Klopstock family papers

Identifier
irn44536
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1997.12
Dates
1 Jan 1902 - 31 Dec 1945
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

box

oversize folder

1

1

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Norbert Klopstock (b. 1896) was born in Berlin and owned a retail plumbing supply store that was confiscated under the Nazi regime. He married Hilda Klaus (b. 1894) and had two daughters Ruth (b. 1922) and Liselotte (b. 1931) On Kristallnacht, Norbert was arrested and imprisoned at Sachsenhausen concentration camp. After his release, he managed to escape to England, where he was interned in the Kitchener internment camp. Hilda, Ruth, and Liselotte fled Germany through Italy and arrived in the United Stated in early 1940. Norbert joined his family in March 1940.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Lillian Cohn

Lillian Cohn donated this collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in February 1997.

Scope and Content

The Klopstock family papers include biographical material, emigration and immigration material, correspondence, publications, and photographs documenting Johanna Klaus and Norbert, Hilda, Ruth, and Liselotte Klopstock’s immigration to the United States from Berlin in 1940. The collection also includes documents and correspondence from Norbert Klopstock while imprisoned at Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany and the Kitchener internment camp in Richborough, Kent. Biographical materials include a copy of Hilda Klopstock’s birth certificate and a German passport and identity card for Johanna Klaus (Hilda’s sister). Emigration and immigration materials include correspondence, immigrant questionnaires, affidavits, and packing lists documenting Hilda, Ruth, Liselotte, and Johanna’s successful effort to obtain visas andimmigrate to the United States from Berlin. Also included in the series are correspondence, applications, and money transfers relating to Norbert’s effort to leave Kitchener in England and immigrate to the United States. Klopstock family correspondences include a postcard from Norbert while imprisoned at Sachsenhausen concentration camp, telegrams sent to Kitchener for Norbert informing him of his family’s safety, and correspondence between family members about daily life and plans to leave Germany. Subject files include report cards, certificates, and reference letters for Ruth from various schools and institutions and report cards for Liselotte and Norbert. This series also includes records documenting Norbert’s time in the Kitchener internment camp, including a pamphlet titled, While you are in England: Helpful Information and Guidance for Every Refugee, an identity card, documents regarding transit to the camp, a letter of reference, and a permit to leave the camp. Publications include a magazine titled Some Victims of the Nazi Terror, which contains photographs and propaganda information about the Kitchener camp in Richborough, England. The series also includes newspapers Aus alter und neuer Zeit and N.Y. Saats-Zeitung und Herold. Photographic materials consist of a photograph of Hilda Klopstock’s cousin.

System of Arrangement

The Klopstock family papers are arranged as six series: Series 1: Biographical materials, approximately 1922-1939 and undated Series 2: Emigration and immigration materials, approximately 1921-1945 Series 3: Klopstock family correspondence, approximately 1920-1941 Series 4: Subject files, 1902-1940 Series 5: Publications, approximately 1930-1945 Series 6: Photographic material, undated

People

Subjects

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.