Esther Lurie collection

Identifier: irn60875
Language of Description: English
Level of Description: Collection
Source: EHRI Partner

Web Source

https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn60875

Acquisition

The collection was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995 by Esther Lurie.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of artifacts, drawings, correspondence, documents, photographs, and publications relating to the experiences of Esther Lurie before the Holocaust in Latvia, Palestine, and Western Europe, during the Holocaust when she was imprisoned in the Kovno (Kaunus) Ghetto in Lithuania, Stuthoff concentration camp and Leibitsch forced labor camp in Germany, and after the Holocaust during and after her return journey to Israel.

Genre

Collection

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.

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Displaying items 1 to 20 of 41

Esther Lurie papers
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn519440
- English
- 1919-1995
- boxes oversize box oversize folder 3 1 1
- Updated 1 year ago
The Esther Lurie papers include biographical material, restitution files, correspondence, subject files, and photographs relating to Esther’s wartime experience in the Kovno ghetto, Stuthoff concentration camp, and Leibitsch forced labor camp. The collection also includes correspondence, exhibition and publication development material, programs, and photographs relating to Esther’s professional career as an artist. Biographical materials include Esther Lurie’s British passport and copies of her curriculum vitae. Correspondence includes Esther Lurie’s personal and professional correspondence...
Yellow damask purse made by a liberated slave labor camp inmate, saved by another inmate
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn60877
- English
- overall: Height: 11.625 inches (29.528 cm) | Width: 12.625 inches (32.068 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Handmade damask linen handbag saved by Esther Lurie. It was made in February 1945 by her tentmate and fellow prisoner, name unknown, soon after they were liberated from Leibisch slave labor camp in Lubicz, Poland. The woman died not long after. Esther kept the bag, but she never used it, or even washed it. Esther, a professional artist, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunus), Lithuania, in summer 1941 when it was occupied by Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germans....
Inscribed wooden spoon and patch saved by a former Jewish Latvian slave labor camp inmate
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61206
- English
- 1965
- a: Height: 11.375 inches (28.893 cm) | Width: 1.750 inches (4.445 cm) | Depth: 0.250 inches (0.635 cm) b: Height: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Width: 6.000 inches (15.24 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Wooden spoon acquired by Esther Lurie during a 1965 reunion of former ghetto and concentration camp prisoners in Israel. The spoon is inscribed with her prisoner number, the Hebrew names of slave labor camps, and dates commemorating twenty years since her liberation. An undated cloth patch with her prisoner number is associated with the spoon. Esther, a professional artist, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (now Kaunus), Lithuania, in summer 1941 when it was occupied by Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to creat...
Holocaust Commemoration Day Remember pin worn by a Latvian Jewish survivor
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61207
- English
- a: Height: 0.875 inches (2.223 cm) | Width: 0.625 inches (1.588 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Yad Vashem Remember pin used by Esther Lurie, ca. 1960s(?), to be worn on Holocaust Commemoration Day as a symbol to the outside of mourning in the heart. Esther, a professional artist, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunus), Lithuania, in summer 1941 when it was occupied by Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create artwork for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording the daily life of the residents. In July 1944, the ghetto was liquidated. Esther was sent...
Pin used to attach a Holocaust commemorative ribbon worn by a Latvian Jewish survivor
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61208
- English
- overall: Height: 1.125 inches (2.858 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Straight pin used by Esther Lurie, ca. 1960s, to attach a Ghetto House Fighter's Museum Holocaust commemorative ribbon. Esther, a professionally trained artist, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunus), Lithuania, in summer 1941 when it was occupied by Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create artwork for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording the daily life of the residents. In July 1944, the ghetto was liquidated. Esther was sent to Stutthof concentratio...
Portrait of an Orthodox Jewish youth drawn by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61209
- English
