Ackner and Geller families collection

Document | Not Digitized | Accession Number: 2019.611.1

Overview

Description: The Ackner and Geller families papers include birth, marriage, and death certificates; school and military records; immigration papers; photographs; and printed materials documenting the Ackner and Geller families from Vienna, Austria, their lives before the Holocaust, their immigration to the United States, and Sheldon Geller’s World War II service.
Date: inclusive: 1901-1981
Credit Line: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum collection, gift of Suzanne Strauss
Collection Creator: Ackner family
Geller family
Biography: Martha Geller (1921-2001) was born Martha Ackner on April 23, 1921 in Vienna, Austria, to Sidney (Sindel) Ackner and Sabina (Sheve) Ackner. Sidney Ackner was born in Brody, Poland in 1894. He was the son of Chaim Mendel Ackner, a silver merchant, and Freuda Ackner nee Rokachl. He had three siblings: Henry, Nellie, and Helen, and he owned a garage in Vienna. He married his cousin, Sabina Finkelstein, in Vienna in 1920. Martha studied milinery in school and spoke French. She and her family received their visas to come to America on November 7, 1938. They relocated to Antwerp and then immigrated to the United States, departing Liverpool, England and arriving in New York on February 6, 1940 aboard the Lancastria. They settled in Flint, MI where Signey and Sabina owned a grocery store. Martha married Sheldon Geller on November 30, 1941, and the couple had two daughters: Suzanne and Annette.

Sheldon Geller (1919-1981) was born Sigmund Geller in Vienna, Austria, on February 26, 1919 to Chaskel and Mathilde Geller. His father was born in Zurawno, Poland on April 25, 1890 and served in World War I. Sheldon and his parents relocated to Riga before Kristallnacht in November 1938. He immigrated the United States, sailing from Gothenburg, Sweden and arriving in New York on December 6, 1939. He married Martha Ackner on November 30, 1941, and the couple had two daughters: Suzanne and Annette. He served in the US Army from 1943-1946. During the Holocaust, his parents were deported to Siberia, where his mother died. His father returned to Vienna, married Josefina Brull in 1947, and later immigrated to the United States.

Physical Details

Genre/Form: Photographs. Cookbooks.
Extent: 1 box
3 oversize folders
1 book enclosure
System of Arrangement: The Ackner and Geller families papers are arranged by subject.

Rights & Restrictions

Conditions on Access: There are no known restrictions on access to this material.
Conditions on Use: The donor, source institution, or a third party has asserted copyright over some or all of the material(s) in this collection. 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.
Copyright Holder: Ms. Suzanne Strauss

Keywords & Subjects

Topical Term: Jews--Austria--Vienna. Jewish refugees--United States.
Geographic Name: Vienna (Austria) United States--Emigration and immigration--History--20th century.

Administrative Notes

Holder of Originals: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: Suzanne Strauss donated the Ackner and Geller families papers to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2019. Suzanne Strauss is the daughter of Sheldon and Martha Geller.

Record last modified:: 2024-04-24 15:05:07
This page:: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn707263

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Also in Ackner and Geller families collection

The collection consists of papers and photographs of the Ackner and Geller families (maternal and paternal families of the donor). Included are family records: among them birth certificates, school reports, wedding certificates, and other materials including books that pre-date the Nazi era. Ackner and Geller items from Vienna, Austria, duirng the Nazi era include identity cards, financial statements, citizenship and right of domicile certifications, and police reports, and Chaskel Geller's WWI medals credentials. Prior to Kristallnacht, Chaskel, Mathilde and their son Sigmund went to Riga. Sigmund (Sheldon) emigrated and included are his passport, US immigration card, US military documents, haggadot, his citizenship declaration, and naturalization certificate. Chaskel and Mathilde were deported to Siberia, where she died. Chaskel returned to Vienna, and married Josefina Brull in 1947. That documentation is included. He later came to the US and also became a citizen. Martha Ackner and her parents Sindel (Sydney) and Sabina (Sheve) Ackner immigrated to the US. Martha's passport, and her and her parents certificate of naturalization are included as are some items from the SS Lancastria. Sheldon and Martha were married on November 30, 1941, and their marriage license and ketubah are included. An oral history with Martha is also included in the collection.