Sbírka Československé školy ve Velké Británii
- Collection of the Czechoslovak school in the United Kingdom
Extent and Medium
1,3 linear metres of which 1,3 linear metres inventoried. The fonds is partially accessible.
Biographical History
The Czechoslovak schools in Great Britain were created and funded by the Czechoslovak Goverment-In-Exile. Education for refugee children was initiated in October 1940. Approx. 1500 children studied at these schools, including more than 670 mostly Jewish children saved by Nicolas Winton. The system of the Czechoslovak schools was gradually built up during 1940-1945.
The archival material had been collected since 1985 by Judith Wolt (the wife of John Wolt, one of the former students). She tried to gather everything that was connected with the Czechoslovak´s schools in the United Kingdom, she contacted many former students, and received documents from them.
Archival History
The documents had been collected since 1985 by Judith Wolt, and after twenty years (in 2005), the collection was donated to the National Archives in Prague.
Scope and Content
The collection consist of originals and copies of the various documents, such as copies of identity documents, birth certificates, writing pads, textbooks, school certificates, photographs, messages from teachers to parents (or to the legal representatives of children), memoirs, school notes, presentations and newspapers. These materials also relate to more than 670 mostly Jewish children saved by the Kindertransporte organised by Nicolas Winton and other rescuers.
System of Arrangement
The collection is divided in 11 boxes (91 inventory units). The National Archives kept the original arrangement by Judith Wolt. Documents can be located through two registers: 1) subject index (by the content of the document/photography) and 2) name index (by the names of formal students). Documents which were hard to classify can be found via the subject index.
Finding Aids
Printed finding aid is accessible in the archival reading room. The finding aid Nr. 1670 is available online on: http://badatelna.eu/fond/4547.
Publication Note
Mináč, Matěj: Loterie života Nicolase Wintona, Praha, 2005.
Emanuel, Muriel: Nicholas Winton and the rescued generation : the story of "Britain’s Schindler", London, 2002.
Archivist Note
Entry selected and written by KS, edited by JV.
Rules and Conventions
EHRI Guidelines for Description v.1.0
Dates of Descriptions
4 July 2014