Slawik, Bernard (b.1904 - d.1991)

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Extent: 5 cm; Wallet/s: 2 Collection relating to the Second World War and later immigration to Australia experiences of Bernard Slawik, a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. Bernard Slawik and his family were Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust, then moved to Australia in 1948 where Slawik continued a successful career in architecture. Bernard Slawik was originally known as Zygmund Teitelbaum, and changed his name following his escape from Janowska concentration camp. Throughout his life, he went by several variations of his name, however settled upon Bernard Slawik following his immigration to Australia. His wife was Alma, and daughter Eva. Wallet 1 contains many documents written in German and Polish, some of those that can be identified include: 1 x marriage certificate for Zygmund Teitelbaum and Alma Parnes, dated 1939. 1 x facsimile of a Polish identity card for a Henryk Teitelbaum. 1 x Polish identity card dated 18 June 1945 issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Alma. 2 x trade union membership card for Bernard dated 19 July 1945 1 x medical exam for the family dated 19 May 1948 from Sweden (in English) 1 x Zygmund’s birth certificate 1 x Identity card dated 4 June 1945 for Alma. 1 x military service booklet for Bernard with stamps dating from 1932 to 1939 1 x set of instruction for reservists 1 x employment card for Bernard for his work in the reconstruction of Warsaw dated 31 August 1945. 1 x employment card for a Mouria Koltuniak dated 21 April 1943 – possibly the false identity that Alma took during the Nazi occupation of Poland. 1 x Alma’s student card for the academic year 1936/7. 1 x birth certificate acknowledgement for Alma, dated 12 March 1946. 1 x photocopy of a Masters of Law degree awarded to a Mr Henryk Teitelbaum from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow dated 1931. 1 x translation of Alma’s chemistry degree transcript with statutory declaration stating that it was a true translation. 1 x Alma’s certificate of Polish citizenship dated 1934. 1 x registration card for Zygmund (Bernard) dated 24 December 1941 1 x reference from a Mr. P.O. Lefvert for Alma in her role as architect in Gavle, Sweden from 1947-1948. 1 x immigration certificate for Zygmund (Bernard), Alma, and Eva for their immigration to Sweden, dated 14 August 1948. 1 x photocopied certificate for Zygmund (Bernard) relating to architecture, dated 25 October 1939. 1 x certificate of mobilisation for Zygmund (Bernard). 1 x certificate registering Alma as a teacher, issued by the Education Office in Melbourne. 1 x translated birth certificate for Alma, dated 1933, translated from German to Polish. 1 x brown student identity booklet for Alma, dated 15 October 1935. 1 x certificate of identification relating to Bernard’s architectural career, dated 25 October 1939. 1 x Swedish (Stockholm) state workers identity card for Zygmund, spanning the period 1946-1947. 1 x enrolment card for Alma to work for the state dated 1946. 1 x reference for Zygmund from a Rabbi based in Stockholm, dated 8 August 1946. 1 x envelope with Zygmund (Bernard's) name and accreditations printed upon it. Wallet 2 contains: seventy-seven miscellaneous documents relating to the Slawik family following the cessation of hostilities in 1945. The documents include items relating to the family’s move to Sweden, then to Australia in 1948. A majority of the documents relate to Mr Slawik’s professional practice, particularly his accreditations, application to have his previous European experience recognised in Australia, and applications to various professional societies. Within the collection are also documents such as naturalisation applications and certificates, copies of curricula vitarum, various family trees, letters, and draft speeches written by Mr Slawik. Also included is a receipt for a catalogue from the Tate Gallery, London, and a copy of Mr Slawik’s eulogy by Rabbi John S Levi.