Certificate of Citizenship document holder owned by Hedwig Sanders Neu
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 11.000 inches (27.94 cm) | Width: 9.000 inches (22.86 cm)
Archival History
The document holder was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Nancy Shanes, the goddaughter of Beatrice Neu Melov.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Nancy Shanes
Scope and Content
Document holder for a United States Certificate of Citizenship issued to Hedwig Sangers Neu on March 1, 1945. Hedwig and her husband, Richard Neu, immigrated to the US with their daughter, Beatrice (later Melov) in late 1938. The Neu family packed many of their possessions, including many items from Hedwig’s trousseau, in preparation for their emigration from Partenheim, Germany, in late 1938. Before they departed for the United States, they were staying with Beatrice’s grandmother, whose home was ransacked by the German authorities during Kristallnacht, November 9-10. Hedwig, Beatrice, and her grandmother hid in the garden, while Richard hid elsewhere. Many of the packed possessions were badly damaged during the attack. After several days in hiding, Richard returned once it seemed safe to do so.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Rectangular, trifold document case covered with black textured plastic. The top flap is secured to the bottom flap with a snap closure. The interior is lined with a loosely woven, brown cloth printed with a pattern of dark brown, wavy lines. There is a small flap along the lower edge, which creates a slot to hold a document. The top flap is decorated with a stamped, scrollwork design in each lower corner, and stamped English text filled with gold paint in the center.
Subjects
- Kristallnacht, 1938
- Germany.
Genre
- Containers
- Object
- Containers.