Letter

Held by

Montreal Holocaust Museum via Canadian Jewish Heritage Network (incl. Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives)

Dates

October 30, 1946 (indexed as 1946)

Level

item

Extent

Letter : Paper : Typewritten : Ink : Beige, navy, black ; Ht: 25 cm x W: 20 cm

Scope & content

Page with two holes punched in left edge, Secretary of State of Canada letterhead. This is a letter from the Secretary of the State Paul Martin to Mrs. Fanny Isselbacher. Fanny lost her Canadian citizenship when she married Herbert Isselbaecher because he was a stateless refugee at the time. Paul martin was the father of future Prime Minister of Canada, Paul Martin Jr. Narrative: Isaac Herbert Isselbacher was born 1919-11-20 in Isselbach, Germany. His brother was Helmut Isselbacher, born 1921-12-20. Their father was Jacob Isselbacher, born 1883-08-05. They had an uncle and aunt, David and Betty Loewenstein, who lived in New York City with their two children. Isaac left Germany on 1939-07-29, hoping to join his relatives in NYC. He only had the time to get to London, England before the war broke out and started working in a factory. He was arrested at his workplace as an ‘enemy alien’ and sent to Canada for internment in 1940. Isaac was interned in Camp N in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He was drafted into the Works Program Division for woodworking and net-making. In 1940, he received a last letter from his parents which suggested their imminent deportation. After his release, circa November 1942, Isaac worked as a locksmith. He married Fanny Azeff on 1943-12-26 at the Bnai Jacob synagogue in Montreal. Fanny was born on 1921-12-23 in Canada, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Azeff. Isaac was naturalized as a Canadian citizen on 1946-06-08. Fanny was naturalized on 1946-08-30 (she had lost her citizenship by marrying Isaac). Upon learning of his brother’s survival, Isaac travelled to New York in April 1946 to meet with him and their Loewenstein relatives. Afterwards, Helmut travelled to Canada bringing with him a washing machine and bras as late wedding presents for his brother and Fanny. By 1946-08-12, their parents were presumed dead and the two sons inquired into their estate. They received a deed for the land and travelled to the estate to discover that the current owner of their house was their old maid and her son had become the town mayor. Various disputes arose with the current ‘owners’ who believed the Isselbacher family dead. Isaac wished to discuss a settlement, but the mayor’s mother –not realizing Fanny understood German- called the neighbours at work to warn them not to come home as the Isselbacher sons had resurfaced. Payment for the land had reportedly been sent to Israel, though no documentation could be provided.

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Genre / form

textual record

In the picture

CertificateCoat of ArmsDocumentGovernmentLetterLetterheadSignatureTypewrittenTagged automatically by a vision model; may contain mistakes.

Text in the image

THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF CANADAOttawa, October 30, 1946.Dear Madam,Secretary of State.Mrs. Fanny Isselbacher (Issley),4657 Clark Street,Montreal, Que.I wish to take this opportunity of congratu-lating you personally upon the attainment of Canadian citizenship. By this certificate of naturalization you have been granted the rights and privileges of a citizen of Canada. These rights and privileges entitle you to freedom of speech, religion, thought, and action, the right to vote as you choose, and the right to be secure in your possessions.Your citizenship carries with it the obligation of defending your adopted country in time of need, of living in peaceful brotherhood with your fellow Canadians, and of doing your part in the preservation of Canadian ideals and institutions.I extend to you a warm welcome on this solemn occasion and I invite you to share with us the ancient liberties of a free people living together in harmony, under a democratic Government which recognizes the rights of all its citizens.Read automatically; may contain mistakes.

Language

English

Harvested

2026-10-19T03:21:16Z · source datestamp n/a · andornot

Digital objects at the source

• imageOpen original at source ↗1999_1_74.jpg