Kartell-Convent fraternity ribbon with ceramic medallion brought to the US by a Jewish refugee
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 20.125 inches (51.118 cm) | Width: 1.500 inches (3.81 cm) | Depth: 0.375 inches (0.953 cm)
Creator(s)
- John L. Spanier (Subject)
Biographical History
Hans Lothar Spanier was born on August 25, 1904, in Wunstorf, Germany. He was the only child of Rabbi Meier and Charlotte Mayer Spanier. Meier, an Orthodox rabbi, was born on January 1, 1864, in Wunstorf and Charlotte on May 9, 1875, in Trier. From 1900-1911, Meier was headmaster of the Jewish teachers seminary in Muenster. In 1912, the family moved to Berlin, when he accepted a position as the director of a Jewish girls’ school. The establishment of the Nazi dictatorship in 1933 led to the targeted persecution of Jews. In 1939, Lothar, who had trained as a dentist, left Berlin for the United States. The Rabbi and his wife committed suicide to avoid their deportation to the concentration camps scheduled for September: Charlotte, age 67, died on September 27, 1942, and Meier, age 78, on September 28. Lothar, now John, passed away in New York on January 12, 1996, age 91.
Archival History
The Kartell-Convent medallion was donated to the United States Holocaust Museum in 2006 by Lori and Steven Ross, the family of John L. Spanier.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Lori and Steven Ross
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
Kartell-Convent fraternal ribbon with medallion received by Lothar (John) Spanier in Berlin, Germany. This was the only all Jewish dueling fraternity and these colors may have been issued for fencing prowess. The ribbon is embroidered with his monogram and the fraternity motto. The K-C [Kartell-Convent der Verbindungen Deutscher Studenten Juedischen Glaubens] was a national organization that brought together Jewish student fraternities in Germany. The K-C was outlawed in 1933/34 by the Nazi government, along with other Jewish groups. Lothar, who had become a dentist, emigrated to the United States in 1939. His parents, Rabbi Meier and Charlotte Mayer Spanier, committed suicide to avoid their scheduled September 1942 deportation to the concentration camps.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Circular ceramic medallion with metal backing attached to a striped, grosgrain neck ribbon by a circular tie tack on the backplate. The medallion, 1.5 inches in diameter, is painted white with a design featuring a coat-of-arms surrounded by a black, white and blue cluster of flowers and leaves, with Latin text at the upper and lower edges. The ribbon stripes are black, offwhite, and light gray. The front left side has the Latin motto in cursive and a floral symbol embroidered in silver metallic and black thread, with offwhite satin backing under this section on the reverse. The ribbon is faded and stained.
front, medallion, around border, black paint : Ghibellin[i]a sei’s Pani[e]r! / : Per aspera ad astra! [To the stars through difficulties!] front, ribbon, left side, embroidered in cursive, metallic thread : B. L. Tor .aspera ! ad astra ! L. S. [B. L. Tor to the stars through difficulties ! L.S.]
Subjects
- Jewish refugees--United States--Biography.
- Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Germany--Berlin--Personal narratives.
- World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives, Jewish.
- Jewish college students--Germany--Societies, etc.--History--20th century.
Genre
- Awards
- Object