Selected records of the World Jewish Congress New York Office. Series D. Sub-series 3: Location Service

Identifier
irn501761
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1997.A.0235
  • RG-67.035M
Dates
1 Jan 1938 - 31 Dec 1947
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

8,321 digital images, JPEG

6 microfilm reels (digitized), 35 mm

Creator(s)

Biographical History

The World Jewish Congress, an international Jewish representative organization, was formed in 1936. In July 1940 the headquarters of the World Jewish Congress was moved from Geneva, Switzerland, to New York City, N.Y., due to World War II. Instrumental in its founding were the American Jewish Congress (AJC), established in 1918, and the Comité des Délégations Juives (Committee of Jewish Delegations), which was founded in 1919. The Location Service department began as the Refugee Relief Department or Division for Displaced Persons, which was established in October 1942 in New York by the WJC and American Jewish Congress. Later, it was renamed the Personal Inquiry Department (1944–1945), then, finally, the Location Service (1945–1947). Headed by Chaim Finkelstein, the purpose of the department was to trace Jewish survivors in Europe and help Jews in the United States and Europe reestablish contacts. The Location Division was transferred to the AJC Women's Division in February 1947 and discontinued in November of the same year. Activities of the department included compiling and publicizing lists of refugees and survivors and conducting a parcel service. The WJC also established search departments for displaced persons at their office in Geneva (1939) and London (March 1945 to 1955). The Location Service files include lists of survivors, known dead, and inmates of concentration and refugee camps. The subseries also contains correspondence, reports, and other materials pertaining to displaced persons camps and survivors after the war [Source: American Jewish Archives (AJA)]

Archival History

American Jewish Archives

Acquisition

Source of acquisition is the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA), the World Jewish Congress New York Office records. Series D. Relief and Rescue Departments, Sub-Series 3: Location Service. The USHMM Registry of Jewish Holocaust Survivors purchased the collection for research purposes in 1995. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives received it by transfer in August 1997.

Scope and Content

Contains location lists of survivors, known dead, and inmates of concentration and refugee camps. [Note: These records are reproduced along with the rest of Series D in RG-67.011M.]

System of Arrangement

Location lists are arranged alphabetically by country in which the persons listed were located, however, some include names of persons who originated in countries other than the ones in which they were found. Consequently the same person could be listed under several countries (or cities): where he was born, where he lived, where he was held in a camp, where he was liberated. For instance, the researcher may find person born in Poland listed under Sweden. Digital copies of the Sub-series 3, Location Service can be found also in the collection: RG-67.011M, The World Jewish Congress New York Office. Series D. Relief and Rescue Department, 1939-1969.

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Copyright Holder: American Jewish Archives

Corporate Bodies

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.