Black ribbon watch fob from prewar Netherlands
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 5.125 inches (13.018 cm) | Width: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm) | Depth: 0.125 inches (0.318 cm)
Creator(s)
- Eliazer Davids (Subject)
Biographical History
Eliazer (Elie) Davids was born on March 27, 1904, in Amsterdam, Netherlands to an observant Jewish family, which had lived in Amsterdam for over seven generations. His parents were Leman Davids (10/7/1869-11/14/1930), born in Amsterdam to Eliazer Davids and Schoontje de Klerk and Branca Groen, (12/29/1870-1/6/1940), born in Amsterdam to Mozes Nathan Groen and Esther Snoek. Eliazer had a brother, Mozes, born on December 24, 1907, and two sisters, Elly and Leah. Leman was a diamond broker and cutter. When Eliazer was in his twenties, he joined his paternal uncle, Louis (1877-1930) in his linen business which operated in Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as the Netherlands. After his uncle’s death in 1930, he ran the business on his own and also supported his aunt. In 1934, Eliazer married Bronislawa (Bertha) Perlberg, the daughter of Eliasz Perlberg and Amalia Kaufmann, orthodox Jews who had emigrated from Poland when Bertha wa a young child. She had as brother born in 1930. In December 1938, Eliazer and Bronislawa were able to leave for the United States with the assistance of Eliazer’s maternal uncle, Leo Groen, who had lived in New York since the 1890s. He submitted affidavits of support for their visas, as well as many other members of the family, but only Eliazer and Bertha’s paperwork would get processed in time for them to leave before the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940. The majority of both the Davids and Perlberg families who remained in Europe perished during the Holocaust. Eliazer and Bertha had a son born on July 27, 1938, and a daughter, born in 1942. Eliazer worked for the Office of War Information, and later the State Department Office of Information and Cultural Affairs. Eliazer died in 1990, age 86; Bertha passed away in 2007, age 94.
Archival History
The watch fob was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2008 by Blanch Davids Gewirtz, the daughter of Eliazer Davids.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Blanche Davids Gewirtz
Scope and Content
Watch fob that belonged to Eliazer Davids and previously to his father, Leman Davids. A watch fob was used to retrieve a pocket watch from a vest or waist pocket. They were common before wristwatches were introduced in the early 20th century. The Davids were an observant Jewish family who had lived in Amsterdam, Netherlands, for several generations. Leman was a diamond broker and cutter who died of natural causes in 1930. Eliazer ran a linen business. In December 1938, Eliazer and his wife, Bronislawa Perlberg, emigrated to the United States with the assistance of Eliazer’s uncle, Leo Groen, who lived in New York and submitted affidavits of support for their visas. The majority of Eliazer’s and Bronislawa’s family members who remained in Europe perished during the Holocaust.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Two black ribbons attached at each end by a gold-colored metal rectangular cap, with a moveable metal loop around the ribbons. There is a small ring attached to one end cap, with a gold colored chain extending from the ring and around the metal clasp at the end.
Subjects
- World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States.
- Netherlands--Emigration and immigration.
- Jewish refugees--United States.
- Jewish families--Netherlands.
- United States--Emigration and immigration.
Genre
- Object
- Personal Equipment and Supplies