Florence Mendheim (January 13, 1899 – August 1984)[1] was a New York Public Library branch librarian notable for her undercover surveillance of American Nazi groups in the pre-World War II 1930s. She was the daughter of German-Jewish immigrants and an observant Jew who practiced kosher dietary laws. Her personal papers, including documentation of her spy activities, are housed in the archives of the Leo Baeck Institute in New York.
Born in Illinois, one of three children of German-Jewish immigrants Bettie and Max Mendheim,[2] she attended Washington Irving High School in New York City and completed New York Public Library training in 1918. She worked in various NYPL branch locations over the next twenty-five years, receiving both a bronze and a silver service medal in recognition of her years of employment. Correspondence from library administrators and supervisors[3] indicate Ms. Mendheim had chronic health problems that led to her early retirement in the late 1940s, although little is known of her personal life. She also served as secretary of the Committee for Arab-Jewish Understanding,[4] an organization attempting to negotiate compromise regarding the situation in Palestine in the late 1930s and 1940s. Mendheim's archives contain evidence of her literary aspirations as well, in the form of numerous manuscripts for articles, plays, poems, and stories.[5][6] She was unmarried, and her papers were donated by her younger brother Arthur following her death at age 85.
Undercover workedit
Mendheim's surveillance activities began in 1933 (or shortly after), with the establishment of the Nazi government in Germany and the formation of Nazi support organizations in New York. Her involvement was primarily with the group Friends of the New Germany and its successor organization the German American Bund. Under the assumed identity of Gertrude Mueller, Mendheim attended pro-Nazi meetings and rallies, and eventually accumulated a sizable collection of anti-Semitic propaganda produced locally, nationally, and abroad. According to archival documents,[7] Mendheim's purchases of Nazi propaganda and literature were reimbursed by Rabbi Jacob Xenab Cohen of the American Jewish Congress, to whom she submitted regular narrative reports of her activities. This collaboration may have been part of the American Jewish Congress' efforts to monitor anti-Semitic violence and to boycott Nazism in the U.S.[8] The records of Mendheim's undercover work, and perhaps the work itself, appears to have ceased by 1939.
Guide to the Florence Mendheim Collection of Anti-Semitic Propaganda, AR 25441; Leo Baeck Institute, New York.
Guide to the Papers of the Mendheim Family, AR 25010; Leo Baeck Institute, New York.
Leo Baeck Institute, New York.
January 01, 1970
florence, mendheim, january, 1899, august, 1984, york, public, library, branch, librarian, notable, undercover, surveillance, american, nazi, groups, world, 1930s, daughter, german, jewish, immigrants, observant, practiced, kosher, dietary, laws, personal, pap. Florence Mendheim January 13 1899 August 1984 1 was a New York Public Library branch librarian notable for her undercover surveillance of American Nazi groups in the pre World War II 1930s She was the daughter of German Jewish immigrants and an observant Jew who practiced kosher dietary laws Her personal papers including documentation of her spy activities are housed in the archives of the Leo Baeck Institute in New York Florence MendheimBorn 1899 01 13 January 13 1899IllinoisDiedAugust 1984New YorkNationalityAmericanOccupationLibrarian Contents 1 Life and career 2 Undercover work 3 See also 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksLife and career editBorn in Illinois one of three children of German Jewish immigrants Bettie and Max Mendheim 2 she attended Washington Irving High School in New York City and completed New York Public Library training in 1918 She worked in various NYPL branch locations over the next twenty five years receiving both a bronze and a silver service medal in recognition of her years of employment Correspondence from library administrators and supervisors 3 indicate Ms Mendheim had chronic health problems that led to her early retirement in the late 1940s although little is known of her personal life She also served as secretary of the Committee for Arab Jewish Understanding 4 an organization attempting to negotiate compromise regarding the situation in Palestine in the late 1930s and 1940s Mendheim s archives contain evidence of her literary aspirations as well in the form of numerous manuscripts for articles plays poems and stories 5 6 She was unmarried and her papers were donated by her younger brother Arthur following her death at age 85 Undercover work editMendheim s surveillance activities began in 1933 or shortly after with the establishment of the Nazi government in Germany and the formation of Nazi support organizations in New York Her involvement was primarily with the group Friends of the New Germany and its successor organization the German American Bund Under the assumed identity of Gertrude Mueller Mendheim attended pro Nazi meetings and rallies and eventually accumulated a sizable collection of anti Semitic propaganda produced locally nationally and abroad According to archival documents 7 Mendheim s purchases of Nazi propaganda and literature were reimbursed by Rabbi Jacob Xenab Cohen of the American Jewish Congress to whom she submitted regular narrative reports of her activities This collaboration may have been part of the American Jewish Congress efforts to monitor anti Semitic violence and to boycott Nazism in the U S 8 The records of Mendheim s undercover work and perhaps the work itself appears to have ceased by 1939 See also editArthur Derounian aka John Roy Carlson References edit Ancestry com U S Social Security Death Index 1935 2014 database on line Provo UT USA Ancestry com Operations Inc 2011 Florence Mendheim 1910 Census FamilySearch Mormon Church Retrieved 6 December 2023 Florence Mendheim Collection AR 25441 box 9 folder 16 Leo Baeck Institute Mendheim Family Papers AR 25010 box 3 folders 1 7 Leo Baeck Institute Mendheim Family Papers AR 25010 box 5 folders 1 15 Leo Baeck Institute Florence Mendheim Collection AR 25441 box 9 folder 23 Leo Baeck Institute Florence Mendheim Collection AR 25441 box 9 folder 14 Leo Baeck Institute Jews here to push boycott on Hitler The New York Times 21 August 1933 pg 2 Further reading editJohn Roy Carlson Under Cover New York E P Dutton 1943 External links edit Florence Mendheim WWII amp NYC exhibit New York Historical Society Guide to the Florence Mendheim Collection of Anti Semitic Propaganda AR 25441 Leo Baeck Institute New York Guide to the Papers of the Mendheim Family AR 25010 Leo Baeck Institute New York Leo Baeck Institute New York Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Florence Mendheim amp oldid 1188647669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
