Lewin, Charlotte (b 1892): family papers

Scope and Content

Personal papers of Charlotte Lewin and her father, Louis Lewin, 1861-1950, including papers of Louis Lewin comprising school leaving, marriage and death certificates, testimonials and other papers; and personal papers of Charlotte Lewin including various certificates and testimonials, correspondence and other papers.

Administrative / Biographical History

Charlotte Lewin was born in Breslau in 1892. She went to school there and passed an examination to become a teacher of English and French in 1912. Soon afterwards she spent 18 months in England in order to improve her English. On her return to Breslau she worked as a secretary at the American Consulate until 1917 when diplomatic relations with the USA were broken. After a short period working as a librarian at the Breslau municipal library she went on to work in the archives and library at Breslau University Department of Economics.

She took over the running of her father's textile business along with an associate in 1923, her father having died in 1921. During this time she continued to teach and study the English language.

In October 1936 she was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for making defamatory comments about Goebbels after the latter had come to Breslau to give a lecture. After her release 7 months later she began to make plans to leave Germany. She arrived in England in March 1938. In London and later Darlington she worked for HM Forces Education Department as a German language teacher.

Arrangement

Chronologically by family member.

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Susan Hammerschlag

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.