Colman and Jean Steuer papers

Identifier
irn634362
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2018.571.1
Dates
1 Jan 1946 - 31 Dec 1954
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
  • English
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

folders

5

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Colman Steuer (born Kalman Sztajer, 1920-2007) was born on 24 December 1920 in Sosnowiec, Poland to Nachum and Shprinza (née Berlinsky) Steuer. He had one sister, Julia, and two brothers, Aaron and Henry. Colman was raised in a Zionist home and was active in Hanoar Hatzioni. He met his future wife Jean Steuer (Genia Eckstein) in Sosnowiec prior to the war. After the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, Colman was sent to the Nisko labor camp in November. He was then sent to the Annaberg concentration camp in January 1940. He returned to the Sosnowiec ghetto in October 1942, and Colman and Jean were secretly married. They remained in the Sosnowiec ghetto until May 1943. Colman was deported to the Annaberg concentration camp and then transferred to the Buchenwald concentration camp in January 1945. He was liberated in May 1945. Colman’s parents and brothers all perished at the Auschwitz concentration camp. After liberation, Colman and Jean were reunited at the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp. They went to the Feldafing DP camp and immigrated to the United States in May 1954 aboard the SS Marine Perch. They settled in New York, briefly living with Colman’s aunt and uncle. In 1954 they moved to Plainfield, Connecticut and opened a chicken farm. They had one daughter, Sherry.

Jean Steuer (born Genia Eckstein, 1923-2018) was born on 23 February 1923 in Gleiwitz, Germany to Yitzchak and Szprinca (née Cukier) Eckstein. She had three older brothers: Sol, Henry, and Max. Jean grew up in Sosnowiec in an observant Jewish home. She met her future husband Colman Steuer (Kalman Sztajer) in Sosnowiec prior to the war. After the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, her brothers fled to Russia where the survived the war. Jean was deported to the Sosnowiec ghetto in January 1940. In 1942 Jean and Colman were secretly married in the ghetto. In May 1943 she was deported to the Annaberg concentration camp. She was later deported to the Gross-Rosen, Mauthausen, and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps. She was liberated from Bergen-Belsen in April 1945. Both of Jean’s parents perished during the Holocaust. After liberation, Colman and Jean were reunited at the Bergen-Belsen displaced persons camp. They went to the Feldafing DP camp and immigrated to the United States in May 1954 aboard the SS Marine Perch. They settled in New York, briefly living with Colman’s aunt and uncle. In 1954 they moved to Plainfield, Connecticut and opened a chicken farm. They had one daughter, Sherry.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Sherry Steuer Weiner and Joel Weiner

Donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Joel and Sherry Steuer Weiner, son-in-law and daughter of Colman and Jean Steuer.

Scope and Content

The collection documents the pre-war and post-war experiences of Colman and Jean Steuer, originally of Sosnowiec, Poland. Documents include identification papers, including one from the Feldafing DP camp; immigration and naturalization papers; change of name affidavits; restitution paperwork; and tickets from the United Nations General Assembly, 28-29 November 1947. Photographs primarily consist of pre-war family photographs.

System of Arrangement

The collection is arranged as a single series. Folder 1 of 5. Photographs, circa 1920-1946 and undated Folder 2 of 5. Restitution, 1958-1970 Folder 3 of 5. Steuer, Colman, 1946-1954 Folder 4 of 5. Steuer, Jean, 1946-1954 Folder 5 of 5. United Nations Assembly General tickets, 1947

People

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.