Wolffing family: personal papers

Scope and Content

This collection contains the personal papers of the Wolffing family who lived in Würzburg, Bavaria. The family emigrated to England from Nazi Germany to escape Nazi persecution just before the outbreak of the Second World War. The collection mainly concerns earlier generations of the family who lived in the 19th century. It includes Selma Wolffing's certificates of the Royal School of Music in Würzburg and correspondence regarding her musical performances at the Club Français and the Zionistische Vereinigung Würzburg; release certificates of the Royal Bavarian Army of Isidor Wolffing and Simon Wolffing; professional certificates and French passport of perfumer Simon Wolffing; and engagement contract between Simon Wolffing and Sara Steffler. Also includes a copy of Decretum Würzburg on cultivated crops dated 14 June 1771.

Administrative / Biographical History

Frederick Ernest ('Fred Ernst') Wolffing was born on 28 March 1930 in Würzburg, Bavaria. He was the only child of Simon Wolffing born on 17 February 1884 in Würzburg (who died in 1979) and Irene Wolffing born on 13 May 1903 in Frankfurt, Hesse (who died in 1969). It is believed that the family emigrated to England just before 1939. In August 1947 Simon and Irene Wolffing became naturalised British citizens. Simon's death certificate shows that he was a retired manufacturer of plastics. The family once owned some land in Frankfurt which was sold during the lifetime of Fred Wolffing.

The collection mainly contains documents concerning generations of family members living in the 19th century whose exact relations are unknown: Simon Wolffing (born in c 1788, perfumer); Isidor Wolffing (born in 1834, distiller), Selma Wolffing (born in 1881, pianist), and Marie Krebs and Ernst Wolffing (were engaged in 1880).

Arrangement

Chronological

Access Information

See Wiener Library access conditions at: http://www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/usinglibrary/usingthelibrary.aspx

Acquisition Information

Donated by Osmond Gaunt & Rose Solicitors.

Note

2006/9

Archivist's Note

The spelling of the family name changes frequently and is recorded as Wolffing and Wolfing.

Family Names