Ceen family papers, 1923-1998

The Ceen (formerly Coen) family were Italian Jewish refugees who fled Fascist religious persecution at home for sanctuary in Australia on the eve of World War II. Fearful of future recriminations against them owing to their Jewish background, they changed their names by deed poll shortly after arriving in Melbourne in March 1939. Albert Ceen, his wife Flavia and two sons Guy and Allan settled there temporarily. The boys converted to Catholicism and attended Xavier College, Kew. Albert, a businessman, joined the Australian subsidiary of an Argentinian agricultural company with whom he had been employed in Italy. As a non-interned alien, Albert was eligible for compulsory national service under the National Security regulations. Classified by the Army as a friendly and refugee enemy alien, Albert was eligible to enlist in the Army's Employment Companies. He served in the 6th Australian Employment Company at Tocumwal, N.S.W., from May 1942 to Aug. 1943. Promoted to the rank of Corporal, Albert's duties changed from heavy labouring jobs to book-keeping. A talented artist, he sketched fellow refugee recruits, and depicted camp life and Company activities. He illustrated and compiled issues of The Hook, the unit's wall magazine which was pinned to the camp noticeboard, and designed sets for the Company's dramatic performances staged in the town. Naturalised in 1944, he left a year later to take up an executive position with his pre-war employer in New York. Albert and his family were reunited in October 1946. (From https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YezvdkK9) ontents I. Correspondence and printed material, 1923-1949, 1992-1998 II.Pictorial material, including sketchbooks, drawings, cartoons and caricatures Presented by Guido Ceen and Allan Ceen in 1997 and 1998 / The Italians in New South Wales Project