Jack Cherniss papers

Identifier
irn583675
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2017.663.1
Dates
1 Jan 1944 - 31 Dec 1945
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

boxes

2

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Jack Cherniss (1912-1981) was born on 18 January 1912 in Nebraska to Jewish parents. He married Shirley Silverman in 1934 and had two daughters, Marcia and Sandra. Prior to World War II, Jack owned and operated an automotive parts shop in Los Angeles. He enlisted in the United States Army in April 1944. He went overseas in December 1944 and served in reconnaissance with the 268th Armored Tank Evacuation Division. His unit were among those who arrived at the Buchenwald concentration camp shortly after it was liberated. He was honorably discharged in November 1945.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Marcia Marcus

Donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2017 by Marcia Marcus, daughter of Jack Cherniss.

Scope and Content

The collection primarily consists of letters written by Jewish American soldier Jack Cherniss to his wife Shirley while he was serving in the United States Army during World War II. His frequent letters describe his training in the United States and his deployment overseas in December 1944. Significant letters include one from 11 January 1945 describing an altercation with an antisemitic fellow soldier, and his letter from 27 April 1945 contains his account of the Buchenwald concentration camp shortly after liberation. Also included are administrative papers regarding his military career and one photograph of Jack, his wife Shirley, and his daughters Marcia and Sandra.

System of Arrangement

The collection is arranged as two series. Series 1. Biographical material, 1944-1945; Series 2. Correspondence, 1944-1945

People

Corporate Bodies

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.