Ettelson family papers

Ralph Ettelson (1911-2000) was born in Vilkaviškis, Lithuania to Michael and Itta (née Ettelson) Schimensky. Ralph had at least two siblings: Rivka and Max (d. 1938). Ralph’s father died as a young man leaving Itta to support the family as the proprietor of a shop that sold needles, thread, and other sundries. After Ralph completed gymnasium in 1927 he left Lithuania for the Dominican Republic where he joined a network of extended relatives, including an uncle Jule Schimensky and the Paiewonsky family, who had arrived to the Caribbean in the 19th century. During this period Ralph began to adopt his mother’s surname and remained in regular contact with her and his siblings who sent letters, photographs, and goods from Lithuania. In the mid-1930s Ralph relocated for a time to New York where he met Anita Albam (1915-2002), the American-born daughter of immigrants from Vilkaviškis.

In 1938 Ralph and Anita married in New York, however due to his work, as well as naturalization difficulties, Ralph returned frequently to the Dominican Republic where he remained involved in the growing Jewish refugee population. Due to his immigration status, Ralph was not able to directly aid his loved ones in coming to the United States after the start of World War II. He continued to receive letters from family and friends until the German invasion of Vilkaviškis in June 1941.

Ralph’s brother Max died in 1938. His mother and sister likely perished in September 1941 after German soldiers and Lithuanian police shot the remainder of Jews still in the Vilkaviškis ghetto.

Ralph and Anita had three sons: Michael (1942-2011), Joel (1946-2010), and Richard (b. 1949).