Adler and Cohn families papers

Ernst Cohn (later Ernest Cornell, 1907-1986) was born on 24 December 1907 in Münster, Germany to Carl (d. 1959) and Johanna Cohn. He had several brothers. Prior to World War II, Ernst worked with his father in the grain business.

Ernst married Frieda Adler in 1935 and they lived in Münster. In 1938, Frieda and Ernst went to Amsterdam where Ernst worked in the novelty business. In 1940, Ernst met Jan Spreij (1909-1999), who was in the Dutch underground, and told Ernst that when antisemitism gets worse for the Jews, he and Frieda should go to Ede. In 1942, they contacted Jan and he arranged for them to be hidden in three different homes over the next 3.5 years.

For 28 months, they stayed with the Verduya family in Otterloscheweg, Ede. After the Verduya’s took in additional people that appeared untrustworthy, they stayed with Jan’s parents, Antje and Adrianus Sprey, until their house was bombed. They then hid with the Schekker family until liberation.

After the war, Frieda and Ernst’s son Alan (later Alan Cornell) was born in 1946 in Amsterdam. They immigrated to the United States aboard the SS Rotterdam in May 1947 and settled in Forest Hills, New York. In 1963 Ernst co-founded Loew-Cornell, a company that manufactured artists’ supplies. Alan would later work with his father. Ernst’s relatives also hid in the Netherlands and survived the Holocaust.

Frieda Adler (later Frieda Cohn and then Frida Cornell, 1908-2002) was born on 28 January 1908 in Bad Mergentheim, Germany to Aron (1873-1942) and Louise (b. 1882). She had one sister, Erna (d. 1977). Aron worked in politics prior to the Holocaust.

Frieda married Ernst Cohn in 1935 and they lived in Münster. In 1938, Frieda and Ernst went to Amsterdam where Ernst worked in the novelty business. In 1940, Ernst met Jan Spreij (1909-1999), who was in the Dutch underground, and told Ernst that when antisemitism gets worse for the Jews, he and Frieda should go to Ede. In 1942, they contacted Jan and he arranged for them to be hidden in three different homes over the next 3.5 years.

For 28 months, they stayed with the Verduya family in Otterloscheweg, Ede. After the Verduya’s took in additional people that appeared untrustworthy, they stayed with Jan’s parents, Antje and Adrianus Sprey, until their house was bombed. They then hid with the Schekker family until liberation.

After the war, Frieda and Ernst’s son Alan (later Alan Cornell) was born in 1946 in Amsterdam. They immigrated to the United States aboard the SS Rotterdam in May 1947 and settled in Forest Hills, New York. In 1963 Ernst co-founded Loew-Cornell, a company that manufactured artists’ supplies. Alan would later work with his father.

Frieda’s parents Aron and Louise Adler immigrated to the United States in 1938 along with her sister Erna and her husband Julius Hertz.