Popielarz family papers

Evelyn Rubin was born Eveline Popielarz, in Breslau, Germany on July 31, 1930. Her father, Benno Popielarz, was a World War I veteran, and her parents (mother: Rika Popielarz) owned a paper and twine company in Breslau. After Kristallnacht, her father was arrested, sent to Buchenwald, and subsequently released. The family then made arrangements to immigrate to China, arriving in Shanghai in March 1939, and they were subsequently joined by Eveline's grandmother, Therese Popielarz, in 1940. The family started a typewriter repair business, and after Benno's death in 1941, Rika continued the business until the family was forced to move into the Hongkew settlement during the Japanese occupation in 1943, where they remained until liberation in 1945. In 1947, Eveline and her mother immigrated to the United States. Original documents relating to emigration attempts by the Benno Popielarz family, originally of Breslau, Germany (Wrocław, Poland). Include photostat of a letter of recommendation from the Reichsbund juedischer Frontsoldaten, attesting to the good character of Benno Popielarz (1939); a carbon copy typescript list of the belongings that the Popielarz family had to declare prior to emigration, listing the monetary value of each item (1939); a document authorizing the transfer of 15 shillings to a family member in England, to enable the Popielarz family to obtain a Chinese visa (1939); and a list of hand luggage declared by Therese Popielarz, when she emigrated to China in 1940.