Koppell, Gabrielle (nee Kaufmann), 1900-1988

Gabriele Kaufmann-Koppel worked for a group called "Selbsthilfe juedischer Maedchen und Frauen aus Deutschland" in London, probably in 1933 and 1934. The group tried to help girls and young women who had emigrated from Germany. There were weekly meetings with discussion about politics, an information service, a career office, and other support structures.

In November 1934, she accompanied the first Kindertransport to New York and supervised children who had to be temporarily housed in the Hirsch Home in New York. Apparently she became very close to some of the children, so they wrote her to tell her about their new homes.

Unlike in Great Britain, where Kindertransport was backed by the government, children rescued through the United States were brought here privately and under strict immigration laws. Great Britain's effort spanned two years, but the effort to bring children to the US spanned more than a decade, from 1934 to 1945. Ranging from 14 months to 16 years old, the children - most of whom lost at least one parent - were brought to live with Jewish families until they could be reunited with relatives.

From the guide to the Gabrielle Kaufmann Koppell Collection, 1905-1935, 1915-1918 (bulk), (Leo Baeck Institute Archives)