Thin cloth wallet used to hold Beatrice Neu's Certificate of Citizenship

Cloth wallet used as a document holder for a United States Certificate of Citizenship issued to Beatrice Neu (later Melov) on April 21, 1954. Beatrice immigrated to the US with her parents, Richard and Hedwig Sanders Neu, in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.