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The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects
The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects

Browse Items (87 total)

  • A two-page letter written by retired Louisville distiller and philanthropist Isaac W. Bernheim (1848-1945) to Mr. R. C. Tway provides an example of one Jewish German American's views of World War II. He argues that the United States "must enter the war in self-dense on the side of England, and do so quickly." He addresses his American sons' service in World War I for the sake of democracy and anger at the aid given to Germany afterward. He states that "in return we got this undefensible system of thievery and slavery which the world now faces and must continue to face until Hitler, Mussolini, and all their German slaves and associates are destroyed."

  • A letter from retired Louisville distiller and philanthropist Isaac W. Bernheim (1848-1945) to A. B. Cowen reflecting on the state of Judaism and Jewish life in the United States in relation to World War II and broader changes. He stresses elements of Reform Judaism and argues against the undercurrents of Zionism, referring to Judaism as "a universal religion which knows no land or people or race."

  • Six-page narrative of Trude Ackermann Breiner as told to Carolyn Moyse and Virginia Wilson. The story covers the Ackermann and Pokorny families's experiences in Vienna, Austria, during World War II and their efforts to navigate the immigration process to the United States.

  • Newspaper of the Louisville, Kentucky, Jewish Community Center and National Council of Jewish Women's Club 60. The publication includes an article beginning on page 3 that details the youth, immigration, and subsequent settling of Jewish Frenchman Jacques Wolff (1903-1977) in the United States. Includes his service in the French army, and his personal losses to the German army and the Holocaust, after which he was able to work in wholesale business in Louisville, Kentucky. Jacques was the husband of Denise Wolff, one of the founders of Club 60.

    Pages 6-8 are missing from the original version in the Filson's collection.

  • Letter from the Committee for a Jewish Army of Stateless and Palestinian Jews to Louisville Times Editor Tom Wallace. The letter is signed by S. Merlin, Director of Information. Following the Louisville Times's recent signing of "the Proclamation on the Moral Rights of the Stateless and Palestinian Jews," Merlin responds with a discussion of what the Committee believes must be done to support and save Jews in Europe. He outlines three essential actions: "The creation of a United Nations agency" dedicated to planning how to save "millions of Hebrew people in Europe"

  • World War II era French passport, identity card, war ration booklet, and bread rationing card in possession of Henrietta Levy Cerf (1866-1946), a French Jewish woman. Her brother Sol Levy arranged for her and other family members' immigration to the United States to escape German occupation and the Holocaust. Blank visa pages were not scanned.

  • 22-page script written for the 1993 Yom HaShoah commemoration program on the Holocaust titled "Voices of the Shoah" and held in Louisville, Kentucky. The program included a timeline of events, the experiences of survivors with connections to Louisville, Kentucky, and performing arts works.

  • French driver's license for Denise Wolff (1909-2000), a Jewish Frenchwoman. Denise was the wife of Jacques Wolff (1903-1977), a nephew of Sol Levy. Levy arranged for the family's immigration to Louisville, Kentucky, to escape German occupation and the Holocaust

  • French identity card of Arthur Wolff (1877-1941), a Jewish Frenchman. Arthur was the husband of Aline Levy Wolff (d. 1941), and her brother Sol Levy arranged for their family's immigration to the United States to escape German occupation and the Holocaust.

  • Certification of ability to operate an automobile for Arthur Wolff (1877-1941), a Jewish Frenchman. Arthur was married to Aline Levy Wolff (d. 1941), and her brother Sol Levy arranged for their family's immigration to the United States during World War II.

  • French identity card of Eugénie Baer Hirsch (1880-1967), a Jewish Frenchwoman. Eugénie was the widow of Jacques Hirsch, and mother of Denise Hirsch Wolff (1909-2000). She immigrated to the United States in 1947 and settled in Louisville, Kentucky.

  • French identity card of Denise Wolff (1909-2000), a Jewish Frenchwoman. Denise was the wife of Jacques Wolff (1903-1977), a nephew of Sol Levy. Levy arranged for the family's immigration to Louisville, Kentucky, to escape German occupation and the Holocaust.

  • Formal release of Jacques Wolff (1903-1977) from French military service during World War II. For more on Jacques service and life, see this 1965 biography: https://filsonhistorical.omeka.net/items/show/7047
    Jacques was married to Denise Wolff (1909-2000). His uncle Sol Levy arranged for their family's immigration to Louisville, Kentucky, to escape German occupation and the Holocaust.

  • World War II era French safe conduct pass for Jacques Hirsch, a Jewish Frenchman. He was married to Eugénie Baer Hirsch (1880-1967).

  • World War II era French safe conduct pass for Eugénie Baer Hirsch, a French Jewish woman. She was married to Jacques Hirsch and the mother of Denise Hirsch Wolff (1909-2000).

  • French identity card of Eugénie Baer Hirsch, a Jewish woman. She was married to Jacques Hirsch and the mother of Denise Hirsch Wolff (1909-2000).

  • World War II era French passport for Jacques Wolff (1903-1977), a Jewish man. He was married to Denise Wolff (1909-2000). His uncle Sol Levy arranged for their family's immigration to Louisville, Kentucky, to escape German occupation and the Holocaust. The passport shows that in 1941, the family traveled to Spain and Portugal before taking a ship to New York City. Blank visa pages were not scanned.

  • World War II era French passport and additional documents such as a Remitter's receipt and a ticket owned by Denise Hirsch Wolff (1909-2000), a French Jewish woman. She was married to Jacques Wolff (1903-1977). The passport includes photographs of their young children, Francis Wolff (1931-2014) and Hubert Wolff (1938-2020). Blank visa pages were not scanned.

    Denise's uncle Sol Levy arranged for her family's immigration to Louisville, Kentucky, to escape German occupation and the Holocaust. The passport shows that in 1941, the family traveled in Spain and Portugal before boarding a ship to New York City.

  • French passport for Eugénie Baer Hirsch (1880-1967), a French Jewish woman. She was married to Jacques Hirsch and the mother of Denise Hirsch Wolff (1909-2000). She immigrated to the United States and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where her daughter had moved during World War II. Blank visa pages were not scanned.

  • Declaration of change of residence for Eugénie Baer Hirsch, a French Jewish woman. She was married to Jacques Hirsch and the mother of Denise Hirsch Wolff (1909-2000). She immigrated to the United States and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where her daughter had moved during World War II.
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