Metadata: Josefine Stross Papers
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Freud Museum
- Holding institution (official language):
- Freud Museum
- Postal address:
- 20 Maresfield GardensHampstead London Greater London United Kingdom NW3 5SX
- Web address:
- https://www.freud.org.uk/collections/researchers/
- Email:
- Email: bryony@freud.org.uk
- Reference number:
- JS
- Title:
- Josefine Stross Papers
- Title (official language):
- Josefine Stross Papers
- Creator/accumulator:
- Josefine Stross
- Date(s):
- 1915/1995
- Language:
- English
- German
- Extent:
- 5 series
- Scope and content:
- The papers were given by Michael Stanley, a relative of Josefine Stross, to N J Smith, who donated them to the museum in 2005 and include:JS/01 – Correspondence, mostly with Anna Freud and Dorothy BurlinghamJS/02 – Professional papersJS/03 – This series comprises lectures and publications collected by Josefine Stross, primarily by and about Anna Freud, including Eva Laible's lecture series about her (1933-1981)JS/04 – Personal papers (1938-1982)JS/05 – Photographs (1915 to 1990s), although the majority of photographs date from the late 1920s/early 1930s
- Archival history:
- The papers were given by Michael Stanley, a relative of Josefine Stross, to N J Smith, who donated them to the museum in 2005.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Josefine Stross was born in Vienna in 1901 into an influential Jewish family. She was educated at the Schwarzwaldschule for Jewish girls and from there she went to medical school, qualifying as an MD in Vienna in 1925. From 1926 to 1931, she worked at the Karolinen-Kinderspital (a children’s hospital), qualifying as Specialist in Paediatrics. She became friendly with Anna Freud in 1923. In 1933 she underwent analysis and after training at the Vienna Institute, became an Associate Member of the Viennese Psychoanalytical Institute. From 1936 onwards, Josefine was not only an experienced and highly regarded paediatrician, but also a trained psychoanalyst. Close collaboration with Anna Freud and Dorothy Burlingham began when Edith Jackson, the American psychoanalyst, founded the Jackson-Krippe in Vienna in 1936, run by Anna Freud and Dorothy Burlingham. Josefine was appointed paediatrician. When the Freud family left Vienna in 1938, Josefine travelled with them, providing medical care for Sigmund Freud during the journey to England and continuing in her role as personal physician to him once he and Anna were established in Hampstead. From the 1940s onwards, Josefine also acted as personal physician to Anna Freud and Dorothy Burlingham, both of whom had recurrent problems with their health. On arrival in London, Josefine became a post-graduate student at the West London Hospital and was awarded her diploma in January 1940. In May 1940, she was granted permission from the Home Office to once more function as a paediatrician, quickly establishing a private practice and by 1942 she held posts as Clinical Assistant (paediatrics) at the West London Hospital and the Eveline Children’s Hospital. She was also a key figure in the Hampstead Nurseries for homeless victims of the air raids. After the war, Josefine continued with her work in the hospitals and the Hampstead Nurseries. She spent thirteen years as paediatrician to a group of children who had been flown to England from Terezin, a transit concentration camp. Her reputation as a paediatrician also ensured that her private practice was thriving. In 1957 she was a founder member of the Well Baby Research Group and paediatrician to the Well Baby clinic. Her work in this field earned her wide recognition. Josefine finally retired from the Hampstead Clinic in July 1983 and she died in London in 1995.
- Access points: persons/families:
- Burlingham, Dorothy
- Freud, Anna
- Stross, Josefine
- Access, restrictions:
- Open
- Finding aids:
- Online catalogue see https://www.freud.org.uk/collections/archives/archive-records/JS/
- Yerusha Network member:
- AIM25