Kleinberg family papers

Identifier
irn42758
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2011.136.2
  • 2011.382.1
  • 2011.136.1
Dates
1 Jan 1912 - 31 Dec 1946, 1 Jan 1939 - 31 Dec 1941
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • Polish
  • German
  • Russian
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

folders

16

Creator(s)

Biographical History

The Kleinberg family comprises Wilhelm and Antonia Kleinberg’s six children, their spouses, and children: Zofia Minder (Izydor), Irena Kirsch (Isaak), Edward (Maria Rembisz), Paulina Keiner (Ferdynand), Juliusz (Sabina Goldfinger), and Roman (Alicia Janowska). Originally from Krakow, where Wilhelm owned a photography studio, the Kleinberg family was spread throughout Poland at the time of Nazi occupation in 1939. Nearly the entire family perished in the Holocaust. Wilhelm and Antonia were both shot by the Gestapo in 1942 after fleeing from Krakow to Rabka. Zofia, the eldest of the Kleinberg children, remained in Krakow and was deported to Stutthof, where she died in 1945. Her husband, Izydor and son, Jerzy fled to Lwow, where they lived with Roman, the youngest Kleinberg child. In 1941, they were arrested by the Gestapo and deported to the Soviet Union. Izydor and Roman both died of typhus in Uzbekistan. Jerzy survived a shooting in Uzbekistan and escaped to England, where he died from endocardia in 1945. Roman’s wife, Alicia, and daughters, Anna and Ewa survived the war with the help of a close family friends, Lola Schiffeldrinn and Helena Lgocka. The girls hid briefly on a farm until Alicia obtained fake identification papers (Kennkarte) for them. Irena, a music teacher who was widowed before the war, escaped to England by way of Romania. Edward, his wife Maria, and Paulina were the only other Kleinberg family members to survive.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Mrs. Anna Kleinberg Janowska Ciońćka and Ewa Kleinberg Janowska Boiseé

Funding Note: The cataloging of this collection has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

The Kleinberg family papers were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2011 by Anna Kleinberg Janowska Ciońcka and Ewa Kleinberg Janowska Boiseé. Much of the correspondence was donated in June, however many of the papers relating to Izydor Minder and the other portion of correspondence was donated in December and given the accession number 2011.382.1. It has since been unified with this collection under accession number 2011.136.1.

Scope and Content

The Kleinberg family papers comprises postcards and letters written between the members of the Kleinberg family from 1939 until 1945. The majority of the correspondence is between the Kleinberg siblings and their immediate families, with the many of the letters coming from Zofia Minder in Krakow and Lola Schifeldrim, a close family friend who worked for Irena’s husband, Ferdynand Keiner and assisted Roman’s wife and daughters. Several of the postcards are written from a Soviet work camp, many of which are from Roman and Izydor. A majority of the postcards and letters have messages from multiple parties. Also included in this collection are documents pertaining specifically to Izydor Minder. Items include a notebook he used in law school, his Krakow Bar Association identification card, and a notice regarding his bar membership from 1939. Izydor’s Soviet work camp identification card and death record is also comprised in this collection, among other related material.

System of Arrangement

The Kleinberg family papers are arranged as two series: • Series 1: Correspondence, 1939-1945 • Series 2: Izydor Minder papers, 1912-1946

People

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.