Wagner Family Papers
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains the records and artifacts of the Wagner family, primarily Max, Herta, and Martin.
The records include photographs, personal materials, and correspondence. The materials are primarily in German or English, and there are some documents in Polish or Hebrew. The photographs include albums and loose photographs; they are divided in the collection between photographs pre-1939, and photographs after 1939 to depict the Wagner's life before and after leaving Germany. Many of the photographs are undated or contain people that are not possible to identify, but most of the photographs are of Max, Herta, or Martin, and many contain close relatives. The oldest photographs are likely from the late 1800s or early 1900s, while the later photographs are likely from the 2010s. The bulk of the photographs date from the 1930s to the 1950s. (change 1939 note)
Within the personal materials, there are records from Martin Wagner’s time as a student both in Germany and in the United States. These records are dated between 1930 to 1947 and in German and English. There are identification information and foreign claims dated between the 1890s to the 1980s, mainly representing Max, Herta, Martin, and their close family. Most of these records are in German and English with some in Polish. Lastly, the personal materials contain documents related to Andrea Wagner’s 2017 appeal for German citizenship. Many of these documents are photocopies of materials within the identification information and foreign claims records of this collection.
The correspondence is divided between postal memorabilia, correspondence pre-1939, and correspondence post-1939. Most of the pre-1939 correspondence is written in German and dates from 1889 to 1939. The post-1939 correspondence is mainly written in English and primarily consists of postcards sent to Martin and Sally Wagner. Martin Wagner had an extensive stamp collection; within the collection is an album of first edition commemorative stamps, and stamps from Nazi Germany.
This collection contains a large number of artifacts, including glassware, porcelain, metal materials, the suitcase Max used when escaping Germany, and many other objects. Most of these artifacts are undated; we have estimated date ranges. There were originally more artifacts, but these were deemed to be outside of the collecting policy of this institution and were therefore deaccessioned. Materials were re-foldered and put into new boxes.
Dates
- undated, c.1880s - 2017
- Majority of material found in 1930s - 1980s
Creator
- Wagner, Max (Person)
- Wagner, Herta (Person)
- Wagner, Martin (Person)
Language of Materials
This collection is in German and English, with some items in Polish and Hebrew.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for researcher use. Please contact us to request access or to make an appointment to view this collection at jhcreference@jewishheritagecenter.org.
Conditions Governing Use
There may be some restrictions on the use of this collection. Some items are incredibly fragile. For more information contact jhcreference@jewishheritagecenter.org.
Biographical Note
In the summer of 1939, the Wagners, a Jewish family residing in Berlin, escaped Nazi Germany, bribing Nazi officials in order to maintain their safety.
Max Wagner was born in Breslau, Poland (now Wroclaw) on March 28, 1891 and died on June 23, 1973. Herta Zobel was born on December 16, 1897 in Brusy, Poland to Josef Zobel, born 1869, and Lina Zobel, born 1873. Lina Zobel was born Lina Ehrlich, and related to the German scientist Paul Ehrlich,who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1908 and found a cure for syphilis in 1909. Martin Wagner noted this relation in his paper about syphilis included within the collection. Herta died on March 20, 1991. Herta’s siblings were Sofie Zobel, Minna Zobel, Helene Zobel, and Dolly Zobel. Herta’s sister Minna (Meta) Zobel, date of birth July 21, 1903 married Sigmund Kaufmann, born February 25, 1905, on November 26, 1940 in the United Kingdom. Sigmund Kaufmann obtained US citizenship on November 10, 1964. Minna died on July 22, 1981 in Miami Beach, Florida. Lina Zobel and Josef Zobel’s dates of death were determined to be December 31, 1945 on October 14, 1975.
Max and Herta married on December 24, 1922 in Brusy, Poland. Their only child, Martin Wagner, was born on October 10, 1923 in Berlin, Germany. On April 17, 1939, the Nazi Party issued an Aryanization of Jewish property to Max Wagner. On July 13, 1939, Max and Martin were issued German passports, and later in the summer of 1939, Max, Herta, and Martin escaped Nazi Germany and began their journey to the United States. On August 12, 1939, the Wagners arrived in New York, New York. They later settled in the Boston area, where Martin attended English High School. Martin was featured in The Boston Sunday Globe on April 28, 1940, in which he spoke on the differences between schooling in Germany and in America, his views on Germany’s position in the war, and his hopes for the future. Martin attended Phillips University on the Pre-Med track in the 1940s and later graduated as a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Tufts Dental School in 1947. Herta and Martin obtained their US citizenship in 1945. On May 24, 1947, Max Wagner issues foreign claims to the German government, including a bribe to Nazi officials. On December 24, 1950, Martin Wagner and Sally Sevran married. Andrea Wagner is their only child. Sally died on June 19, 2005, and Martin died on April 14, 2022. In addition to practicing dentistry, Martin Wagner was an avid stamp collector.
References
- Material in the collection.
- Additional information was found on Ancestry.
Chronology
- January 21, 1869
- Josef Zobel born (Herta's father)
- May 28, 1873
- Lina Ehrlich born (Herta's mother)
- January 1, 1886
- Josef Zobel and Lina Ehrlich marry
- March 3, 1891
- Max Wagner born in Breslau, Poland
- December 16, 1897
- Herta Zobel born in Bruss (Now Brusy, Poland)
- August 2, 1901
- Sophie Zobel born in Berlin (Herta's sister)
- July 21, 1903
- Minna Zobel born (Herta's sister)
- Febrary 25, 1905
- Sigmund Kaufmann born
- August 30, 1910
- Dolly Zobel born (Herta's sister)
- December 24, 1922
- Max Wagner and Herta Zobel marry in Brusy, Poland
- October 10, 1923
- Martin Wagner born in Berlin
- April 17, 1939
- Aryanization of Jewish Property issued to Max Wagner
- July 13, 1939
- Max and Martin receive German passports
- Summer 1939
- Max, Herta, and Martin escape from Nazi occupied Germany
- August 12, 1939
- Max, Herta, and Martin arrive in New York, New York at Ellis Island
- November 26, 1940
- Sigmund Kaufmann and Minna Zobel marry in the United Kingdom
- January 15, 1945
- Herta Wagner's US citizenship is granted
- August 14, 1945
- Martin Wagner's US citizenship is granted
- May 24, 1947
- Max Wagner issues foreign claims to Germany
- 1947
- Martin Wagner graduates from Tufts Dental School
- December 24, 1950
- Martin Wagner and Sally (Sevran) Wagner marry
- October 14, 1975
- Lina Zobel and Josef Zobel dates of death are determined to be December 3, 1945
- June 23, 1973
- Max Wagner dies
- March 20, 1991
- Herta Wagner dies
- June, 19 2005
- Sally Wagner dies
- April 14, 2022
- Dr. Martin Wagner dies
Extent
6 linear feet
Abstract
This collection contains the personal materials of the Wagner family including correspondence, photographs and photo albums, documents, identification papers, foreign claims, stamps, educational records and materials, and artifacts. The Wagner family papers primarily focus on Max, Herta, and Martin Wagner, but other family members are present. The collection represents the Wagner family’s experience in Germany and their experience as Jewish immigrants in the United States.
Languages
This collection is in German and English, with some items in Polish and Hebrew.
Physical Location
Located in Boston, Mass.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Andrea Wagner, 2023 and 2025.
Processing Information
Processed by Riley Moos, 2026
- Title
- Wagner Family Papers
- Author
- Riley Moos
- Date
- 2026
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at American Ancestors Repository
97 Newbury Street
Boston MA 02116 United States
617-226-1285
jhcreference@jewishheritagecenter.org