Overview
- Description
- Consists of correspondence, documents, realia, manuscripts, and photographs related to the Holocaust experiences of the Spanier family, originally of Berlin, Germany. Dr. Lothar Spanier (who went by John L. Spanier in the United States) immigrated to the United States in 1939, but his parents, Rabbi Meier Spanier and Charlotte Mayer Spanier, committed suicide in 1942, to avoid deportation. The collection includes Rabbi Spanier's memoirs, written from 1920s-1934, correspondence between Germany and the United States from 1939-1942, and documents regarding John Spanier's attempts to obtain employment in the United States. Also includes John Spanier's colors (ribbon and medallion) of the KC Blaetter German-Jewish youth organization.
- Date
-
1898-1960
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Lori and Steven Ross
Physical Details
- Genre/Form
- Personal narratives.
- Extent
-
3 boxes
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.
Administrative Notes
- Holder of Originals
-
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- Steven and Lori Ross donated this collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum on Aug. 18, 2005, with the assistance of Marc Masurovsky.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-02-24 14:17:31
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn518497
Download & Licensing
- In Copyright - Use Permitted
- Terms of Use
- This record is not digitized and cannot be downloaded online.
In-Person Research
- Request 7 Days in Advance of Visit
- Plan a Research Visit
-
Request in Shapell Center Reading Room
Bowie, MD
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Also in John L. Spanier family collection
The collection consists of a fraternity medallion, correspondence, documents, manuscripts, and photographs relating to the experiences of John L. Spanier and his family in Berlin, Germany, before and during the Holocaust, and of John after his immigration to the United States in 1939.
Date: 1898-1960
Kartell-Convent fraternity ribbon with ceramic medallion brought to the US by John Lothar Spanier
Object
Kartell-Convent fraternal ribbon with medallion received by John (Hans) Lothar Spanier in Berlin, Germany. This was the only all Jewish dueling fraternity. These colors may have been issued for fencing prowess. The ribbon is embroidered with his monogram and the fraternity motto. The K-C [Kartell-Convent der Verbindungen Deutscher Studenten Juedischen Glaubens] was a national organization that brought together Jewish student fraternities in Germany. Along with other Jewish groups, the K-C was outlawed in 1933 or 1934 by the Nazi government. John, often called Lothar, became a dentist and immigrated to the United States in 1939. His parents, Meier and Charlotte Mayer Spanier, committed suicide to avoid their scheduled deportation to concentration camps in September 1942.
