An unfinished autobiographical memoir

Description of family history reaching back to the early 18th century. His ancestors started the familly trade of copper smiths in Gleiwitz. Jacob Kessler (born 1824) moved to Tarnowitz, where he started a limestone business. Leopold Kessler was the youngest of five children of Jacob and Johanna Kessler (nee Feig). Memories of holiday celebrations in the local synagoge. Recollections of the Franco-German War. Leopold was enrolled in the newly established Realgymnasium (high school). Friendship with gentile classmates and identification with German language and culture. Leopold received training as an engineer. Apprenticeship in Chemnitz, Saxony in 1883. Sympathy with the worker's plight and interest in the Socialist movement. Studies of mining engineering at the Freiburg University. Member of a German student association (Teutonia) with honour codes and duels. Growing disgust with drinking and fighting rites. Recollections of the increasing popularity of the antisemites Stoecker and Treitschke. Studies at the Royal School of Mines in Berlin in 1887.The Zionist Leopold Kessler was born on February 4th, 1864 in Tarnowitz, Upper Silesia. He studed mining engineering at the Universities of Freiburg and Berlin. He died on January 3rd, 1944 in New York.Synopsis in filesee also: AR 11199, Leopold Kessler CollectionFreiburgTarnowitzSaxonyChildhoodHolidays, JewishOrthodox JudaismTeutoni