Ruth Holländer was born 1915.01.09 in Hilchenbach and emigrated from
Germany on 1937.11.01. Just before she left she received a letter, dated 1937.10.27, and a photo
from from her (second) cousin Else Sommer, born
1914.07.01 in Heinebach. After she left she received at least seven more letters. Some of
these also had messages from other members of Else Sommer's family.
N.B. The writing paper used was very thin and one could often see the writing on the back side.
Thus in some cases a high contrast photocopy was first made; this accounts for the white
background on some pages and a yellowish tint when a scan was made directly from the letter.
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Signed photo of Else Sommer, probably the photo---taken the previous year (1936)---referred to in
Letter 1
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Letter 1 from Else Sommer in Nordrach to Ruth Holländer in Hilchenbach,
1937.10.27
Best wishes in the new world.
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Letter 2, page 1 from Else Sommer in Nordrach to Ruth Holländer in New York,
1937.12.05
Letter 2, page 2
Happy to have received first letter.
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Letter 3, page 1 from Else Sommer in Nordrach to Ruth Holländer in New York,
1938.01.19
Letter 3, page 2
Has heard little from her brother Fritz.
Letter 3, page 3
Has not heard from her very orthdox relatives in Eiterfeld (family of Rosa Sommer).
Letter 3, page 4
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Letter 4, page 1 from Else Sommer in Heinebach to Ruth
Holländer in New York, 1938.03.26
Back home in Heinebach as is brother Fritz (sick); wrote to Ruth's parents in Hilchenbach; Abraham
Sommer going to Hilchenbach for Pessach.
letter 4, page 2
Speaks of Irma.
Letter 4, page 3
Greetings from Abraham Sommer. Message
from Fritz Sommer, Lina Katz,
and Irma Sommer.
Letter 4, page 4
Message from ?
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Letter 5, page 1 from Else Sommer in Heinebach to Ruth Holländer in New York,
1938.06.12
Understands that she visits Tante Rosa often; so the latter was in New York (cf. letter
3). Goes to the garden in nice weather. Hears often from Julie Sommer.
Letter 5, page 2
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Letter 6, page 1 from Else Sommer in Heinebach to Ruth Holländer in New York,
1938.07.17
Letter 6, page 2
Message from Lina Sommer.
Kristalnacht: 1938.11.09
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Letter 7 from Else Sommer in Nordrach to Ruth Holländer in
New York, 1939.01.09
Has restarted working.
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Letter 8, page 1 from Else Sommer in Nordrach to Ruth Holländer in New York,
1939.06.09
``My dear Fischler's'' [Ruth Ruth Holländer and Sigmund Fischler were married
1939.03.19]. Selma Holländer can now travel [to England].
Letter 8, page 2
