Ruth Jacobsen (8 April 1932 - 19 February 2019) was a German-born lesbian artist and a Hidden Child of the Holocaust. During the Second World War, she fled with her parents to the Netherlands where she was hidden by the Dutch resistance until she was reunited with her parents towards the end of the war. Traumatized by the war, her parents both committed suicide. In 1953, she emigrated to the United States to stay with distant family and there became a textiles designer. Working as the first female film projectionist in New York, she helped create a training program for women entering that profession. Jacobsen increasingly devoted her time to art using family letters and photographs in order to cope with her childhood traumas. She is remembered in particular for her collage works centred on the Holocaust.[1][2][3][4]
Ruth Jacobsen
Born
(1932-04-08)8 April 1932
Frankenberg, Germany
Died
19 February 2019(2019-02-19) (aged 86)
Southampton, New York
Nationality
American
Known for
Painting, Writing
Spouse
Christine Epifania
Biographyedit
Born in Frankenburg, Germany, on 8 April 1932, Ruth Jacobsen was the daughter of Walter Jacobsen and his wife Paula. Faced with the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis, the family fled to the Netherlands in 1939, settling in the village of Oud-Zuilen. In 1942, relying on the assistance of the Dutch resistance, they were forced into hiding but two months later Ruth Jacobsen was hidden away from her parents in various Christian families. [1]
She was reunited with her parents at the end of the war but, traumatized by their experiences, both committed suicide. In 1953, Ruth emigrated to the United States where she lived with distant relatives. After first working as textile designer, she became the first woman to be employed as a film projectionist in New York City. She devoted her spare time to developing her artistic talents, concentrating on collage works. These centred on the Holocaust, the 1980s AIDS crisis and indigenous rights. On her retirement she turned to art, creating many art works and collages compiled with items she found in letters and photographs which had been saved by a Christian family living in Germany.[1]
It was reported that thanks to her writing and artwork she was able to reclaim herself. Ursula Hegi, a German-born novelist and Holocaust specialist, commented: "Her legacy is significant, certainly to her life but beyond that to world history, evoking the legacy of another child hidden in Holland — Anne Frank, who gave the world the girl’s perspective of the hidden child... Ruth Jacobsen gives us both the girl's perspective and the woman's perspective."[2] Her book Rescued Images (2001) is based on a series of collages from photographs in an old family album. Her devastating childhood is brought back to life, reviving memories she had long suppressed.[3]
Ruth Jacobsen died in Southampton, New York on 19 February 2019. She had lived there for more than three decades with her wife Christine Epifania who died in 2017.[2]
^"Oral history interview with Ruth Jacobsen - Collections Search -". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
January 01, 1970
ruth, jacobsen, april, 1932, february, 2019, german, born, lesbian, artist, hidden, child, holocaust, during, second, world, fled, with, parents, netherlands, where, hidden, dutch, resistance, until, reunited, with, parents, towards, traumatized, parents, both. Ruth Jacobsen 8 April 1932 19 February 2019 was a German born lesbian artist and a Hidden Child of the Holocaust During the Second World War she fled with her parents to the Netherlands where she was hidden by the Dutch resistance until she was reunited with her parents towards the end of the war Traumatized by the war her parents both committed suicide In 1953 she emigrated to the United States to stay with distant family and there became a textiles designer Working as the first female film projectionist in New York she helped create a training program for women entering that profession Jacobsen increasingly devoted her time to art using family letters and photographs in order to cope with her childhood traumas She is remembered in particular for her collage works centred on the Holocaust 1 2 3 4 Ruth JacobsenBorn 1932 04 08 8 April 1932Frankenberg GermanyDied19 February 2019 2019 02 19 aged 86 Southampton New YorkNationalityAmericanKnown forPainting WritingSpouseChristine EpifaniaBiography editBorn in Frankenburg Germany on 8 April 1932 Ruth Jacobsen was the daughter of Walter Jacobsen and his wife Paula Faced with the persecution of the Jews by the Nazis the family fled to the Netherlands in 1939 settling in the village of Oud Zuilen In 1942 relying on the assistance of the Dutch resistance they were forced into hiding but two months later Ruth Jacobsen was hidden away from her parents in various Christian families 1 She was reunited with her parents at the end of the war but traumatized by their experiences both committed suicide In 1953 Ruth emigrated to the United States where she lived with distant relatives After first working as textile designer she became the first woman to be employed as a film projectionist in New York City She devoted her spare time to developing her artistic talents concentrating on collage works These centred on the Holocaust the 1980s AIDS crisis and indigenous rights On her retirement she turned to art creating many art works and collages compiled with items she found in letters and photographs which had been saved by a Christian family living in Germany 1 It was reported that thanks to her writing and artwork she was able to reclaim herself Ursula Hegi a German born novelist and Holocaust specialist commented Her legacy is significant certainly to her life but beyond that to world history evoking the legacy of another child hidden in Holland Anne Frank who gave the world the girl s perspective of the hidden child Ruth Jacobsen gives us both the girl s perspective and the woman s perspective 2 Her book Rescued Images 2001 is based on a series of collages from photographs in an old family album Her devastating childhood is brought back to life reviving memories she had long suppressed 3 Ruth Jacobsen died in Southampton New York on 19 February 2019 She had lived there for more than three decades with her wife Christine Epifania who died in 2017 2 Jacobsen s papers are in the collection of the Center for Jewish History 1 A 1992 oral history by Jacobsen is in the U S Holocaust Memorial Museum 5 References edit a b c d Ruth Jacobsen Collection Center for Jewish History Retrieved 27 January 2021 a b c Ruth Jacobsen 86 Writer and Artist The East Hampton Star 21 May 2019 Retrieved 27 January 2021 a b Jacobsen Ruth 2001 Rescued Images Memories of Childhood in Hiding Mikaya Press ISBN 978 1 931414 00 5 Ruth Jacobsen collection 1885 2019 bulk 1950s 1990s search cjh org Retrieved 2021 01 27 Oral history interview with Ruth Jacobsen Collections Search United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Retrieved 25 June 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruth Jacobsen amp oldid 1193205741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
