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Lenel (Irmgard) papers
0212
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Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Irmgard Lenel papers
Creator:
Lenel, Irmgard
Identifier/Call Number: 0212
Identifier/Call Number: 332
Physical Description:
12.8 Linear Feet
18 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1912-1999
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Irmgard Lenel, who was born in Germany in 1901 and who immigrated to the United States
in 1937. She was a politically active socialist involved with groups like Women for Legislative Action and the Friends Committee
on Legislation. Her papers include correspondence, photographs, legal papers, and some periodical publications.
Language of Material: While most of the collection is in English, a significant portion of it is in German, including almost all of Lenel's correspondence,
papers and photographs from before she moved to the United States in 1937. After emigrating, she began writing her correspondence
and notes in English. However, some of her later correspondence, usually with her family, is also in German.
This collection includes the personal and business correspondence, photographs, and personal papers of Irmgard Lenel from
both her life in Germany and from after her immigration to the United States in 1938. In addition, the collection documents
her prolific political activity (predominantly in the form of writing letters to politicians and other officials and Letters
to the Editor) and her interest in a number of political movements, including the curtailment of civil liberties during the
McCarthy era, and the civil rights, disarmament, and anti-war movements. Political groups Lenel was actively involved in
include the Friends Committee on Legislation (FCL), Women for Legislative Action (WLA), and Women's International League for
Peace and Freedom (WILPF). One of Lenel's good friends and correspondents was Dorothy Healey, the long-time head of the Communist
Party in Los Angeles, and much of the collection reflects Lenel's socialist leanings.
Irmgard Lenel was born in Manheim, Germany, on July 1, 1901, to the manufacturer Richard Lenel and his wife, Emilie (nee Maas).
Lenel was raised in Manheim, where she attended the Manheim School for Social Work, and after completing her training there
she worked as a private secretary for Professor S.P. Altmann. After that, she spent a year attending The London School of
Economics to improve her command of the English language. Upon her return to Germany in the mid-1920s, she spent three years
as a magazine editor and then six working as a secretary for the publishing firm Ullstein Verlag.
Lenel emigrated to the United States in 1937 and lived in New York City until 1941, when she moved to Santa Monica, California.
While living in California, she held a number of secretarial and stenographer positions. She was naturalized in 1941, and
worked at the Veterans Administration for six years. In 1947 she was let go on suspicion of disloyalty to the United States.
She appealed her dismissal and was found to have been unjustly terminated. After her hearing, she became active in the defense
of others charged with performing un-American activities. Lenel never married, and had no children. She passed away in Santa
Monica in November 2001.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers
on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers
when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
[Box/folder# or item name], Irmgard Lenel papers, Collection no. 0212, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Anti-communist movements -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Exiles -- Germany -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Germany -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- 1933-1945 -- Archival resources
Germany -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Political participation -- United States -- Archival resources
Secretaries -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Socialists -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Socialists -- United States -- Archival resources
United States -- Politics and government -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Women political activists -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Correspondence
Legal instruments
Photographs
Publications
Friends Committee on National Legislation (U.S.) -- Archives
Lenel, Irmgard -- Archives
Healey, Dorothy -- Archives
Women for Legislative Action -- Archives