Peter B. Pepper

This collection contains papers of the family of Peter B. Pepper (1949-) with a strong focus on his parents, Dora Eisen and Saul Pepper, his uncle Benno Eisen, and his grandmother on his mother’s side, Emma Eisen née Lowenthal. Emma Eisen née Lowenthal was born on December 2, 1891 in Freystadt, West Prussia (today Kisielice, Poland). She married the tailor Pinkas Eisen (born October 1, 1887 in Rawa) on October 24, 1911. They lived in Berlin, where they had two children.

Their son Benno Eisen was born on August 1, 1912 and worked as a tailor. Their daughter Dora Eisen was born April 21, 1918 and completed an apprenticeship to become a dressmaker from 1933-1937.

As the situation for Jewish families worsened, the Eisens began to seek ways of leaving Germany. In 1939, Benno started to learn agriculture in an effort to become a better candidate for emigration. About the same time, Dora lost her regular job as a dressmaker and worked as forced labor in an arms factory from 1940-1943.

In 1943, Dora and her mother Emma, who were both living in Berlin, decided to stay in hiding in order to escape deportation. Benno joined them a few months later after escaping deportation at a farm where he had been working. Emma was discovered by the police on June 27, 1943 and sent to Birkenau (Auschwitz), where she perished. Dora and Benno hid in various homes in and around Berlin from 1943-1945.

Dora and Benno immigrated to the United States in April of 1947 under the sponsorship of the United Service for New Americans.

Also in April of 1947, Dora’s future husband, Saul Pepper, arrived in the United States. Saul Pepper was born Szloma Pieprzynski on September 21, 1910 in Wloclawek, Poland to Zysel Pieprzynski and his wife Bajla née Kowalska. He changed his name to Saul Pepper when he arrived in the United States. Saul worked as a grocery clerk and bought his own grocery store in New York City in May of 1948.

Saul and Dora married on October 2, 1948. Their son Peter Barry was born on September 8, 1949.

Saul Pepper passed away in January of 1979 and Dora in February of 1987.

Also included in the collection are a few documents related to Baruch Sperber, a relative of the Eisen family and a noted singer, musician, and composer who perished in the Holocaust.

From the guide to the Pepper-Eisen Family Collection, 1905-1963, bulk 1933-1953, (Leo Baeck Institute)