The scrapbook, a Bible, birth and christening certificates, and legal documents, tell the story of a German couple during World War II. Roderich Wolff — was Jewish and his wife Elisabeth — was Christian.
They married on December 20, , and moved to Erfurt, Germany. Roderich was arrested by the Gestapo during Kristallnacht on November 9, , and sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp. He was released with payment and an exit visa. Found in the scrapbook are letters from prominent Dutch theologians and resistance workers such as Dr. Johan Eijkman, Dr. Slotemaker de Bruine, and Hebbe Kohlbrugge.
He was also briefly interned at Westerbork Transit Camp. In the s Elisabeth compiled legal documents in an attempt to secure restitution from the German government. Recognizing the historical significance of the scrapbook, Bette Lou sent the materials to her son, a theater professor at Northwestern College. Huyser, Access Services Coordinator. A special thanks goes to Dr. Johan Hegeman for the translation of Dutch documents and for providing valuable historical background.
Also thanks to Dr. Jane Vander Kooi for translating the German documents. Note: Elisabeth Wolff goes by many names in the documents: she was christened Johanna Elisabeth Bachmann, but went by Elisabeth. Her nickname was Lisbeth. In America, she changed the spelling of her name to Elizabeth while Roderich also changed his spelling to Roderick.
Printing is not supported at the primary Gallery Thumbnail page. Please first navigate to a specific Image before printing. She was the grandmother of Elisabeth Wolff. On the certificate both parents are listed as German Evangelical Lutheran. Subjects included German, computing, bookkeeping, script writing, civics, child care, and home economics.
