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Information on the Greensboro, North Carolina Schiffman family.

 File — Box: 156, Folder: 7

Dates

  • Creation: 1881 - 1981

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research in the Archives & Special Collections reading room. Handling guidelines and use restrictions will be communicated and enforced by archives staff members.

Extent

From the Collection: 102 Linear feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

General

Photographs of Harry Schiffman. Has a striking resemblance to Otto marx, son of Johanna Schiffman, who died in the Holocaust.

Karoline Schiffman Mendel: (There is no specific file for Karoline). Daughter of Lob and Hendel. According to Ernest Wolfsheimer, Karoline Schiffman married a man named Mendel. There are no dates for Karoline nor is there mention of her husband's first name. The only clue as to the Schiffman-Mendel family is the grave of David Mendel at Maple Hill Cemetery. David is noted to have been born in Birkenfeld (near Hoppstadten) on June 23, 1864 and died in Huntsville January 29, 1899 (age 32). His grave is marked with a large granite stone. His matching footstone reads "Our papa." No wife or children are buried nearby. I assume David's wife moved after his death with their young children and likely remarried. In Ernest Wolfsheimer's family tree, the firch child of Karoline Mendel is listed as David who was married to Emma Weil. MAG assumes that David Mendel buried in Maple Hill was Karoline Schiffman's son. Karoline and her husband may have remained in Germany and only their children immigrated.

Also noted at Maple Hill Cemetery is the large family stone near the street in front of David Mendel's grave that reads "Schiffman-Mendel" indicating that the Schiffmans and Mendels purchased a plot together and were related. The graves surrounding the Mendel stone are those of the Daniel Schiffman family, Solomon and Bertha Schiffman and Betty and Isaac Schiffman. Karoline's husband is assumed to be from Birkenfeld and that their children were born in Birkenfeld. Karoline's other children on the family tree are Morik and Isaak. Morik is noted to have had four children, all of whom were in New York when the family tree was compiled by Ernest Wolfsheimer. Morik's children are Erua(?)else, Alice, and Paul. There is a note at the bottom of the Karoline Mendel tree that is translated below:

"Mother Fannie Weil's maiden name was Kahn, sister of Daniel Schiffman's second wife. The Uncle of David Mendel married the aunt of Emma Weil.

Fannie Weil was sister to Flora Kahn, Daniel Schiffman's second wife. The uncle of David Mendel was Daniel Schiffman."

Ernest's wife, Claire Schiffman Wolfsheimer, wrote MAG a letter during the 1980s that provides addresses of the Mendel family. "Alice nee Mendel and Eric Victor live in New York. Brother Paul is noted to be living in Brooklyn. She also mentions a daughter of Meinhart Marx, one of Johanna's children. Claire's letter is difficult to read. MAG did not follow up with these descendants of the Mendel family.

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama in Huntsville Archives & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
M. Louis Salmon Library
301 Sparkman Drive
Huntsville Alabama 35899 United States of America
256-824-6523