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The 105 letters in this collection document the experience of a German Jewish family in the years immediately before, during, and shortly after World War II. Nathan and Johannna Rosenberg of Breisach, Germany, had three sons: Julius (1900-1942), Eugen (1901-1964), and Alfred (1911-2005). Eugen left for Palestine in 1935. Alfred, with his wife and her parents immigrated to the United States in August 1938. Most of the letters were written to Alfred by his brothers, his parents, and other relatives between 1938 and 1946. Most of the letters are from Julius, Emmy, Nathan, and Johanna; some of these they wrote from the labor camp in Gurs to which many Jews in Breisach were deported in October 1940. Contains typewritten transcriptions (German) and English translations for most letters.

Ruth Ellis of Detroit, Michigan was well known in the Gay community as the oldest known African American Lesbian. She was a business woman, owned a printing company, and held social gatherings at her home at a time when there were few opportunities for Gay African Americans to gather. During the last twenty years of her life she was active in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community and in the Senior Citizens movement. The collection contains correspondence, photographs, and publications.