Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Special Recent Accession

Accession No. 2012.21
Description: Typed German note signed by Albert Einstein, 1938
(click on image to enlarge)

In this brief message on his personal embossed stationery, famed physicist Albert Einstein discloses an effort to rescue family and friends from Germany as Nazism rose in the late 1930s. A translation reveals a thank-you note to attorney Max Ammerman for his assistance on a matter. According to family lore, the matter concerned helping a friend, colleague, or perhaps Einstein's mistress emigrate from Germany. At the time, Ammerman worked in the law office of Louis Ottenberg, who facilitated immigrant proceedings for many Jewish refugees.

Translation:
Dear Mr. Ammerman:
Mr. Fritz Moses told me that you have kindly agreed to assist me with my small assistance effort.
Thank you and best regards.
Albert Einstein