Hess, Eleanor (1923-1999): Family papers

Scope and Content

Papers of Eleanor Hess, 1872-1990s, document the life of a German Jewish refugee to Great Britain, and, in part, the lives of family members. The papers include emigration and citizenship papers of her grandfather Emil, c1870s; certificates and First World War army records of Julius, her father and correspondence from Eleanor and her brother, Herbert, in Brazil, to their mother, c1950s. The collection includes 2 boxes of family photographs. In addition there is an unpublished memoir of Eleanor, which describes the life of a Jewish girl in Nazi Germany and the experience of emigration to a foreign land.

Administrative / Biographical History

Eleanor Hess was born in Munich on 20 December 1923 into a middle class Jewish family. Her father, Julius, was a cavalry officer in the First World War. He died in 1932. Eleanor came to Great Britain with her mother, Trude, in 1939. Her brother, Herbert, emigrated to Brazil where he spent the rest of his life. For a brief period Eleanor went to live with her brother in the early 1950s. She died in London c1999.

Arrangement

Chronological by subject matter.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Nabarro, Nathanson, Solicitors.

Other Finding Aids

Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.

Personal Names