Henry Schwab, Correspondences and related documents of the wartime and postwar and modern periods, Poland, 1970-1996 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

By Staff

Collection Overview

Title: Henry Schwab, Correspondences and related documents of the wartime and postwar and modern periods, Poland, 1970-1996

Predominant Dates:1980s

ID: RG-110/RG-110

Primary Creator: Henry Schwab, researcher and collector (1970s -- 1990s)

Extent: 4.0 Folders

Languages: Polish, German, English

Abstract

This record group comprises of 63 paper documents, namely postcards, envelopes, postal receipts and unissued paper currency -- all related to correspondence and other paperstuffs used to and from wartime Warsaw, Poland.

This collection was compiled by researcher Henry Schwab in collaboration with collector Ed Victor (Ed Victor Papers) at various auctions in the 1970s-1980s. With this collection and additional collected documents, Henry Schwab published a book titled, "The Echoes that Remain: A Postal History of the Holocaust" in 1992. The 200-page-book was complemented by primary source documents of the wartime era including some from relatives in his family and his wife's family who died in the Holocaust.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This record group includes paper documents, namely postcards, envelopes, postal receipts and unissued paper currency -- all related to the correspondence (and other papers) used to and from Warsaw (Poland) during the wartime era.

The postcards, envelopes and postal receipts either are related to Warsaw as the sender or receiving address. The general theme of the content is the fleeing of Polish Jews. Some of the postcards and receipts have a sending address to various Jewish emigration committees from a Polish Jew in Warsaw. Other postcards are inquiries as to the well-being of a family member who has fled. The theme is common.

A unique part of this collection includes is what is known as Warsaw Ghetto post office unissued paper currency in various denominations. The currency was allegedly produced by the Jewish underground in Spring 1941. The common inscription printed on the currency is "RZWW", "SZDP", a Star of David and the denomination. The initials for RZWW and SPDZ spelled out in full translate to "Jewish Postal Authorities" and "Jewish Council in Warsaw".

Subject/Index Terms

Box and Folder Listing

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 28: RG-110.28, Postcard from Frajman in Warsaw, to M. Rothman in Bronx NY, October 15, 1941, October 15, 1941

Postcard from Frajman in Warsaw ghetto, to M. Rothman in Bronx NY

October 15, 1941

Subject/Index Terms:: Correspondences in Poland in the course of the Second World War; Bronx, New York (USA); New York (New York, United States); correspondence to and from ghettos; day-to-day life in the Warsaw ghetto; General Government (German-occupied Poland), 1939 -- 1945; Henry Schwab, researcher and collector (1970s -- 1990s); Jewish Council (Judenrat) of the Warsaw ghetto; Jewish Postal Authorities of Warsaw ghetto, Rada Zydow w Warszwie; Postal receipts, Second World War; Postal Service of Jewish Councils (Judenraete), 1939 -- 1945; Warsaw (Poland); Warsaw (Poland: ghetto); Poland (Europe)

Creators:: Henry Schwab, researcher and collector (1970s -- 1990s)