Ilse Last-Mathis papers 1988.1072

Finding aid prepared by Judith Janec

Tauber Holocaust Library

JFCS Holocaust Center

2245 Post Street

San Francisco, CA, 94115

415-449-3717

tauberholocaustlibrary@jfcs.org

Title: Ilse Last-Mathis papers

Identifier/Call Number: 1988.1072

Contributing Institution: Tauber Holocaust Library

Language of Material: Multiple languages

Container: Archives Box 10

Physical Description: 1.0 Folder(s)

Date (inclusive): 1945-1947

Language of Materials note: Materials are in Dutch and English.

Abstract: The Ilse Last-Mathis collection documents the experience of a family of Dutch Jews under Nazi occupation and after the war ended. The collection includes material related to post-war reparation requests, as well as artifacts and a children’s booklet contrasting the behavior of Dutch citizens who co-operated with the Nazi occupation with those Dutch who resisted.

Preferred Citation note

Ilse Last-Mathis papers - 1988-1072, Tauber Holocaust Library - JFCS Holocaust Center, San Francisco, California

Scope and Contents note

The collection is comprised of documents relating to the emigration of Ilse Last-Mathis and her daughter Marianne Last from Amsterdam to the United States. Two documents are certificates from the Beheersinstituut, the Dutch government body which acted as custodian of the property of enemies as well as of missing persons, nearly all of them Jews. Other documents include a certificate from the Chamber of Commerce and Factories for the North Netherlands and from the Population Registry of Amsterdam, as well as a document confirming the death of Jacob Last in Sobibor death camp. Also included are letters of support and recommendation for Ilse Last-Mathis. Materials are in Dutch and English.

Included in the collection is a Dutch-language booklet – Gek en Wijs tydens Seyss -- apparently written for children, which contrasts the behavior of Dutch citizens while under Nazi occupation. Published in 1945, the booklet compares those who collaborated or complied with German orders with those who resisted.

The collection also includes a yellow “Jood” star badge, issued to Jews under Nazi occupation.

This collection provides insight into the experiences of Jews living in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation and reflects the efforts of survivors to document their wartime experiences with official government bodies in order to gain restitution or to emigrate.

Biographical/Historical note

Ilse Mathis was born in Breslau, Germany on September 21, 1910. She was married to Jakob Last who was born in Mannheim, Germany in 1901. Their daughter Marianne was born on September 2, 1934 in Amsterdam. The family was living in Amsterdam when the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands began. During that period, Jakob Last was arrested by Nazi occupation forces; he died in Sobibor on May 21, 1943. Ilse Last-Mathis and her daughter Marianne were sheltered by Dutch friends and survived the Holocaust. Mrs. Last first cousin and the cousin’s husband lived in Reno, Nevada, where Mrs. Last and Marianne Last emigrated. No information on the experiences of the Lasts once in the United States is available.

Conditions Governing Use note

There are no restrictions to use for this collection.

Conditions Governing Access note

There are no restrictions to access for this collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Last family

Mathis family

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Anti-Nazi movement –- Amsterdam

Certificates

Correspondence

Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Amsterdam

Jews -- Amsterdam

Stars of David -- Netherlands

World War, 1939-1945 -- Amsterday

Telegram to Ilse Last Mathis from Netherlands Ambassador 1945 September 1

Language of Material: English

Certificate from Nederlandsche Beheersinstituut, Amsterdam 1945 October 27