Elisabeth Orsten papers
The Elisabeth Orsten papers include an autograph book, biographical materials, correspondence, a diary, photographs, printed materials, and school records documenting her childhood in Vienna, her departure for England on a Kindertransport with her brother, Georg, their care and education in England, the Ornstein family’s immigration to the United States, and her grandparents’ continued suffering in Vienna.
The autograph book contains illustrations and signed poems by Elisabeth Orsten’s parents and friends in Vienna.
Correspondence primarily documents arrangements for Elisabeth’s care in England. This series includes letters from Elisabeth’s parents to her caregiver in England, correspondence with Georg’s caregivers in England, correspondence with aid organizations in England arranging care for Elisabeth and Georg, and correspondence with guarantors who helped fund Elisabeth’s care in England. This series also include letters from Elisabeth Orsten’s grandparents, Paula and Eugen Fulda, describing their difficult lives as they remained trapped in Vienna.
The diary was a farewell gift to Elisabeth from her nanny upon her departure for England on a Kindertransport in January 1939. The entries are in German and English and describe Elisabeth’s life in England in 1939 and 1940 with two additional entries about her life in America in 1941 and 1944.
Emigration and immigration records include a copy of Paul Ornstein’s Heimatschein citizenship document, letters and affidavits in support of the Ornstein family’s immigration, and correspondence with the American Consulate General in London about Elisabeth’s immigration.
Photographs depict Elisabeth Orsten as a baby, around the time of her journey to England in 1939, and as a member of the WACS around 1948.
Printed materials consist of clippings about Elisabeth’s college scholarship, Georg’s military service, and a couple of miscellaneous items.
School records document Elisabeth’s education in England at the Garden School in High Wycombe and include three report cards, two news bulletins, and a notebook in which she recorded and illustrated her history lessons.
- Date
-
inclusive:
circa 1936-1953
- Genre/Form
-
Photographs.
Diaries.
- Extent
-
2 boxes
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Elisabeth M. Orsten
-
Record last modified: 2022-07-28 17:55:16
This page: https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn98646
Also in This Collection
Engraved silver 5 piece cutlery set carried by a Kindertransport refugee
Object
Set of tableware including a soup spoon, teaspoon, fork, and knife inside a cloth roll given to 13 year old Elisabeth (Liesl) Orsten by her parents after they were reunited in New York in 1940 during the war. Elisabeth and her family were from Vienna where the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 led to severe anti-Semitic persecution. Although they were practicing Catholics and did not identify themselves as Jews, they were Jews under Nazi law. After Kristallnacht in November 9, 1938, Elisabeth's parents decided to send the children out of the country. Elisabeth and Georg, 9 years, were given passage on a Kindertransport to England by the Quakers in January 1939. Her parents obtained US visas and arrived in New York in January 1940. After the evacuation at Dunkirk in June of that year, her parents insisted that the children be sent to the US, although German U-boats made trans-Atlantic crossings treacherous. The children traveled separately but, by September 1940, the family was together.
Miniature ivory penknife carried by an Austrian refugee family
Object
Miniature penknife given to 13 year old Elisabeth Ornstein by her parents Hilda and Paul after they were reunited in New York in 1940 during the war. Elisabeth and her family were from Vienna where the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 led to severe anti-Semitic persecution. Although they were practicing Catholics and did not identify themselves as Jews, they were Jews under Nazi law. After Kristallnacht in November 9, 1938, Elisabeth's parents decided to send the children out of the country. Elisabeth and Georg, 9 years, were given passage on a Kindertransport to England by the Quakers in January 1939. Her parents obtained US visas and arrived in New York in January 1940. After the evacuation at Dunkirk in June of that year, her parents insisted that the children be sent to the US, although German U-boats made trans-Atlantic crossings treacherous. The children traveled separately but, by September 1940, the family was together.
Silver locket with an engraved monogram and an infant's photo saved by an Austrian refugee family
Object
Locket with her baby photo and her mother's initials given to 13 year old Elisabeth [Liesl] Ornstein by her mother Hilda after they were reunited in New York in 1940 during the war. Elisabeth and her family were from Vienna where the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 led to severe anti-Semitic persecution. Although they were practicing Catholics and did not identify themselves as Jews, they were Jews under Nazi law. After Kristallnacht in November 9, 1938, Elisabeth's parents decided to send the children out of the country. Elisabeth and Georg, 9 years, were given passage on a Kindertransport to England by the Quakers in January 1939. Her parents obtained US visas and arrived in New York in January 1940. After the evacuation at Dunkirk in June of that year, her parents insisted that the children be sent to the US, although German U-boats made trans-Atlantic crossings treacherous. The children traveled separately but, by September 1940, the family was together.
Miniature mother of pearl compass carried by an Austrian refugee family
Object
Miniature compass given to Elisabeth [Liesl] Ornstein, 13, by her parents Hilda and Paul after they were reunited in New York in 1940 during the war. Elisabeth and her family were from Vienna where the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 led to severe anti-Jewish persecution. Although they were practicing Catholics and did not identify themselves as Jews, they were Jews under Nazi law. After Kristallnacht in November 9, 1938, Elisabeth's parents decided to send the children out of the country. Elisabeth and Georg, 9, were given passage on a Kindertransport to England by the Quakers in January 1939. Her parents obtained US visas and arrived in New York in January 1940. After the evacuation at Dunkirk in June of that year, her parents insisted that the children be sent to the US, although German U-boats made trans-Atlantic crossings treacherous. The children traveled separately but, by September 1940, the family was together.