Renata Somers collection of Holocaust photographs
Collection Overview
The collection consists of copy negatives, contact sheets, and digital images of the destruction of the synagogue in Holešov, Czechoslovakia, in 1941 by the Nazis. Also included are images of photographs, postcards, and letters relating to Renata Somers's grandfather, Jakub Michalowski, cantor of the Holešov Jewish community, who was killed in Auschwitz in 1944.
Dates
- Creation: 1941
Creator
- Somers, Renata (Person)
Language of Material
Materials in Czech and German
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical Note
In 1939, Leo Michalowski, a young physician, his wife, Emillia Stadler, and their daughter, Jeanette, emigrated from Holešov, Czechoslovakia, to Canada to escape escalating persecution. In exchange for permission to immigrate to Canada, Michalowski agreed to farm for five years, after which he resumed his medical practice and settled with his family in Toronto. After settling in Toronto, Leo Michalowski received an unmarked envelope in the mail which contained photographs of the destruction of the synagogue in Holešov. The identity of the sender of the photographs remains unknown.
Extent
0.1 linear feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The collection consists of copy negatives, contact sheets, and digital images of the destruction of the synagogue in Holešov, Czechoslovakia, in 1941, by the Nazis. Also included are images of photographs, postcards, and letters relating to Renata Somers's grandfather, Jakub Michalowski, cantor of the Holešov Jewish community, who was killed at Auschwitz in 1944.
Collection Arrangement
Materials are described at the folder level.
Acquisitions Information
Materials lent for copying in 2005 by Renata Somers.
Processing Information
Processed by Rebecca McClure, May 2012.
- Title
- Inventory of the Renata Somers Collection of Holocaust Photographs, 1941
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Rebecca McClure; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rebecca McClure
- Date
- 2012
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the processing of this collection and encoding of the finding aid.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)