Ruth Locke Collection

Papers relating to the family of Ruth Locke (nee Neumeyer). Printed material relating to Martin Ephraim (1992/N.d.); Typed testimony of Dr Hirschberg's experiences of Auschwitz (1944-1945); Typed letters from Vera Neumeyer (1942); Handwritten letter from Vera Neumeyer to her children in England (N.d.); Typed letter from Julius Kohn to Ruth and Raimund (1939). Photocopies of originals.

Vera Neumeyer, daughter of Martin Ephraim, married Hand Neumeyer in 1920 and lived in Dachau. They had two children, Ruth and Raimund. In 1938 they were forced to leave Dachau and continued to live hidden for the next few years. The children were sent on Kindertransport to England. Vera was deported from Munich in 1942, and was probably killed late in 1943 at Piaski or Majdanek camp, in Poland.

Hans, meanwhile, was deported to Theresienstadt on 4th June 1942 on a transport (no. II.76) consisting of sick and disabled people. There he survived until 19th May 1944 when he died of a lung disease, probably TB exacerbated by the poor living conditions.

Jewish industrialist and patron of the arts Martin Ephraim helped fund a museum in the Polish part of Görlitz/Zgorzelec. In old age, he was killed in Theresienstadt in 1944.

Dr Hirschberg was a friend of Martin Ephraim, and is believed to have been deported to Auschwitz from Theresienstadt, and subsequently worked as a pulic prosecutor in the area.

Items in the collection may be consulted for the purpose of private study and personal research, within the controlled environment and restrictions of The Keep's Reading Rooms.

An online catalogue is available on The Keep's website .

Note created by J Samuelson, June 2011. Edited by Joanna Baines, September 2011.

COPIES FOR PRIVATE STUDY: Subject to copyright, conditions imposed by owners and protecting the documents, digital copies can be made.

PUBLICATION: A reader wishing to publish material in the collection should contact the Head of Special Collections, in writing. The reader is responsible for obtaining permission to publish from the copyright owner.

Donated by Anne and Tim Locke to the University of Sussex in December 2001.