Gelb and Heiser family collection
Extent and Medium
folders
oversize box
6
1
Creator(s)
- Martin Gelb
Biographical History
Martin Gelb (Marton/Morton) was born on October 1, 1909 near Budapest, Hungary, to Berti and Terez Gelb. He had six brothers (including Adolph, Markus, and Louis) and a sister, Sare. His brother Louis was married to Rosa Paschkle Kuhlfass. Martin trained as a mechanic and locksmith. In 1940, he escaped through Italy and boarded a ship to the United States, arriving in May 1940, and was sponsored by Rosa's uncles in Cleveland, Ohio. Two weeks after he arrived, Martin married Charlotte Heiser. Charlotte's first name was also listed as Serlota, Sarlota, or Sheindel. She was born Charlotte Hochheiser, but after World War I, the family changed their name to Kuhlfas (Kuhlfass) and later to Heiser. Charlotte was born on April 15, 1909 in Podolinec (Pudlein), Czechoslovakia, to Jacob and Nettie Beckerman Hochheiser. She was one of eight children, including Yolan, Rosa, Markus, Simon, Elka, Dora, and Reisy. With the sponsorship of her maternal uncle's family, she immigrated to Cleveland in 1937. In 1940, after her sister Rosa's brother-in-law Martin also immigrated to Cleveland, the couple married. Martin worked in the Raboy electrical company, owned by a cousin. Martin and Charlotte were the only survivors of their immediate families. They had two daughters, Marilyn and Janet. Martin passed away on August 3, 1958, and Charlotte on July 13, 1987.
Archival History
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Marilyn Greenwald
Dr. Marilyn Greenwald donated her parents' collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2016.
Scope and Content
Consists of identity papers, correspondence, photographs, and genealogical material related to the pre-war lives, emigration, and families of Charlotte Kuhlfas (also Hochheiser, Heiser) and Martin Gelb. Charlotte emigrated to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1937 and Martin in 1940; they married soon after his arrival. Includes letters he wrote to her in March 1940 as he was preparing to emigrate; family photographs; the machzor Martin purchased and inscribed after arriving in the United States; their identity cards and naturalization papers; family tree information for the Gelb and Heiser families; Charlotte's 1925 autograph (poesie) book; a copy of property ownership documents; and copies of passenger manifests.
People
- Martin Gelb
Subjects
- United States--Emigration and immigration.
Genre
- Document
- Letters.
- Identification cards.
- Photographs.
- Autograph books.