Morgenthau family papers

Document | Accession Number: 2015.255.1

Consists of extensive personal and official correspondence, documents, photographs, and research notes related to the Morgenthau family. The collection includes material related to the Ottoman Empire and Armenian genocide, the family's long relationship with the Roosevelts, the Treasury Department, and the pre-war, wartime, and post-war lives of members of the family. Includes family history research, collected documents, and transcripts of oral histories created and compiled by Henry Morgenthau III in preparation for the publication of his book, "Mostly Morgenthaus."

Date: inclusive: 1860-2005
bulk: 1930-1950
Language: English
Extent: 61 boxes
15 oversize boxes
Credit Line: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Henry Morgenthau III

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Document Creator: Henry Morgenthau III
Henry Morgenthau Jr.
Biography: Henry Morgenthau III was born on January 11, 1917, to Henry Morgenthau, Jr. and Elinor Fatman Morgenthau. He had a younger brother Robert, born in 1919, and a younger sister Joan, born in 1922. The family lived in Hyde Park, NY. His father (1986-1967) was US Secretary of the Treasury during the Roosevelt administration, 1932 - July 1945. After graduating from Princeton University in 1939, Henry worked for two years on public housing issues in Cleveland, Ohio. The United States declared war on Germany and Japan in December 1941. Morgenthau joined the United States Army. In 1943, he graduated from the 24th Cavalry Officer candidate school as a 2nd Lieutenant. Lt. Morgenthau deployed to the European Theater. At some point, he transferred to the Second Cavalry. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service. The war ended in May 1945. After his return to the US, Morgenthau resumed his work on public housing issues. He became involved in theater, working with the New Dramatists, and with public radio and television. In 1962, he married Ruth Schachter, who had fled Austria at age nine with her family in 1940. The couple had three children. They settled in Cambridge, MA, and were involved in many philanthropic endeavors. Henry spent most of his career with public television broadcaster WGBH. Ruth, who held a PhD in African politics, was a professor at Brandeis University. Ruth, 75, passed away in 2006.

Henry Morgenthau, Jr. was born on May 11, 1891 in New York, NY, and was raised in a secular German Jewish family. His father, Henry Morgenthau, Sr., was appointed Wilson’s ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, 1913-1916, and Henry Jr. visited his father in Istanbul. Though Henry attended Cornell University, he did not graduate but instead bought a large farm in Dutchess County, NY, near the home of Franklin Roosevelt. The two men became friends. In 1916, Henry met and married Elinor Fatman; the couple had three children: Henry III (b. 1917), Robert (b. 1919), and Joan (1922-2012). Henry intended to make a living as a farmer, and also published the American Agriculturalist magazine. When Roosevelt was elected governor, Henry was appointed to an agricultural advisory committee. In 1934, on the death of Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Treasury, Morgenthau was appointed to the position. After his resignation in July 1945, Morgenthau became more heavily involved in Jewish affairs. He became General Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and was a financial advisor to the newly-created state of Israel. “Tal Shahar,” an agricultural community near Jerusalem, was named in his honor. After Elinor’s death in 1949, Morgenthau married Marcelle Morgenthau in 1952. He passed away in 1967.
Topical Term: Armenian massacres, 1915-1923.
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--United States.
Jews--United States.
Jews in public life--United States.
United States--Politics and government--20th century.
United States--Foreign relations--20th century.
World War, 1914-1918--Atrocities--Turkey.
World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects--United States.
World War, 1939-1945--War work--United States.
Geographic Name: Hyde Park (Dutchess County, N.Y.)
Boston (Mass.)
Personal Name: Hirschhorn, Joan Morgenthau.
Morgenthau, Elinor, 1891 -1949.
Morgenthau, Henry, 1856-1946.
Morgenthau, Henry, 1891-1967.
Morgenthau, Henry, 1917-
Morgenthau, Robert M.
Morgenthau, Ruth S.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962.
Corporate Name: Deerfield Academy.
Princeton University.
United States. Department of the Treasury.
United States. War Refugee Board.
Legal Status: Permanent Collection
Provenance: Henry Morgenthau III donated his family's collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2015.
Conditions on Access: Restrictions on access. Series 7, the donor's memoirs, are restricted during his lifetime and thereafter subject to a twenty-five year restriction. Access to specified sections can be lifted only with written permission from Kramer Morgenthau or Mizia Wessel (after she turns 21 years old.) During this period, Bonnie Naradzay, Vincent Grenata, and David Keplinger are exempted from the restriction, and may view the contents of series 7.
Conditions on Use: Restrictions on use. Donor retains copyright on materials created by members of his family.
: Record last modified: 2019-12-05 20:55:07
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn96059

Also in Henry Morgenthau family collection

The collection consists of artifacts, extensive personal and official correspondence, documents, photographs, research notes, audiotapes, books, and a DVD copy of home movies related to the experiences of the Morgenthau family. The collection includes material related to the Ottoman Empire and Armenian genocide, the family's long relationship with the Roosevelts, the Treasury Department, and the pre-war, wartime, and post-war lives of members of the family as well as family history research, collected documents, and transcripts of oral histories created and compiled by Henry Morgenthau III.

Bronze Star medal with box and certificate awarded to a Jewish American soldier

Object

Bronze Star medal and ribbon with presentation box and certificate awarded to Henry Morgenthau III, an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, for meritorious service during combat from January 1, 1945 to February 28, 1945, in Luxemburg.

Two dog tags and a chain worn by a Jewish American soldier

Object

Two identical dog tags on a chain issued to Henry Morgenthau III, an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

US Army 2nd Cavalry Regiment Toujours Pret pin worn by a Jewish American soldier

Object

Clutchback pin with the motto Toujours Pret (Always Ready) worn by Henry Morgenthau III, an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

US Army 2nd Cavalry regimental pin worn by a Jewish American soldier

Object

Second Cavalry regimental crossed sabers pin worn by Henry Morgenthau III, who was an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

US Army 2nd Cavalry captain's insignia worn by a Jewish American soldier

Object

US Army captain's insignia pin worn by Henry Morgenthau III, who was an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Waffen-SS Mountain Troop patch acquired by a US soldier

Object

Waffen-SS Mountain Troop edelweiss badge acquired by Henry Morgenthau III, an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Morgenthau Family Collection

Film Collection

Vote for Morgenthau sash

Object

Vote for Morgenthau sash owned by Henry Morgenthau III, who was an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Embroidered tablecloth

Object

Tablecloth owned by Henry Morgenthau III, who was an officer in the United States Army, Second Cavalry, ca. 1941-1945. He served in combat in the European theater and was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service.