John and Harriet Isaack papers

The John and Harriet Isaack papers consist of John’s description of his wartime experiences, an original drawing, and biographical, photographic, and printed materials documenting the Isaack’s escape from Germany, life in occupied Shanghai, and immigration to the United States. Biographical materials include identification papers, birth and death certificates, membership cards, vaccination records, and letters of recommendation documenting John and Harriet Isaack and Hermann Bondy, their emigration from Germany, registration in Shanghai, Hermann’s death, John’s and Harriet’s refugee and displaced person statuses, John’s work for the Army Exchange Service, and his participation in an art exhibition in Shanghai. This series also includes a certificate indicating Hermann Bondy had received the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer for his German military service during World War I. The collection includes an original black and white advertisement drawn by John Isaack in 1946 urging authorities to assist Jewish refugees in Shanghai. John Isaack’s personal narrative describes his prewar life as an art student in Berlin, meeting his wife, working for the Berliner Jüdischer Kulturbund, his escape to Shanghai and life there before and after the Hongkew Ghetto was established, his immigration to the United States, and the reestablishment of his career. Photographic materials include four photograph albums and nine mounted photographs depicting John and Harriet Isaack and the Jewish community in occupied and liberated Shanghai and the Isaacks in postwar San Francisco. This series also includes a handful of photographs of pre-war Germany and postwar travel within the United States. Many of the photographs were taken by the Isaack’s family friend, Fred Singer. Printed materials related to occupied and liberated Shanghai include a copy of Rules and Regulations of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps Club, an invitation and brochure for an exhibition of Jewish artists that included artwork by John Isaack, a copy of a 1948 issue of the Shanghai Jewish Youth Community Center’s publication Future, and a photocopy of the cover page of a 1946 issue of the same publication. Additional materials include an article about the Berliner Jüdischer Kulturbund, a brochure from the 1980 “Shanghai Reunion,” and four copies of the Hongkew Chronicle published by the reunion committee.

The John and Harriet Isaack papers are arranged as five series: Series 1: Biographical materials, 1935-1952 Series 2: Original artwork, 1946 Series 3: Personal narrative, 1991 Series 4: Photographic materials, approximately 1939-1947 Series 5: Printed materials, 1939-1988