This collection consists of correspondence and an autobiographical account of Gerta Pfeffer, a German Jewish woman who came of age during the Third Reich. Pfeffer's writings discuss her experiences with anti-Semitism, the rise of the National Socialist German Worker's Party (Nazi Party), and the economic, interpersonal, and discriminatory struggles she encountered in her homeland. The autobiographical account covers the years 1932-1938, after which Pfeffer immigrated to England to become a housemaid. Pfeffer submitted her account into the 1939 essay contest, "My Life in Germany Before and After 1933," hosted by Harvard University. Correspondence in the collection dates from 1939-1973, covering Pfeffer's life after leaving Germany. These letters are personal in nature, regarding life outside of Germany as well as the experiences of friends and relatives residing in assorted zones of Allied-occupied Germany.