- overall: Height: 13.625 inches (34.608 cm) | Width: 9.750 inches (24.765 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Ink sketch of Rudy, a young Orthodox Jewish man, created by Esther Lurie on March 29, 1962, during the appeal stage of the Adolf Eichmann trial. Eichmann was the SS official who organized the delivery of Jews all over Europe to killing centers and concentration camps. He escaped in 1946 and was captured by Israeli agents in Argentina in 1960. The Eichmann trial in Jerusalem, April 11, 1961- December 15, 1961, was the first detailed, public exploration of the Holocaust. He was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Many survivors gave testimony and Esther's drawings were introd...
Sketch of a Holocaust remembrance ceremony by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61210
- English
- overall: Height: 9.500 inches (24.13 cm) | Width: 7.250 inches (18.415 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Ink sketch of a crowd assembled for a ceremony drawn by Esther Lurie depicting a Holocaust remembrance at Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot, Israel, in the early 1960s. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunus), Lithuania, in summer 1941 when it was occupied by Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create artwork for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording the daily life of the residents. In July 1944, the ghetto was liquidated. Esther was sent to Stutthof conce...
Sketches of a fellow concentration camp inmate by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61211
- English
- 1944
- overall: Height: 12.875 inches (32.703 cm) | Width: 9.500 inches (24.13 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Three sketches of Masha Rolnikaite (Rolnik) drawn by Esther Lurie, ca. 1965, for the cover of Masha's memoir, Ikh muz dertseyin [I have to tell]. They reproduce the drawing of Masha that Esther made when both were prisoners in Leibisch slave labor camp. It was published in Esther's book, Jewesses in Slavery, in 1945. Masha, 17, was a deportee from Vilna, Poland (Vilnius, Lithuania), and returned there after liberation. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by German...
Portraits of a fellow concentration camp inmate by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61212
- English
- 1976
- overall: Height: 23.500 inches (59.69 cm) | Width: 19.000 inches (48.26 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Two portraits of the same woman drawn by Esther Lurie, 1976 recreations of a drawing she created while both women were prisoners in Leibisch slave labor camp. It was exhibited and published soon after the war in 1945 in her book, Jewesses in Slavery. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording ...
Commemorative postage stamp mockup with art by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61213
- English
- 1958
- overall: Height: 6.250 inches (15.875 cm) | Width: 9.500 inches (24.13 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Sheet of four Israeli postage stamp designs featuring sketches by Esther Lurie based upon her experiences while incarcerated in Kovno Ghetto and Stutthof and Leibisch concentration camps from 1941-1945. The stamps were designed by Roli Studio, a major firm in Tel Aviv who created the postal logo, as well as many national stamps. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Ger...
Sketches of men with Judenstern by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61214
- English
- overall: Height: 8.250 inches (20.955 cm) | Width: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Ink sketch of two men with Star of David patches drawn by Esther Lurie based upon her experiences while incarcerated in Kovno Ghetto. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording the daily life of the residents. In July 1944, the ghetto was liquidated. Esther was sent to Stutthof concentrat...
Sketch of people digging near a house by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61215
- English
- 1957
- overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) | Width: 11.750 inches (29.845 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Ink sketch of a group of people digging in the ground drawn by Esther Lurie based upon her experiences in Kovno Ghetto. This study drawing is a 1957 recreation of a scene she saw and drew in 1946. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording the daily life of the residents. In July 1944, th...
Drawing of people digging for potatoes by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61216
- English
- 1941
- overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) | Width: 11.750 inches (29.845 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Ink sketch of a group of people digging for potatoes in a large field drawn by Esther Lurie based upon her experiences in Kovno Ghetto. This study drawing is a 1957 recreation of a scene she saw and drew in 1946. The original drawing was hidden in Kovno but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. It had been photographed in the ghetto with a Leica camera by the lawyer Avraham Tory. Esther recreated the drawing in its original 25x35 cm. size in 1957 for the album A Living Testimony. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Ka...
Eleven preparatory figure sketches by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61217
