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Wassermann Family Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 269

Scope and Content Note

The Wassermann Family Collection holds various information of the entire Wassermann family, starting with it’s "genesis" in 1423. The collection comprises birth certificates, death certificates, books of condolence, identification papers, academic documentations, emigration papers, photographs, family history documentations, memoirs, and a family tree. Particularly prominent are themes like the family history and life and death of individual family members, which include Emil, Oscar and Sigmund Wassermann.

The major documents in Series I are death certificates, obituaries, and condolences. The books of condolence are devoted to Emil, Oscar, and Max von Wassermann. The condolences and articles in the book include biographical notes, especially emphasizing their success in the banking industry. Other than that, there are report cards and an enrollment verification of Oscar Wassermann as well as identification papers, including a pay book, award certificates, and emigration papers of Sigmund Wassermann. The collection also contains a photo album of the Wassermann’s house, showing the interior and exterior.

Series II relates to family history. Here one will find articles and memoirs from family members themselves, one anonymous article, and a family tree starting in 1720. "Die Gechichte der Wassermann'schen Familie" (History of the Wassermann family) was written by David Wassermann and starts recording the family's heritage from 1423 on. The anonymous article holds information about the genesis of the Wassermann family in Regensburg, Harburg, Wallerstein, Bamberg, and Berlin. Gutta Rosenbacher's (née Wassermann) memoirs discuss the family history based on her memories, which include her own experiences and stories from her father or other relatives, from 1719 until 1940. Lastly, one will find a family tree and sketches that show the process of genealogy research.

Dates

  • Creation: 1842-1942

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German and English.

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Access Information

Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:

Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011

email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

Biographical Note<extptr actuate="onload" altrender="Portrait of Max Markreich (1881-1962)" href="http://digital.cjh.org/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=1470235" linktype="simple" show="embed" title="Portrait of Wassermann Family"/>

The Wassermanns were a very successful banking family. Many male family members were active in the financial industry.

Oscar Wassermann was probably the best known of them. He was born on April 4th 1869 in Bamberg, Germany and died on September 8th 1934 in Garmisch, Germany. Oscar Wassermann was part of the executive board of the Deutsche Bank and the Disconto – Gesellschaft Berlin, and he was a member of the general council of the Reichsbank. After the passing of the enabling act of 1933, Oscar was suspended from his positions.

His father, Emil Wassermann, who was born on May 12th 1842 in Wallerstein, Germany and died on November 12th 1911 in Berlin, Germany, was the initiator of the banking tradition in the Wassermann Family. He owned and directed A.E. Wassermann, a private banking house, for almost 50 years. Other bankers in the family were i.e. Sigmund Wassermann, son of Emil, and Max von Wassermann, cousin of Oscar and Sigmund. Most members of the Wassermann family immigrated to the United States at the beginning of World War II.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

The Wassermann Family Collection contains information on the entire Wassermann family. Prominent topics include the family history and life and death of individual family members. The collection consist of birth certificates, death certificates, and books of condolence, identification papers, academic documentations, emigration papers, photographs, family history documents, memoirs, and a family tree.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into two series:

Related Material

The digital collection of the LBI Archives holds a relatively large amount of photographs of individual family members and their residences.

Processing Information

The collection has been restructured.

Title
Guide to the Papers of the Wassermann Family 1842-1942 AR 269
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Meike Bingemann
Date
© 2012
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from WassermannFamily.xml

Revision Statements

  • June 13, 2013 : Links to digital objects added in Container List.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States