Leitz Stativ VI compound brass microscope, case, and accessories used by a Jewish family 2003.120.2_b front

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States

Leitz brass compound microscope, with fitted case and accessories, that belonged to Gerard Fields. It is likely that the microscope was brought to the US by his father Edwin, a chemical engineer. Edwin and Gerard's mother Anna left the Saar District of Germany in 1933 rather than live under the Nazi regime. They moved to France where Gerard was born in 1935. Germany occupied France in June 1940. After Edwin was demobilized from the French Army in 1941, he made arrangements for the family to go to the United States. In December 1941, they sailed from Lisbon, Portugal, to Havana, Cuba, where they waited to receive their US visas. In spring 1942, the family left for Chicago, where Edwin's brother Gerard had lived for many years.

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Title: Leitz Stativ VI compound brass microscope, case, and accessories used by a Jewish family 2003.120.2_b front
Location: Emigration and immigration--Germany--Biography. Emigration and immigration--United States--Biography., Emigration and immigration--Germany--Biography. Emigration and immigration--United States--Biography.
Provenance: The microscope was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Gerard Fields., The microscope was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003 by Gerard Fields.
Subject Keywords: World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, German. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives. Refugee children--United States--Biography., World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, German. World War, 1939-1945--Refugees--United States--Personal narratives. Refugee children--United States--Biography.
Type: Tools and Equipment, Tools and Equipment
Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Medium: The k-v component designations have been added for cataloging purposes only. a. Brass, cylindrical, compound microscope with a black painted, cast iron, tripod base with a horseshoe shaped foot and curved arm. At the base of the arm is an extension rod with an end brac23ket, with a rotating rod attaching a circular, clear glass mirror set into a metal holder. Above the rod, extending from the arm, is the block mount for a stage (b). At the top of the arm is a brass block with a curved front edge. The large, tubular, microscope body has a ridged, brass strip screwed to the back which attaches to the curve in the block. A silver colored metal rod with a large ridged knob at both ends passes through the block. The knobs are coarse adjustment screws, that turn to lower or raise the microscope, which has threaded open ends, along the ridged strip. An objective (l) screws into the bottom. A brass draw tube, with a ridged ring above a threaded bottom end, screws into the top of the body. The top of the draw tube is open to insert an eyepiece (c or k). b. Heavy, flat, rectangular, black painted brass colored metal stage for a microscope (a.) with a central viewing hole. Along the back underside edge are 5 small holes: 3 center holes hold metal posts. The center post is a large threaded adjustment screw with a knob, flanked by 2 short posts with slotted tops. Anchored in front is a thin, flat, narrow, flexible metal arm with a small end post. On the left center is a domed, rotating, metal disc with a ridged edge with a ring of 5 beveled holes with different diameters; engraved around the holes is a line with 5 small depressions. As the disc turns, the arm post slides until it hits a depression, locking the disc in place and aligning a disc holes with the central viewing hole. c. Microscope eyepiece with 2 convex, clear, glass lenses, mounted in a black painted, brass colored ring screwed into the threaded ends of a hollow, silver colored metal cylinder. The top ring has raised, ridged edges around a flat disc with a small center lens. The bottom ring has a ridged edge and holds a large lens. d. Small, silver colored metal microscope stage clip with a thin, narrow, flat, metal plate. One end is fixed around a short post with a flat, circular head. The other end curves up slightly. e. Small, silver colored metal microscope stage clip with a thin, narrow, flat, metal plate. One end is fixed around a short post with a flat, circular head. The other end curves up slightly. f. Upright, rectangular, varnished, brown wooden case for a microscope (a) with a 2 hinged door on the front and dovetail jointed edges and a glued on back panel.. On the front is a lock plate with a keyhole. A skeleton key (i), is tied with string to a C