Overview
- Description
- Consists of identity papers, correspondence, photographs, and genealogical material related to the pre-war lives, emigration, and families of Charlotte Kuhlfas (also Hochheiser, Heiser) and Martin Gelb. Charlotte emigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1937 and Martin in 1940; they married soon after his arrival. Includes letters he wrote to her in March 1940 as he was preparing to emigrate; family photographs; the machzor Martin purchased and inscribed after arriving in the United States; their identity cards and naturalization papers; family tree information for the Gelb and Heiser families; Charlotte's 1925 autograph (poesie) book; a copy of property ownership documents; and copies of passenger manifests.
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Marilyn Greenwald
- Collection Creator
- Martin Gelb
- Biography
-
Martin Gelb (Marton/Morton) was born on October 1, 1909 near Budapest, Hungary, to Berti and Terez Gelb. He had six brothers (including Adolph, Markus, and Louis) and a sister, Sare. His brother Louis was married to Rosa Paschkle Kuhlfass. Martin trained as a mechanic and locksmith. In 1940, he escaped through Italy and boarded a ship to the United States, arriving in May 1940, and was sponsored by Rosa's uncles in Cleveland, Ohio. Two weeks after he arrived, Martin married Charlotte Heiser. Charlotte's first name was also listed as Serlota, Sarlota, or Sheindel. She was born Charlotte Hochheiser, but after World War I, the family changed their name to Kuhlfas (Kuhlfass) and later to Heiser. Charlotte was born on April 15, 1909 in Podolinec (Pudlein), Czechoslovakia, to Jacob and Nettie Beckerman Hochheiser. She was one of eight children, including Yolan, Rosa, Markus, Simon, Elka, Dora, and Reisy. With the sponsorship of her maternal uncle's family, she immigrated to Cleveland in 1937. In 1940, after her sister Rosa's brother-in-law Martin also immigrated to Cleveland, the couple married. Martin worked in the Raboy electrical company, owned by a cousin. Martin and Charlotte were the only survivors of their immediate families. They had two daughters, Marilyn and Janet. Martin passed away on August 3, 1958, and Charlotte on July 13, 1987.
Physical Details
- Extent
-
6 folders
1 oversize box
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
- Geographic Name
- United States--Emigration and immigration.
Administrative Notes
- Holder of Originals
-
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- Dr. Marilyn Greenwald donated her parents' collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2016.
- Record last modified:
- 2023-02-24 14:31:30
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn563240
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- In Copyright - Use Permitted
- Terms of Use
- This record is not digitized and cannot be downloaded online.
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-
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Also in Gelb and Heiser family collection
Consists of identity papers, correspondence, photographs, genealogical material related to the pre-war lives, emigration, and families of Charlotte Kuhlfas (also Hochheiser, Heiser) and Martin Gelb. Charlotte emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1937 and Martin in 1940; they married soon after his arrival. Includes letters he wrote to her in March 1940 as he was preparing to emigrate; family photographs, the machzor Martin purchased and inscribed after arriving in the United States; their identity cards and naturalization papers; family tree information for the Gelb and Heiser families; Charlotte's 1925 autograph (poesie) book; a copy of property ownership documents; and copies of passenger manifests. The collection also includes numerous examples of needlework, wood templates and a pattern book for making lace patterns, a cloth purse, a rattan box and brass candlesticks. Some of these materials may be combined into a single collection in the future.
Tapestry purse
Object
Tapestry fabric clutch purse with metal hinges. Pattern depicts a man in woman in 18th century clothing.
White tablecloth
Object
Monogrammed table runner
Object
White table runner monogrammed with the initials "C.K." (Charlotte Kuhlfass).
Monogrammed table runner
Object
White table runner monogrammed with the initials "C.K." (Charlotte Kuhlfass).
Needlepoint piece
Object
Needlepoint piece mounted on cardboard depicting a house and trees covered in snow.
Gelb and Heiser family collection
Document
Consists of identity papers, correspondence, photographs, genealogical material related to the pre-war lives, emigration, and families of Charlotte Kuhlfas (also Hochheiser, Heiser) and Martin Gelb. Charlotte emigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1937 and Martin in 1940; they married soon after his arrival. Includes letters he wrote to her in March 1940 as he was preparing to emigrate; family photographs, the machzor Martin purchased and inscribed after arriving in the United States; their identity cards and naturalization papers; family tree information for the Gelb and Heiser families; Charlotte's 1925 autograph (poesie) book; a copy of property ownership documents; and copies of passenger manifests.
Prayer book
Object
German and Hebrew language prayer book, with an inscription dated 1925. The prayer book was owned by Charlotte Kuhlfass.
