Baum, Paula

David Baum (1869-1954) was born in Wittelsberg, Germany. In 1905 he married Paula Vandewart (1885-1978) from Lendershausen, Germany. They had two children, Bertha (1906-circa 1982) and Rudolf, called Ralph (1907-1984). David worked from 1907 on as a cultural clerk for the Jewish Community of Elmshorn, Germany. During World War I David served in the German Army.

Bertha emigrated in the early 1930's to the USA and married Justin Landauer.

Rudolf had a wholesale paper business in Elmshorn. He emigrated to the US in 1936. After he left, his mother Paula managed the business. In America, Rudolf married Leuba Silverman in 1939. He was a founder of the Modernage photgraphic laboratory.

David Baum was imprisoned during Reichskristallnacht (November 1938). Because he and Paula already held visas for the US, the Gestapo let him go after 12 days. Paula and David came to the US in 1939. David died in 1954 in New York City. Paula died in 1978.

In 1982 Rudolph and Leuba opened the Judaica Museum of the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Riverdale. Ralph passed away in 1984.

From the guide to the Paula Baum Family Papers, 1776-1982, bulk 1869-1982, (Leo Baeck Institute)