Dora Greenbaum Letters

Collection

Identifier: Manuscript-20141105

Scope and Contents

This collection primarily contains letters written by Dora Greenbaum to her brothers Pinney, Harold, and Jack, who are serving in the Navy during World War II. The letters span the years 1942 to 1945 and cover topics such as family and local Connecticut events, such as the Hartford Circus Fire. The collection also contains some letters from her brothers to her.

Dates

Creation: 1942-1945
Creation: Majority of material found within 1944 - 1945

Biographical / Historical

Dora Greenbaum was one of seven children born to David and Anna/Chanaj Greenbaum. Dora, a Hartford schoolteacher, was born in Russia in 1905. Her siblings were Jack (b. 1909), Cy (or Simon, b. circa 1912), Phillip Pinney (b. circa 1915), Reeva (b. 1917), Lillian (b. 1919), Harold (b. 1921), and Sylvia (b. 1923). Dora kept up a steady stream of correspondence with her brothers Jack, Harold, and Pinney during World War II. The three brothers served in the Navy, and sister Sylvia served in the "Waves". Dora sent them news from home, advice, and asked for details on their lives overseas. Dora died in 2006 at the age of 102.

Full Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (3 volumes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The donor arranged the letters into chronological order and housed the collection in three volumes. The collection has been maintained according to this original arrangement.

Custodial History

Letters were written and saved by Dora Greenbaum. The collection was donated to the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford by Susan Schenker, the daughter of Dora's sister Sylvia Novarr.

Related Materials

In a later donation, the donor gave a Greenbaum family photo and materials relating to the family's business, Star Silk and Woolen Co. A photocopy of the family photo is included in volume 1 of this collection. The original photo is filed in Photographs/People/Greenbaum family. The material relating to Star Silk and Woolen Co. can be found under Businesses/Textiles/Star Silk and Woolen Co. and Photographs/Businesses/Star Silk and Woolen Co.

Also see Novarr, Sylvia in the people files and the oral history collection.