- English
- 1941
- overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) | Width: 8.250 inches (20.955 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Study sketches of eleven figures for the drawing, Raiding a Potato Field, done by Esther Lurie based upon her experiences in Kovno Ghetto. This drawing is a 1957 recreation of a scene she saw and drew in 1946. The original drawing was hidden in Kovno but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. It had been photographed in the ghetto with a Leica camera by the lawyer Avraham Tory. Esther recreated the drawing in its original 25x35 cm. size in 1957 for the album A Living Testimony. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kauna...
Ten preparatory figure sketches by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61218
- English
- 1957
- overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) | Width: 8.375 inches (21.273 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Study sketches of ten figures for the drawing, Raiding a Potato Field, done by Esther Lurie based upon her experiences in Kovno Ghetto. This drawing is a 1957 recreation of a scene she saw and drew in 1946. The original drawing was hidden in Kovno but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. It had been photographed in the ghetto with a Leica camera by the lawyer Avraham Tory. Esther recreated the drawing in its original 25x35 cm. size in 1957 for the album A Living Testimony. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, ...
Preparatory sketch of figures working in a field by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61219
- English
- 1941
- overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) | Width: 12.000 inches (30.48 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Preparatory sketch of figures at work a field for the drawing, Raiding a Potato Field, drawn by Esther Lurie. The scene is based upon her experiences in Kovno Ghetto. This drawing is a 1957 recreation of a scene she saw and drew in 1946. The original drawing was hidden in Kovno but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. It had been photographed in the ghetto with a Leica camera by the lawyer Avraham Tory. Esther recreated the drawing in its original 25x35 cm. size in 1957 for the album A Living Testimony. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visitin...
Council building in Kovno Ghetto drawn by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61220
- English
- 1957
- overall: Height: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm) | Width: 11.750 inches (29.845 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Pencil sketch of the headquarters of the Elders of the Jewish Council in Kovno Ghetto drawn by Esther Lurie who lived in the ghetto from 1941-1944. This study drawing is a 1957 recreation of one done in 1946, but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. Esther recreated the drawing in 1957 for the album A Living Testimony. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germans. Sh...
Sketch by Esther Lurie of Kovno ghetto Jewish Council building
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61221
- English
- 1957
- overall: Height: 6.875 inches (17.463 cm) | Width: 9.875 inches (25.083 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Sketch of people walking near the headquarters of the Elders of the Jewish Council in Kovno Ghetto drawn by Esther Lurie who lived in the ghetto from 1941-1944.Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germans. She also, at the request of the Jewish Council, dedicated herself to recording the daily life of the residents. In July 1944, the ghetto was liquidated. Esther was s...
Person waiting at a ghetto gate drawn by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61222
- English
- 1943
- overall: Height: 7.375 inches (18.733 cm) | Width: 11.750 inches (29.845 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Pencil sketch of the gate to Vorniyo Street in Kovno Ghetto drawn by Esther Lurie who lived in the ghetto from 1941-1944. This study drawing is a 1957 recreation of one done in 1946, but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. Esther recreated the drawing in 1957 for the album A Living Testimony. Second original on the same subject is in the collection of Sarah Milo. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to crea...
Portrait of a cap wearing youth by Esther Lurie
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- irn61223
- English
- 1942
- overall: Height: 7.875 inches (20.003 cm) | Width: 7.000 inches (17.78 cm)
- Updated 1 year ago
Ink sketch of young man in a garrison cap drawn by Esther Lurie of a man she knew in Kovno Ghetto, where she was confined from 1941-1944. This drawing is a 1957 recreation of one done in 1946, but lost in the destruction of the ghetto. Esther recreated the drawing in 1957 for possible inclusion in the album A Living Testimony. Esther, originally from Liepaja, Latvia, settled in Palestine in 1934. She was visiting her sister in Kovno (Kaunas, Lithuania] in summer 1941, when it was occupied by Nazi Germany. She was confined to the ghetto and had to create portraits and paintings for the Germa...