Guide to the Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers
NMAH.AC.1245

Administrative Information

Repository Information

Archives Center, National Museum of American History, 2012

P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C., 20013-7012
Phone: 202-633-3270
archivescenter@si.edu

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research use. Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with cotton gloves.

Conditions Governing Use note

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Reproduction permission from Archives Center: reproduction fees may apply. All duplication requests must be reviewed and approved by Archives Center staff.

Custodial History note

Transferred from the Division of Home and Community Life to the Archives Center in September 2011.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Donated to the Division of Home and Community Life, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian by Robert Bodansky in August 2011.

Processing Information note

Processed by Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., archives specialist, September and October 2011; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, archivist.

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Summary Information

Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Creator - Creator
Bodansky, Harry
Creator - Creator
Bodansky, Lony Gottlieb
Creator
Gottlieb, Camilla Klauber, 1884-1964
Title
Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers
ID
NMAH.AC.1245
Date
1901-1981, undated
Extent
1.5 Cubic feet, (4 boxes)
Language
English
Language of Materials note
Some materials are written in Hebrew, German, and Italian.
Abstract
The Gottlieb and Bodansky family papers are a collection of correspondence, immigration material, photographs, and ephemera related to the family of Hermann and Camilla Gottlieb and their daughter Lony Gottlieb Bodansky. Hermann and Camilla were interred at Theresienstadt concentration camp by the Nazi government during World War II.

Preferred Citation note

The Gottlieb and Bodansky Family Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

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Biographical/Historical note

Camilla Klauber Gottlieb (1884-1964), nickname "Mia", was born on December 10, 1884 in Vienna, Austria to Ludwig and Caroline Hirsch Klauber. She married Hermann Gottlieb (1875-1943) on August 15, 1918 in Vienna. They had one child, Lony (1919-1970). During the rise of the Nazi government in Germany, efforts were repeatedly made by their daughter, Lony, the Klauber relations in the United States, and Harry Bodansky and his family to secure Camilla and Harry's immigration to the United States. These efforts failed. During World War II, Camilla and her husband were interned in Theresienstadt concentration camp by the Nazi government. Hermann died while in Theresienstadt of natural causes. Camilla was at last allowed to immigrate to the United States in 1946. After her immigration to the United States Camilla lived in New York City with Lony and her son-in-law Harry Bodansky (1919-2009). For a time Camilla worked at home as a hand embroiderer sewing insignia on sweaters and scarves for G.A. Embroidery Company of New York. She moved with her family when they relocated to Kensington, Maryland in 1952. Camillia died in Maryland in 1964 and was interred in the Adas Israel Cemetery in Kensington.

At some point, Camilla acquired a purse. She used this purse as a defacto file cabinet at least until 1952. Within this purse she kept all of the documents detailed in Series 1, Subseries 1.

Harry Bodansky was born on March 19, 1919 in Berlin, Germany and with the rise of Adolf Hitler he and his family moved to Vienna, Austria. He and Lony Gottlieb both attended the same school in Vienna, Austria. Lony immigrated to the United States in 1938. Harry, his parents and brother Ralph had also immigrated to the United States in 1938. Lony and Harry married in 1943 and lived in New York, New York. Harry attended the City College of New York and obtained a degree in economics. He received his master's in economics from Columbia University. He reportedly sold purse handles before becoming a writer on business and economics for a German language publication. The Bodanskys moved to Kensington, Maryland in 1952 when Harry accepted a job with the Commerce Department. They had two sons, Harvey and Robert. Lony died in 1970 and Harry died on May 21, 2009 and was interred in the Adas Israel Cemetery in Kensington.

References

"Harry Bodansky, economist, activist, 90", obituary, Washington Jewish Week, May 27, 2009.

"Mr. Harry Bodansky", obituary, Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, Inc., website, accessed January 31, 2012.

