engraved with Ernestine Unger Wiesenthal’s initials and taken with her when she emigrated from Berlin, Germany, to London, England in 1939. The threaded design and script used for the initials resemble those elements on the ladle (.4) in this collection, and matches another knife from the same donor (2012.493.4). The knife is not part of the same set as the ladle, and the handle is likely made of silver, though it does not bear any marks to verify that. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Following the passage of the Nuremberg laws in 1935, Ernestine’s son, Fritz, began looking for places where the family could immigrate as life became increasingly difficult for German Jews. Later that year, Fritz, a doctor, and his wife, Gertrude, sent their daughter, Illa, to boarding school in England. When their daughter, Nellie, was no longer allowed to attend public school, she moved into Ernestine’s home and attended a local Jewish school. Eventually, Jews were no longer able to practice medicine, and the family needed to emigrate. In 1938, Fritz left for the US in order to begin studying for the medical boards he needed to pass in order to practice medicine. He sent for Illa in August 1938. Nellie arrived in January 1939, and Gertrude arrived in March. Once in London, Ernestine spent her time knitting for the Red Cross. In the fall of 1942, she traveled to the US aboard a freighter in a Greek convoy.
