1938

Ca. 80 items, primarily the letters of Howard (HE) and Katharine Elkinton (KE) during their time in Germany while he was Director of the Quaker Center in Berlin and then in Holland, but also letters and several typed reminiscences from that time period written later by Theodora (Dody) Elkinton (TE), as well as some written from Eerde and a few from Peter Elkinton, Evelyn Gregory (KE's sister) and from KE's mother.

Highlights include:

Neuse, Kurt to KE. Ommen, Holland, 1/8. The school cannot yet know how the Elkinton children (Theodora & Peter) will be ranked when they arrive; sorry he is not able to attend Yearly Meeting

Elkinton, Dody to grandmother. 9/3. They have been staying with the Dutch family of Pastor Menching

Lament of KE's book club on her absence during 2-year AFSC work while in Berlin, 1938-40 (poem)

Typed copy of highlights from the years 1938-1939 of work at the Quaker Center in Berlin as recorded by KE in weekly letters to her mother, 6/26, but primarily the annotations (made much later) by TEW looking back at this time

KE to her parents. Belgium, 7/? Have just arrived in Europe, the beginning of their German experience

Postcard showing the Quaker Meeting House in Bad Pyrmont which the family joined in July 1938

Typed reminiscences of TE

KE to family. 7/15 & 7/18. Reminiscing about the time 20 years earlier when they served in Europe, work at the maternity hospital in Chalons, but specifically about dinner with a family and a tour of the area (France)

KE to family. Bad Pyrmont, 7/26. Describes life for them in Bad Pyrmont, including ghetto for Jews

KE to family. Bad Pyrmont, 8/1. HE and she will both have an office in Berlin Quaker Center

KE to family. (Germany), 8/6.Alphons Paquet gave his impressions of America and then Tom Kelly and Howard Elkinton both read short papers, Howard on the independent meetings in the U.S. Mentions Gwen Catchpool, Gilbert MacMaster and others

KE to family. Christlicher Hosp?, 8/27. Division of the German government, all under the headship of Hitler; all doors are closed to Jews

KE to family. Denmark, 9/10. Attending an international Quaker conference where issues such as the future of Jews in Europe and the position of Quakerism in the church group are discussed

KE to family. Christliket Hospice, 9/16. Mentions that Chamberlain has been to Germany to talk with Hitler; the Czechs are holding out, but wonders if England will desert them; Berlin is lively; National Socialist Womens Work includes all quarters of the Reich and all occupations which might interest women: "worthwhile propaganda" and is interested in hearing the Nazi side of things as well as the Quaker side

HE to Masons. Berlin, 9/21. The AFSC and Friends Service Council contribute to their living expenses, providing 500 marks/month, which is enough for two people

KE to family. The Hospiz, 9/22. Understands that Chamberlain is "anything but popular with majority of his fellow citizens," while the German papers are jubilant that Hitler has gotten his way

KE to family. London, [10/]. Attending Meeting for Sufferings and staying in a house owned by J. Rendel Harris; opinion is united that Hitler will not be content to overlord only Germany

KE to family. "the same evening." She is answering letters (to the Quaker Center) concerning people in concentration camps or help in finding relations all over Germany

HE to ? [fragment] He never knows what will turn up at the Quaker Center: a visit from the Gestapo, a distinguished visitor from London, a tax item or a frantic wire from Prague

KE to family. Berlin, 11/11. Almost impossible for new applicants to get into the U.S. Day previous was the day of retaliation for the murder of the German ambassador in Paris and the windows of every Jewish store in the city (perhaps the country) were smashed (Kristallnacht)