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Scope and Contents note

The Gottlieb and Bodansky family papers are a collection of letters, diaries, immigration material, photographs, and ephemera related to the family of Herman and Camilla Gottlieb and their daughter Lony Gottlieb Bodansky and her husband Harry Bodansky. Herman and Camilla were interned at Theresienstadt by the Nazis during World War II. Herman died in 1943 while at Terezin and Camilla survived and immigrated to the United States in 1946. Lony Gottlieb and Harry Bodansky immigrated to the United States in 1938. The greatest portion of the materials in all series and subseries are written in German.

The collection is divided into two series. Each series is arranged by subject and chronologically at the folder level beginning with correspondence arranged by date then followed by other materials arranged chronologically and within each folder chronologically:

Series 1, Camilla Klauber Gottlieb Papers, 1901-1981, undated, is arranged into two subseries: Subseries 1, Purse Contents, 1901-1981, undated and Subseries 2, Papers, 1937-1964, undated.

Subseries 1, Purse Contents, 1901-1981, undated, is arranged with loose purse papers first, then United States War Department Envelope (WDE) documents (in ten folders), then the envelope marked "Mia" envelope (in one folder), all the contents of Camilla's purse. Each grouping begins with correspondence. The correspondence is between relatives and friends in the United States, Germany, Austria, and Palestine (later Israel). In addition to correspondence, this subseries also contains diaries, documents related to Hermann Gottlieb; financial, medical, education, immigration, and employment materials as well as photographs. The one item dated "1981" is a document that was produced earlier but carries dates up to 1981.

Subseries 2, Papers, 1937-1964, undated, contains papers relating to the Gottlieb family but that were not contained within the purse. The subseries begins with correspondence arranged chronologically and then with documents arranged chronologically. In addition to correspondence this series contains a diary for Camilla; obituary files for both Camillia and Hermann, immigration documents, travel papers, financial, loose photographs consisting of snapshots as well as formal portraits and passport photographs, and one photograph album with small snapshots of Camilla, family, and scenery.

Series 2, Bodansky Family, 1933-1964, undated, is arranged chronologically with correspondence heading the series. This series contains material about and generated by Lony Gottlieb Bodansky and her husband Harry Bodansky. The series contains correspondence, diaries, schooling, medical, immigration and travel documents for Lony; immigration materials related to their sustained efforts to secure Camilla Gottlieb status in the United States; financial material; news clippings (obituaries, fashion and a few German language items); ephemera; documents related to Harry Bodansky's efforts on behalf of Gerard T. Oschinsky's desire to immigrate to the United States; one photograph album with unidentified snapshot photographs of Lony and Harry as well as other friends and/or family members taken circa 1930s-1940s. There are also photographs taken at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

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Arrangement note

This collection is arranged into two series.

Series 1, Camilla Klauber Gottlieb Papers, 1901-1981, undated

Subseries 1, Purse contents, 1901-1981, undated

Subseries 2, Papers, 1937-1964, undated

Series 2, Bodansky Family Papers, 1933-1964, undated

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Related Materials

Related Archival Materials note

Objects related to this acquisition, Camilla's purse, clothing, jewelry, examples of her embroidery, and other objects are housed in the Division of Home and Community Life. See accesion #: 2011.0164.01-2011.0164.48.

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Controlled Access Headings

Geographic Name(s)

  • Theresienstadt (concentration camp)

Personal Name(s)

  • Gottlieb, Hermann, 1875-1943

Subject(s)

  • World War, 1939-1945

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Collection Inventory

 Series 1, Camilla Klauber Gottlieb Papers, 1901-1981, undated

 Subseries 1, Purse contents, 1901-1981, undated

Correspondence received (purse), 1943


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 1

Correspondence and notes (purse), 1945


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 2

Correspondence received (purse), 1946-1947


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 3

Correspondence received (purse), 1948


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 4

Correspondence received (purse), 1949


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 5

Correspondence received (purse), 1950


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 6

Correspondence received (purse), 1951


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 7

Correspondence (purse), undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 8

Notes (purse), 1942


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 9

Notes and receipts (purse), 1943-1981, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 10

Gottlieb, Hermann (purse), 1901-1943


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 11

Birth certificate, Klauber, Camilla (purse), 1903


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 12

Medical (purse), 1915-1952, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 13