shaped metal carrying handle screwed to the top center. The interior has shaped wooden inserts lined with velvet to secure the microscope (a) and accessories (b-g.) Across the base is a horizontal panel to hold down the microscope stand. A set of runners in the top left support a flat holder (g.) A small block with slots to hold 2 stage clips (d-e) is anchored in the top right. Screwed to the right side are 2 horizontal runners to hold stage (b) against the side vertically. There are 2 additional supports on the door. Above these are 2 parallel, vertical, flat, metal holders to support an information card (h). There are stickers on the exterior and penciled inscriptions. g. Brown wooden panel with a rounded end and 4 circular openings; 2 holes are slightly smaller. A narrow ridge is cut around the interior of the smaller holes to support an eyepiece. h. Small light brown treated paper card with a preprinted grid, with manufacturing information and several handwritten inscriptions. i. Silver colored metal, 3 bit skeleton key with a round bow at the back end of a cylindrical shank, which has several raised bands and ends in a circular pin hole. A metal piece with 4 teeth extends down from the end. The key opens case (f) and is tied to the top handle with string. j. Unfolded, light brown paper 4 page brochure with herbal remedy information printed in German in black ink on both sides, with red inked distribution stamps on 2 pages. k. Microscope eyepiece with 2 convex, clear, glass lenses mounted in a black painted, brass colored metal ring screwed into the threaded ends of a hollow, silver colored metal cylinder. The top ring has a raised, ridged edge around a flat disc with a small lens at the center. The bottom ring has a ridged edge and holds a large lens. l. Microscope objective with a small, clear, glass lens set into a silver colored metal cone at the top of a hollow brass cylinder with wide, ridged rings, 1 near the top, the other near the bottom, and a threaded, open bottom end. The interior is painted black. A convex, clear glass lens is set inside the cylinder, at the level of the lower, exterior ring. m. Small, hexagonal clear glass bottle with a cylindrical neck and circular mouth with a thick, rounded rim. n. Irregularly shaped, thin, flat, clear glass 1-sided mirror fragment. o. Small, square, light brown cardboard box base with lid and base, covered in purple textured paper with a label on the lid top. Four square, cardboard inserts twice the height of the base are glued inside. One end of a stiff, loosely woven strip of discolored white cloth is glued to 1 insert; the other end is pushed into the base. p. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide with a specimen suspended in dried yellow adhesive and covered by a small, thin, square, clear glass coverslip. A green label is glued to the top with handwritten specimen name and date. q. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide with a small, thin, square, clear glass coverslip stuck to a dried yellow adhesive, with a blank, green, square paper label with black lines glued to the top. r. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide fragment with a green, square paper label with black lines glued to the top with handwritten date and specimen name. The lower section is broken off. s. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide fragment with a green, square paper label with black lines glued to the top, with handwritten date and specimen name. The lower section is broken off. t. Eight pieces of irregularly shaped, thin, flat, clear glass from broken microscope slides. The pieces vary in size and are attached to adhesive tape. u. Lightweight, light brown, rectangular, wooden box base with dovetail corner joints and adhered sides. The top is open. One short end is missing. v. Rectangular, black speckled brown cardboard box base and lid. The lid has notches on each long end for ease of removal. Sides are folded and stapled, with added strips of adhesive tape. It contains several yellowed fragments of newspaper from 1954 and has an inscription on the lid., The k-v component designations have been added for cataloging purposes only. a. Brass, cylindrical, compound microscope with a black painted, cast iron, tripod base with a horseshoe shaped foot and curved arm. At the base of the arm is an extension rod with an end brac23ket, with a rotating rod attaching a circular, clear glass mirror set into a metal holder. Above the rod, extending from the arm, is the block mount for a stage (b). At the top of the arm is a brass block with a curved front edge. The large, tubular, microscope body has a ridged, brass strip screwed to the back