Edith and Kurt Weiss
Object numberM2002/013:002
TitleEdith and Kurt Weiss
DescriptionPhoto of Edith and Kurt Weiss, outside the University of Technology Ski Hut, Perisher Valley, Australia, undated.
Part of a collection that includes a trunk, used by Edith and Kurt who escaped Vienna in December 1938, and images of their baby, Eve, with her grandparents and on the ship bound for Australia, donated by Eve Spicer (nee Weiss).
Kurt and Edith Weiss, escaped Vienna on 13 December 1938, and travelled by plane to Venice, from Venice via train to Genoa. They were inspected at the Italian border to ensure that were not carrying any jewellery or gold. Then on the Dutch ship Christiaan Huygens via Port Said to Colombia, Sri Lanka, and finally on the Strathaird to Australia, arriving in January 1939. Their daughter Eve, born in November 1937, was one year old at the time.
Kurt Weiss (1906 - 1978) and Edith Weiss (nee Seligmann) (1908 – 2001) were married in Vienna at the Favoriten Synagogue founded by Edith's grandfather Carl Seligmann. Edith’s father owned an oil processing factory and had also gone into a tannery business working with exotic leathers such as crocodile, lizard and snake skins. When Edith finished school, she wanted to become a teacher, however, she had missed the deadline for applications and so her father organised a job for her in the laboratory of the tannery. In 1927 Edith met Kurt Weiss. In 1933, they were married in the synagogue that Edith’s grandfather had founded. In November 1937, Edith gave birth to Eve. She recalls the day that the Germans marched into Vienna as she was so shocked she was unable to breastfeed. Her father was forced to close the business; in response to worsening conditions Edith and Kurt decided to immigrate. Kurt got a job soon after arriving, and eventually became a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UNSW. Both Kurt and Edith’s parents were murdered in the Holocaust.
Part of a collection that includes a trunk, used by Edith and Kurt who escaped Vienna in December 1938, and images of their baby, Eve, with her grandparents and on the ship bound for Australia, donated by Eve Spicer (nee Weiss).
Kurt and Edith Weiss, escaped Vienna on 13 December 1938, and travelled by plane to Venice, from Venice via train to Genoa. They were inspected at the Italian border to ensure that were not carrying any jewellery or gold. Then on the Dutch ship Christiaan Huygens via Port Said to Colombia, Sri Lanka, and finally on the Strathaird to Australia, arriving in January 1939. Their daughter Eve, born in November 1937, was one year old at the time.
Kurt Weiss (1906 - 1978) and Edith Weiss (nee Seligmann) (1908 – 2001) were married in Vienna at the Favoriten Synagogue founded by Edith's grandfather Carl Seligmann. Edith’s father owned an oil processing factory and had also gone into a tannery business working with exotic leathers such as crocodile, lizard and snake skins. When Edith finished school, she wanted to become a teacher, however, she had missed the deadline for applications and so her father organised a job for her in the laboratory of the tannery. In 1927 Edith met Kurt Weiss. In 1933, they were married in the synagogue that Edith’s grandfather had founded. In November 1937, Edith gave birth to Eve. She recalls the day that the Germans marched into Vienna as she was so shocked she was unable to breastfeed. Her father was forced to close the business; in response to worsening conditions Edith and Kurt decided to immigrate. Kurt got a job soon after arriving, and eventually became a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UNSW. Both Kurt and Edith’s parents were murdered in the Holocaust.
Subjectestablishing new life, immigration, holidays
Object namephotographs
Materialphotographic emulsion, paper, paper
Techniquephotography
Dimensions
- width: 100.00 mm
height: 150.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Eve Spicer