Description
Rena Krasno was born in Shanghai in
1923. Her parents, two stateless Russian Jews, fled Russia two years before her birth.
Krasno grew up in a Jewish community in Shanghai, but fled to Israel in 1949 just before
communist forces took control of Shanghai. She held a prestigious position as translator for
the United Nations, and was a published author. Krasno wrote several books about World War
II in Shanghai, her life in Japan, and her Jewish heritage, as well as essays regarding
Jewish and Chinese history. The collection consists of documents, correspondence,
presentation notes, and research papers regarding Rena's life in Shanghai, Japan, and in the
United States, and documents her research, involvement with various Jewish organiations, and
experiences living in wartime Shanghai.
Background
Rena Krasno was born in Shanghai, China in 1923. Her parents, two stateless Russian Jews,
fled Russia two years before her birth. Krasno grew up in a Jewish community in Shanghai and
attended the French Municipal College where she earned her Brevet Superieur and
Baccalaureate (Philosophy Section). She later entered the Faculty of Medicine at the Jesuit
Aurora University (now called Shanghai School of Medicine #2), where she studied for two
years during World War II. She left Shanghai for Israel in April of 1949, just one month
before communist forces took over the city.
Restrictions
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.