This collection contains the personal correspondence of Edith Payne (née Guttmann). Edith was brought up in a Jewish family in Bratislava. She was studying at Caen when the Second World War broke out. She had to emigrate to England whilst her parents stayed in Bratislava. Her parents were later deported to Auschwitz concentration camp where they perished.

Family correspondence comprising letters mainly sent to Edith in England from her parents in Slovakia. There are also some messages from relatives who had emigrated and some Red Cross messages dating from 1940 to 1942. The letters describe the lives of Edith's parents in Slovakia and indirectly Edith's life in England. Her parents appear unaware of the threat of deportation. Also included are summaries of the letters in English, a family tree, digital material relating to the family's history and two articles by Ian Payne regarding his family.