Object numberM2018/018:045
DescriptionMatriculation certificate of Hungarian Jewish Holocaust survivor Joseph Sarkadi, dated 1 June 1954.
The certificate demonstrates that Joseph was an average student, and that he was old for his graduating class due to the wartime interruptions to his education. Joseph would use this document when enquiring about studying at the University of Melbourne in 1958.
Joseph Sarkadi was born on 8 December 1934 to Laszlo and Ilona Sarkadi (nee Reisz). The Hungarian Jewish Reisz and Sarkadi families were longtime residents of Kunszentmiklos, a village just south of Budapest. Joseph had 2 siblings - Stephen (b. 1938) and Emily (b. 1947).
Laszlo spent the majority of the World War II in forced labour, while Ilona and her sons fled to Budapest. Joseph and Stephen were eventually placed in hiding, sometimes separately. Both carried the trauma of this period with them for life.
The family lost many loved ones to the Holocaust. They rebuilt their lives in Budapest after the war. Joseph and Stephen returned to school and were involved in Communist youth activities. Joseph attended university in Budapest for 2 years.
The family was eventually persecuted by the Communist government. In 1958, the family migrated to Melbourne along with Ilona's mother Margit. They operated a restaurant from 1960-63.
Joseph was devastated by the death of his grandmother in 1963, and died in a car crash that same year.
The certificate demonstrates that Joseph was an average student, and that he was old for his graduating class due to the wartime interruptions to his education. Joseph would use this document when enquiring about studying at the University of Melbourne in 1958.
Joseph Sarkadi was born on 8 December 1934 to Laszlo and Ilona Sarkadi (nee Reisz). The Hungarian Jewish Reisz and Sarkadi families were longtime residents of Kunszentmiklos, a village just south of Budapest. Joseph had 2 siblings - Stephen (b. 1938) and Emily (b. 1947).
Laszlo spent the majority of the World War II in forced labour, while Ilona and her sons fled to Budapest. Joseph and Stephen were eventually placed in hiding, sometimes separately. Both carried the trauma of this period with them for life.
The family lost many loved ones to the Holocaust. They rebuilt their lives in Budapest after the war. Joseph and Stephen returned to school and were involved in Communist youth activities. Joseph attended university in Budapest for 2 years.
The family was eventually persecuted by the Communist government. In 1958, the family migrated to Melbourne along with Ilona's mother Margit. They operated a restaurant from 1960-63.
Joseph was devastated by the death of his grandmother in 1963, and died in a car crash that same year.
Production placeBudapest, Hungary
Production date 1954-06-01
Subjectgraduations, survivors, Post-War Life, students, education, child survivors
Object nameacademic transcripts
Materialpaper
Techniqueprinted
Dimensions
- height: 292.00 mm
width: 208.00 mm
Language
- Hungarian Joseph studied in the arts stream, the certificate notes the various schools he attended.
Language: pass
Literature: pass
Russian: 3
Latin: pass
History: pass
Maths: pass
Physics: pass
Constitution studies: good
Chemistry: good
Geography: medium
Biology: medium
Physical education: outstanding
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke