Small silver curtain ring worn as a wedding ring by an Austrian Jewish refugee
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm) | Width: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Depth: 0.200 inches (0.508 cm)
Creator(s)
- Helena Koves (Subject)
Biographical History
Helena (Helly) Fuchs was born on October 4, 1911. She lived in Vienna, Austria, with her parents and worked as a senior cashier in a large retail store. In March 1938, the Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany, occurred. Jews were disenfranchised and no longer permitted to take part in many activities and professions. Shortly after the Anschluss, Helena’s fiancé, Victor Koves, arranged for her to join him in London, England. Victor was born on June 11, 1913, and had worked with Helena before he emigrated to London. Victor worked various jobs and Helena worked as a housekeeper in London. They married on December 30, 1938. Victor and Helena avoided internment as enemy aliens because they held visas for Shanghai; one of Victor’s employers possibly vouched for them. In the early 1940s when submarines were very active, Victor and Helena decided to leave for Shanghai via Canada. A consular official in Canada arranged for them to get US visas and they emigrated to New York. Helena passed away on April 12, 2000. (Lewis) Victor passed away on April 19, 2010.
Archival History
The ring was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2010 by Pam Brighton Cavar, the great-niece of Helena and Lewis Victor Koves.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of the family of Lewis Victor Koves and Helena Koves
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Small silver curtain ring worn as a wedding ring by 27 year old Helena Koves in London, England, where she married Victor Koves on December 30, 1938. Helena was living in Vienna when it was annexed by Nazi Germany in March 1938. Victor had already left Vienna and settled in London and they decided that Helena should join him. In the early 1940s, they left for Shanghai by way of Canada, but were able to obtain US visas in Canada and emigrated to New York.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Thin, circular, silver colored adjustable metal curtain ring; the ends do not join. There is a folded, white piece of paper with handwritten text looped around the ring and partially covered with clear adhesive tape.
paper, around ring, handwritten, black ink : 30. XII. 1938 L[?]y
Subjects
- Jewish refugees--England--London.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Austria--Vienna.
- World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--England--London.
- Jews--Austria--Vienna.
Genre
- Tools and Equipment
- Object