Box

Marriage document, Gottlieb and Klauber, 1918

 2

Leather wallet and contents (purse), 1918-1946, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 14

Calendar (purse), 1935


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 15

Financial (purse), 1938-1951


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 16

Datebook (purse), 1939


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 17

Education (purse), 1939-1941


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 18

Government certificates (purse), 1939-1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 19

Immigration documents (purse), 1941-1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 20

Theresienstadt (purse), 1944-1945


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 21

Theresienstadt ration coupons (purse),  undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 22

Employment (purse), 1946-1949


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 23

Ephemera (purse), 1946 and undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 24

Hebrew-English calendar and reference book (purse), 1951-1952


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 25

Memorandum book (purse), undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 26

Transport documents, Gottlieb, Hermann and Gottlieb, Camilla (purse), undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 27

Photographs (purse), undated


    Box Folder
Photos   1 28

War Department envelope (WDE), undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 29

Correspondence received (WDE), 1945-1951, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 30

Radiograms (WDE), 1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 31

Bodansky correspondence written (WDE), 1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 32

Gottlieb, Hermann (WDE), 1902-1943, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 33

Gottlieb, Jakob (WDE), 1918


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 34

Banking and finance (WDE), 1938-1950, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 35

Immigration documents (WDE), 1939-1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 36

Varied documents (WDE), 1942-1946, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 37

Photograph (WDE), undated


    Box Folder
Photos   1 38

Medical papers Gottlieb, Camilla (Mia envelope), 1947-1948


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 39

 Subseries 2, Papers, 1937-1964, undated

Correspondence received, 1946-1947


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 40

Correspondence received,  1950-1952


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 41

Correspondence received, 1957-1958


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 42

Correspondence received, 1959


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 43

Correspondence received, 1960


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 44

Correspondence received, 1961


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 45

Correspondence received, 1962


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 46

Correspondence received, 1963


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 47

Correspondence received, 1964


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 48

Correpondence received,  undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 49

Diary, Gottlieb, Camilla, 1937


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 50

Immigration documents, 1938-1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 51

Gottlieb, Hermann obituaries, 1945


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 52

Medical papers, 1945


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 53

Inventory household and personal effects documents, 1946-1947, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 54

Blank United States citizenship application, 1958


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 55

Financial, 1960-1963


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 56

Gottlieb, Camilla, obituaries and funeral register, 1964


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 57

Photographs, undated


    Box Folder
Photos   1 58

Box

Photograph album, 1929, undated

 3

 Series 2, Bodansky Family Papers, 1928-1964, undated

Correspondence received, Bodansky, Lony Gottlieb, 1933-1943


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 59

Correspondence received, Bodansky, Harry, 1943-1966, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 60

Correspondence received, Bodansky, Lony Gottlieb, 1944-1945


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 61

Correspondence received from Gottlieb, Camilla, 1943-1945


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 62

Correspondence written, Bodansky, Lony Gottlieb, 1945, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 63

Correspondence received from Gottlieb, Camilla, 1946


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 64

Correspondence received, Bodansky, Lony, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 65

Condolence correspondence and cards received, 1964


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 66

News clippings, 1928-1956


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 67

School book and papers, Gottlieb, Lony, 1937-1939, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 68

Medical, Gottlieb, Lony, 1938


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 69

Travel-related documents, Gottlieb, Lony, 1938


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 70

Immigration, Gottlieb, Camilla, 1940-1962, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 72

Ephemera, 1938-1945, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 71

Immigration, Gottlieb, Camilla, 1941-1946, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 73

Diary, Gottlieb, Lony, 1942


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 74

Financial, 1943-1963, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 75

Personal Affairs of Military Personnel and Aid for Their Dependents, 1943


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 76

Immigration, Gottlieb, Camilla, 1944-1946, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 77

Sponsorship papers for Oschinsky, Gerard T., 1946, undated


    Box Folder
Mixed materials   1 78

Box

Photo album, Bodansky, Harry and Lony, 1939, undated

 4