Metadata: Papers of Magda Goldschmidt
Collection
- Country:
- Sweden
- Holding institution:
- Jewish Museum of Stockholm
- Holding institution (official language):
- Judiska museet
- Postal address:
- Själagårdsgatan 19, 111 31 Stockholm
- Phone number:
- +46 8 30 15 00
- Web address:
- www.judiskamuseet.se
- Email:
- info@judiskamuseet.se
- Reference number:
- JUDArkiv00168
- Title:
- Papers of Magda Goldschmidt
- Title (official language):
- Magda Goldschmidts papper
- Creator/accumulator:
- Goldschmidt, Magda
- Date(s):
- 1939/2019
- Date note:
- Original documents: 1939-1957; Printed material: 1963-1965 (Tidsskriften Judiska Hem), 2003 (Jüdische Zwangsarbeiter…), 2014 (Exhibition folder “Jewish Mamas kitchen” Jewish Museum of Copenhagen). Magda Goldschmidt’s life story, written by herself in 2019.
- Language:
- Swedish
- German
- Extent:
- 0.1 linear metres (2 boxes)
- Type of material:
- Textual material
- Physical condition:
- good
- Scope and content:
-
This is a collection of documents relating to personal life of Magda Goldschmidt, in particular to her early life and her emigration to Sweden where she was adopted by a Swedish-Jewish family in Stockholm. Among the documents is an envelope containing correspondence between Dr Mendelsohn at the orphanage in Berlin where she was living and her future adoptive mother. In another envelope there is correspondence between Dr Mendelsohn and both adoptive parents in Stockholm, Israel and Betzy Goldschmidt, from 23 January 1939 to 21 June 1939. The letters were written in preparation of Magda’s journey to Sweden. In the envelope there are also Swedish coupons for food from the time of the Second World War, when food was rationed. There are also copies of the correspondence in a separate folder. There is also correspondence dating much later, between Magda Goldschmidt and the Swedish historian Ingrid Lomfors and the Jewish Museum in Berlin respectively.
From Magda Goldschmidts first year in Berlin, her German ID card is preserved. There is also the application of the adoption where the Goldschmidts write that they have had the girl (Magda) in their home since she was very little and that they have become very fond of her. Attached to the application there are also certificates and a letter in which the biological mother states her approval of the adoption. There is also a certificate from the Swedish Ministry of Justice stating that Magda received Swedish citizenship in 1941 and a document from 1944 declaring that her middle name Sara, given by the German authorities, had been replaced with the name Gittel. Among the documents is also Magda Goldschmidts life story, 17 pages, written by herself in 2019.
In the collection there are also 15 issues (January 1963-1965) of the rare Swedish-Jewish periodical Judiska Hem, of which her adoptive father, Israel Goldschmidt, was the editor.
Finally, the collection includes a book published by the Jewish Museum in Berlin, entitled Jüdische Zwangsarbeiter bei Ehrich & Graetz, Berlin-Treptow [Jewish forced labourers at Ehrich & Graetz]. On pages 20 and 230 there are images of Else Rosenthal, most likely Magda Goldschmidt’s biological mother who had the same name.
- Archival history:
- The collection was donated to the Jewish Museum in Stockholm in 2019 by Magda Goldschmidt.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Magda Goldschmidt was born in Berlin on 13 January 1938. Her mother, Else Rosenthal, was unable to care for her child and thus left her at the orphanage when she was only 3 months old. In spring 1939, the management of the orphanage organised the emigration of the children. The Swedish branch of WIZO was involved in Magda’s transfer to Swedish foster parents, who adopted her in 1941. In 1961 Magda met her future husband, Bent Goldschmidt from Copenhagen. They were married in 1963 and settled in Copenhagen.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Mendelsohn
- Subject terms:
- Orphans
- Personal records
- World War II
- Yerusha Network member:
- Jewish Museum in Stockholm
- Author of the description:
- Johanna Eek; Jewish Museum of Stockholm; February 2020