View the book

(~1203 pg)Read Online
(129 MB)PDF
EPUB (beta)
(~1203 pg)Daisy (beta)
(982 KB)Full Text
(126 MB)DjVu

Resources

John Stern Family Collection 1836-2000 1910-1955

Author: Stern, John, 1926-
Subject: Geseke (Germany); Textile industry
Language: German
Call number: 200415
Digitizing sponsor: Leo Baeck Institute Archives
Book contributor: Leo Baeck Institute Archives
Collection: microfilm
Notes: Film/Fiche is presented as originally captured.

Description

John Stern, April 2004

James and Charlotte Stern (nee Abel) Reparation-Compensation

Alia Stern (nee Aznacot)

Stern-Abel-Graefenberg Families

Siegmund and Guithella Stern (nee Samuel)

Leoni Stern

Rudolph Abel

Cora Graefenberg

Bertha Samuel and Karl Mueller

Ernst Graefenberg

Ewald Stern

Sally Wertheim

Richard Hans 1911-1913

Fraenze 1914

Erna Nagel 1914-1915

Anni Shober 1917-1918

Documents regarding reparation for real estate in Hamburg 1949-1968

Silver wedding anniversary of Siegmund and Guithella Stern 1906

Business documents and correspondence of the Siegmund Stern Company 1874-1918

The John Stern Family Collection documents the life, immigration experience, and work of members of the Stern Family, particularly James Stern and his wife Charlotte ("Lotte") and their son John, but also including James Stern's father Siegmund, mother Guithella, and other members of the family. The collection consists of correspondence, business papers, travel and citizenship papers, writings, and personal papers

The most prominent documents in this collection are personal correspondence, including not only letters but also postcards, greeting cards, and telegrams. Frequently correspondence is between family members, but some correspondence, particularly of James Stern, is also from friends or business associates. James Stern's correspondence is located in Series I, Subseries 2; greeting cards and wedding telegrams are with other personal papers in Subseries 1 of the same Series. The largest amount of James Stern's correspondence is between himself and Lotte Stern, his wife; topics include the planning of their wedding, raising of their son, other family members, and James Stern's work. Letters exchanged with Lotte Stern are primarily located within both Series I and Series II; there are a few letters to individuals other than her husband or son in Series I, Subseries 4. - John Stern's correspondence, which is almost entirely comprised of letters written to and from his mother, is in Subseries 2 of Series II. His correspondence dates from his time in the United States military when he was stationed in Germany. These letters detail life as an American soldier in occupied Germany as well as providing his mother with suggestions for the family business in Tangier. Other topics in John Stern's correspondence include the location of missing family members, family history and genealogy, restitution, and finding new German associates to work with his export and import company. A small amount of correspondence between Siegmund and Guithella Stern and other family members is in Series III, Subseries 1

Business papers, including correspondence, are similarly located in various places in the collection dependant on their origination. Papers of James Stern, including contracts and a small amount of correspondence will be found in Subseries 3 of Series I. These papers include two account books featuring clients in Hamburg and several cities in Morocco. Correspondence in Series I, Subseries 2 additionally features James Stern's letters exchanged with Richard Hans, an associate in Romania. John Stern's business enterprise is primarily evidenced in the abovementioned correspondence exchanged with his mother. The business records of Siegmund Stern, to be found in Series III, Subseries 1, include a few letters, a copy of a ledger with listings of accounts, contracts, and an album and document announcing the anniversaries of the S. Stern business

There are a few writings of family members: James Stern's written pieces include numerous poems, usually for family members, and an essay . Diaries for John Stern and Siegmund Stern will be found in Series I, Subseries 1 and Series III, Subseries 1 respectively. A wedding choral (Tafellied) written by Siegmund and Guithella Stern for their niece Bertha Samuel is also located in Series III, Subseries 1

Other types of personal papers in this collection predominantly feature official papers used for citizenship or travel memorabilia, documenting the family's forced emigration from Germany to Morocco. Primarily these include passports and documents from consulates as well as tickets, timetables, and menus for boats or trains. These will be found in several places in the collection, including Subseries 1 and 2 of Series I for James Stern, Subseries 4 of the same series for Charlotte Stern, Subseries 1 of Series II for John Stern, and Subseries 4 of the same series for his wife Alia Stern. In addition, Subseries 1 of Series II holds John Stern's military memorabilia

James Stern was born in Netra (Hesse) on September 21, 1892, the son of businessman Siegmund Stern (1852?-1923) and Guithella Samuel (1856-1923). In World War I he served in the German Army. Later he worked as a merchant in Hamburg, where his father owned a textile store. In 1924 he married Charlotte ("Lotte") Abel, who was born in Geseke, Germany on Febuary 10, 1902. Charlotte's parents were Rudolf Abel (1886-1938) and Cora Graefenberg (1875-1904). The couple had one son, Hans Ulrich (later John), born in Hamburg on April 28, 1926. In 1933, the family immigrated to Morocco, where they settled in Tangier

John (Hans Ulrich) Stern worked with his father in Tangier from 1945 to 1949, when he immigrated to the United States. He married Alia Azancot in 1957. The couple had one child, James. John Stern became the executive vice president of a toy import-export company. He also served as the president of the American Friends of the Jewish Communities of Northern Morocco and Tangier in Rego Park, New York and as trustee of the Rego Park Jewish Center

Copy of "Juden in Geseke. Dokumentation der Friedhoefe und Geschichte der Familien" in LBI library (DS 135 G4 G484 B8)

Photographs removed to Photograph Collection

The following individuals are mentioned in this collection: Stern, John, 1924-; Stern, Lotte (nee Abel), 1903-1956; Stern, James, 1892-1941; Abel, Rudolf, 1886-1938; Abel, Cora (nee Graefenberg), 1875-1904; Stern, Sigmund, d. 1923; Stern, Guithella (nee Samuel); Stern, Leoni; Samuel, Bertha; Wertheim, Sally; Mueller, Karl; Graefenberg, Ernst; Stern, Ewald

Be the first to write a review
Downloaded 6 timesReviews

Selected metadata