Syma Crane papers

Syma Crane papers 

Syma Crane papers 

boxes oversize folder book enclosure 2 1 1 

The Syma Crane papers consist primarily of photographs documenting Crane’s service as United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) director of the children’s homes at Leoben and Bad Schallerbach in Austria. The collection also includes an autograph book, biographical materials, correspondence, and printed materials documenting her escape from Vilnius in 1941 to Kobe and Shanghai and eventual arrival in London. Contains certificates, correspondence and documents of Syma Minc Klok a.k.a. Syma Miller relating to her escape in 1941 from Vilnius, Lithuania first to Kobe, Japan and then in 1942 to England via Shanghai, employment with the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA), the International Refugee Organization (IRO) and the Preparatory Commission for the International Refugee Organization (PCIRO), and her work with unaccompanied children. Photographs depict Syma Crane, children, staff, and facilities at the Leoben and Bad Schallerbach children’s homes as well as Syma Crane’s family members. The autograph book contains poems, greetings, autographs, and artwork by children from the Leoben children’s home. Biographical materials document Syma Crane’s refugee status in Shanghai and England, her work for UNRRA and IRO in Austria, and her immigration to the United States. Records include vaccination certificates, registration papers, identification papers, travel papers, and a declaration of intent to become a US citizen. Correspondence includes postcards Syma received in Kobe from relatives in Vilnius in 1941 and 1942 as well as official correspondence regarding her work for UNRRA and IRO from 1946-1950. The Vilnius correspondence hints at the difficulties of life under Soviet and German-occupied Vilnius and as an exile in Kobe. The official correspondence primarily documents Syma’s employment and civil status working for UNRRA and during the transition to the IRO, letters of recommendation, and her resignation and repatriation in 1950. Printed materials include three August 1947 issues of the Wiener Kurier and clippings related to Syma Crane’s work with refugee children. 

The Syma Crane papers are arranged as five series: I. Photographs, approximately 1900-1997, II. Autograph book, 1948, III. Biographical materials, 1942-1950, IV. Correspondence, 1941-1950, V. Printed materials, 1947-1951