Markus Family Collection 1857-2001 Bulk dates: 1939-1978

This collection consists of personal papers, restitution records, and genealogical materials related to the family of textile merchant Jakob Markus of Lohr am Main. Jakob and his family fled Germany to New York City in 1939 and later attempted to procure visas for other family members. They successfully claimed restitution during the 1950s-1970s.Family trees mention the following family names:Bacharach, Bernheimer, Fold, Foldner, Gold, Goldschmidt, Gutmann, Heineimann, Kirchhausen, Levi, Markus, Nussbaum, Rothschild, Schloss, and Stern.There was a copy of the New York Times (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut edition) from Wednesday, Oct. 31, 1990 included with the donationJakob Markus was born in Lohr am Main on October 10, 1888 to the merchant Leopold Markus and his wife Therese née Schloss. Jakob Markus was a textile merchant in Lohr with a shop on Hauptstrasse (Adolf-Hitler-Strasse during the 1930s). He married Selma née Bernheimer, the daughter of the merchant Heinrich Bernheimer and his wife Lisette née Rothschild. Selma and Jakob Markus had two children, Resi (born 1924) and Walter (born 1929).Jakob Markus was arrested on Kristallnacht in November 1938. He was released from prison eight days later under the condition that he and his family emigrate as soon as possible. The family arrived in the United States in May of 1939 and settled in New York City. With the sponsorship of Sol May of Chicago, the family was able to procure an immigration visa for Selma’s mother, Lisette Bernheimer. They struggled in vain to assist with the immigration of Jakob Markus’ niece Lotte Stern as well as Jakob Markus’ sister Elsa Goldbach, her husband, and two sons.After finishing school in New York, Walter Markus became a radio telephone operator and later a printer. Resi (alternatively Rosi after immigration) Markus married and moved to Israel.Several Markus family members made restitution claims from the late 1940s through the 1970s. Jakob Markus was awarded restitution for damages to his property because of emigration and moving costs as well as the payment of special taxes. Selma Markus was successful in her claim of damages to her career, and Walter Markus was successful in claiming damages to his education.Jakob Markus died in 1958, and Selma Markus in 1979.Processeddigitize