No quotation from or publication of any materials, and no reproduction of photographs, without permission from the donor or heirs for 25 years

This collection details the lives and immigration experiences of Herta and Leo Leab. Given Herta Leab's experience as an executive in the Scherk cosmetics company and as the owner of her own company, Hedda Maar Cosmetics, it includes significant material on the cosmetics industry in Germany and the United States. Losses suffered by the Marcus, Liebeskind, and Scherk families in Nazi Germany and the Leabs' efforts to receive restitution are also well documented, along with some material on the town of Gilgenburg (now Dabrowno, Poland) and World War I. The collection is comprised of extensive personal and business correspondence, family and official papers, notebooks, clippings, and a few photographs

Researchers should note that Herta Leab's name is often spelled Hertha in the papers of the collection, even among her family members; to avoid confusion, this finding aid uses the spelling given on her official documents

Herta Marcus was born in 1901 in the East Prussian town of Gilgenburg (now Dabrowno, Poland), where her father Joseph Marcus owned a general store. She attended the Lyceum in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) where she later obtained her Abitur and began the study of medicine at the University of Berlin. In 1922, she broke off her studies and went to work for the Scherk cosmetics firm, owned by one of her mother's brothers. She became one of the company's leading executives, continuing to work there until 1938

In 1924, Herta Marcus met her future husband Leo Liebeskind, a cosmetics salesman who represented the firm. Leo Liebeskind was born in Berlin in 1897, where he attended Gymnasium. He was drafted in 1916 and was taken prisoner in fighting in northern France the following year. Following his release in 1920, he took up a commercial career. After a lengthy courtship, he and Herta were married in 1929. In 1936 they had a son, Daniel

The Nazi seizure of power led the couple to plan their emigration to Palestine. They transferred some of their assets via the complicated Haavara transfer agreements, but gave up their plans and emigrated in early 1938 to the United States. Most of their relatives were unable to leave Germany and fell victim to the Nazis, including both of Herta Leab's sisters and their husbands as well as her mother

In the United States, they changed their name to Leab. The Leabs experienced difficulties in adapting to the new environment, having problems with the English language, a burden to anyone interested in a commercial career. In the late 1930s Herta Leab began her own cosmetics company, Hedda Maar Cosmetics, which produced skin creams, perfume, and lipstick. Although she created her products at home the business became successful enough that her cosmetics were not only sold directly to individual customers but also carried nationally at health and natural foods stores, beauty parlors, and some department stores including Bloomingdale's; her products gained recognition when they were reviewed in several New York newspapers as well as popular magazines such as Vogue, Mademoiselle, and Glamour. However, Herta Leab's poor health and a lack of capital kept the business on a small scale until it was sold in 1972. Granting of the Leabs' restitution claims provided them with a financially secure retirement. Leo Leab died in New York City in 1979, Herta Leab died in 1981

8-page inventory

Finding Aid online

Photographs removed to Photograph Collection

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