Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1933-1934 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 folder
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
In April 1933, Joyce Weiner was a young free-lance journalist who had recently spent two semesters as Hilfslektorin at the University of Leipzig. She had many friends in Leipzig and was, therefore, aware of the situation in which the Jewish population found itself. In view of this, she agreed to become the Honorary Secretary of the Hospitality Committee organised by the ladies of the B'nai Brith (in association with the main German Refugees Committee). At the committee she met many talented and distinguished refugees from Germany, the vanguard being professional people such as artists, writers, doctors and scientists. Amongst them was Frau Irma Sernau, a well-known fashion editor from Berlin. Because Joyce Weiner was able to render some service to friends of Frau Sernau, that lady desired to make some return. Her sister, Lola Sernau, was, at that time, private secretary to Leon Feuchtwanger, who was, in Sanary with other famous writers. Lola Sernau arranged for interviews with four of these writers, it being understood that these would be published in John O'London's Weekly, then a reputable and highly regarded literary paper of a popular nature. This was in the summer of 1933. Accordingly, Joyce Weiner had four fascinating conversations with, in turn, Feuchtwanger, Thomas and Heinrich Mann and Arnold Zweig. On her return to England, however, she received a letter from Lola Sernau asking her to stay her hand for the reasons stated in the letter and so the interviews were not published. In fact, for safety's sake they were not written. Irma Sernau went to and from Germany during this period, helping friends to emigrate. She managed to get to France just before the outbreak of war. There she took an active part in the resistance, escaping death many times but surviving and having an unexpected reunion with Joyce Weiner in the late 1950s. Lola Sernau had an honoured place among the exiled writers in Ascona, where eventually Irma died and is buried.
Repository
Archival history
GB 1556 WL 734 1933-1934 collection 1 folder Weiner , Joyce , fl 1933-1980
In April 1933, Joyce Weiner was a young free-lance journalist who had recently spent two semesters as Hilfslektorin at the University of Leipzig. She had many friends in Leipzig and was, therefore, aware of the situation in which the Jewish population found itself. In view of this, she agreed to become the Honorary Secretary of the Hospitality Committee organised by the ladies of the B'nai Brith (in association with the main German Refugees Committee). At the committee she met many talented and distinguished refugees from Germany, the vanguard being professional people such as artists, writers, doctors and scientists. Amongst them was Frau Irma Sernau, a well-known fashion editor from Berlin. Because Joyce Weiner was able to render some service to friends of Frau Sernau, that lady desired to make some return. Her sister, Lola Sernau, was, at that time, private secretary to Leon Feuchtwanger, who was, in Sanary with other famous writers. Lola Sernau arranged for interviews with four of these writers, it being understood that these would be published in John O'London's Weekly, then a reputable and highly regarded literary paper of a popular nature. This was in the summer of 1933. Accordingly, Joyce Weiner had four fascinating conversations with, in turn, Feuchtwanger, Thomas and Heinrich Mann and Arnold Zweig. On her return to England, however, she received a letter from Lola Sernau asking her to stay her hand for the reasons stated in the letter and so the interviews were not published. In fact, for safety's sake they were not written. Irma Sernau went to and from Germany during this period, helping friends to emigrate. She managed to get to France just before the outbreak of war. There she took an active part in the resistance, escaping death many times but surviving and having an unexpected reunion with Joyce Weiner in the late 1950s. Lola Sernau had an honoured place among the exiled writers in Ascona, where eventually Irma died and is buried.
Deposited by Joyce Weiner, Apr 1980.
Papers of Joyce Weiner, 1933-1934, comprising copies of correspondence from Arnold Zweig to Weiner on the subject of his literary problems, 6 Sep 1933-30 Dec 1934; copy of a letter from Lola Sernau to Weiner, 3 Aug 1933 and a short biographical account of Weiner, 8 Apr 1934.
Original order
Open
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
German and English
Detailed description on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.
Entry compiled by Sarah Drewery.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Mar 2008 Antisemitism Europe European history European literature German history German literature Germany Jews Migrants National history National literatures Nazism Political doctrines Racial discrimination Refugees Religious groups Third Reich Totalitarianism UK Western Europe Zweig , Arnold , 1887-1968 , German writer and pacifist London England
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Joyce Weiner, Apr 1980.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Joyce Weiner, 1933-1934, comprising copies of correspondence from Arnold Zweig to Weiner on the subject of his literary problems, 6 Sep 1933-30 Dec 1934; copy of a letter from Lola Sernau to Weiner, 3 Aug 1933 and a short biographical account of Weiner, 8 Apr 1934.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Original order
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
German and English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed description on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Antisemitism
- National history » European history
- National literatures » European literature
- Religious groups » Jews
- Migrants
- National history
- National literatures
- Political doctrines » Totalitarianism » Nazism
- Political doctrines
- Migrants » Refugees
- Religious groups
- Political doctrines » Totalitarianism
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English