Walter Keller papers

Document | Digitized | Accession Number: 2004.64.1

Overview

Description: The Walter Keller papers contain biographical materials, correspondence, immigration papers, a personal narrative, and photographs documenting Walter and Caroline Keller, their lives in prewar Germany, their immigration to the United States, and the reestablishment of their medical and nursing careers. The papers also include four 1938 issues of the Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt für den Verband der Kultusgemeinden in Bayern.
Biographical materials include student, employment, and military records documenting Walter’s medical training and practice in Germany, the establishment of his medical career in the United States, and his military service during World War II, as well as Caroline Keller’s nursing career. This series also includes a homemade booklet of poems celebrating Arnold Wolf on his birthday.
Correspondence primarily consists of wartime illustrated letters Walter addressed Caroline during his World War II military service. This series also includes a condolence letter from Maria Racek on Walter’s death and three letters from Eva Prager reminiscing on her shared childhood with Walter.
Immigration material includes correspondence, forms, and certificates documenting Walter and Caroline Keller’s immigration to the United States in 1938 and their efforts to help other family members immigrate.
Walter Keller’s memoir describes his childhood in Augsburg, attending medical school in Germany during Hitler’s beer hall putsch, his early medical career, his brief arrest and the loss of his employment after Hitler came to power, finding work at the Jewish Hospital in Leipzig, meeting and marrying Caroline, practicing medicine in Wurzburg, immigrating to the United States, reestablishing his medical career, his military training and stateside service, and his naturalization.
Photographic materials consist of two photograph albums and several dozen loose photographs depicting Walter and Caroline Keller and their family members and friends at home in Germany and on vacation in Germany and Austria
Date: inclusive: 1909-1974
Collection Creator: Walter Keller
Biography: Walter Keller (1904-1985) was a doctor born in Augsburg to hat maker Ludwig (1875-?) and Ida Keller (1883-?). His first wife, Caroline Keller (1904-1973), was born Karoline Hansel Oppenheimer in Würzburg to Arnold (1878-1946) and Alice Oppenheimer (1876-1957). Walter and Caroline immigrated to the United States in 1938. Caroline’s sister Julie Eleanore (1911-2009) also immigrated to the United States before the war. Their parents fled to England in 1939 and immigrated to the United States in 1946. Walter’s parents and sister Elisabeth (Liesel, 1921-?) perished in the Holocaust. Walter Keller’s second wife was Onnolee Keller (1916-2009).

Physical Details

Language: German English
Genre/Form: Photographs.
Extent: 1 box
1 oversize box
System of Arrangement: The Walter Keller papers are arranged as six series: I. Biographical materials, 1909-1960, II. Correspondence, 1943-1995, III. Immigration materials, 1937-1952, IV. Personal narrative, approximately 1974, V. Photographic materials, 1917-1972, VI. Printed materials, 1938

Rights & Restrictions

Conditions on Access: There are no known restrictions on access to this material.
Conditions on Use: Material(s) in this collection may be protected by copyright and/or related rights. You do not require further permission from the Museum to use this material. The user is solely responsible for making a determination as to if and how the material may be used.

Keywords & Subjects

Topical Term: Jews--Germany--Augsburg. Jews--Germany--Würzburg. Jewish physicians. Jewish nurses. Jewish refugees--New York (State).
Geographic Name: Augsburg (Germany) Würzburg (Germany) Germany--Emigration and immigration--History--1933-1945. United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century.

Administrative Notes

Holder of Originals: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: Sharon Roesch, Walter Keller’s stepdaughter, donated Walter Keller papers to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives in 2004.
Funding Note: The cataloging of this collection has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.