which attaches to the curve in the block. A silver colored metal rod with a large ridged knob at both ends passes through the block. The knobs are coarse adjustment screws, that turn to lower or raise the microscope, which has threaded open ends, along the ridged strip. An objective (l) screws into the bottom. A brass draw tube, with a ridged ring above a threaded bottom end, screws into the top of the body. The top of the draw tube is open to insert an eyepiece (c or k). b. Heavy, flat, rectangular, black painted brass colored metal stage for a microscope (a.) with a central viewing hole. Along the back underside edge are 5 small holes: 3 center holes hold metal posts. The center post is a large threaded adjustment screw with a knob, flanked by 2 short posts with slotted tops. Anchored in front is a thin, flat, narrow, flexible metal arm with a small end post. On the left center is a domed, rotating, metal disc with a ridged edge with a ring of 5 beveled holes with different diameters; engraved around the holes is a line with 5 small depressions. As the disc turns, the arm post slides until it hits a depression, locking the disc in place and aligning a disc holes with the central viewing hole. c. Microscope eyepiece with 2 convex, clear, glass lenses, mounted in a black painted, brass colored ring screwed into the threaded ends of a hollow, silver colored metal cylinder. The top ring has raised, ridged edges around a flat disc with a small center lens. The bottom ring has a ridged edge and holds a large lens. d. Small, silver colored metal microscope stage clip with a thin, narrow, flat, metal plate. One end is fixed around a short post with a flat, circular head. The other end curves up slightly. e. Small, silver colored metal microscope stage clip with a thin, narrow, flat, metal plate. One end is fixed around a short post with a flat, circular head. The other end curves up slightly. f. Upright, rectangular, varnished, brown wooden case for a microscope (a) with a 2 hinged door on the front and dovetail jointed edges and a glued on back panel.. On the front is a lock plate with a keyhole. A skeleton key (i), is tied with string to a C shaped metal carrying handle screwed to the top center. The interior has shaped wooden inserts lined with velvet to secure the microscope (a) and accessories (b-g.) Across the base is a horizontal panel to hold down the microscope stand. A set of runners in the top left support a flat holder (g.) A small block with slots to hold 2 stage clips (d-e) is anchored in the top right. Screwed to the right side are 2 horizontal runners to hold stage (b) against the side vertically. There are 2 additional supports on the door. Above these are 2 parallel, vertical, flat, metal holders to support an information card (h). There are stickers on the exterior and penciled inscriptions. g. Brown wooden panel with a rounded end and 4 circular openings; 2 holes are slightly smaller. A narrow ridge is cut around the interior of the smaller holes to support an eyepiece. h. Small light brown treated paper card with a preprinted grid, with manufacturing information and several handwritten inscriptions. i. Silver colored metal, 3 bit skeleton key with a round bow at the back end of a cylindrical shank, which has several raised bands and ends in a circular pin hole. A metal piece with 4 teeth extends down from the end. The key opens case (f) and is tied to the top handle with string. j. Unfolded, light brown paper 4 page brochure with herbal remedy information printed in German in black ink on both sides, with red inked distribution stamps on 2 pages. k. Microscope eyepiece with 2 convex, clear, glass lenses mounted in a black painted, brass colored metal ring screwed into the threaded ends of a hollow, silver colored metal cylinder. The top ring has a raised, ridged edge around a flat disc with a small lens at the center. The bottom ring has a ridged edge and holds a large lens. l. Microscope objective with a small, clear, glass lens set into a silver colored metal cone at the top of a hollow brass cylinder with wide, ridged rings, 1 near the top, the other near the bottom, and a threaded, open bottom end. The interior is painted black. A convex, clear glass lens is set inside the cylinder, at the level of the lower, exterior ring. m. Small, hexagonal clear glass bottle with a cylindrical neck and circular mouth with a thick, rounded rim. n. Irregularly shaped, thin, flat, clear glass 1-sided mirror fragment. o. Small, square, light brown cardboard box base with lid and base, covered in purple textured paper with a label on the lid top. Four square, cardboard inserts twice the height of the base are glued inside. One end of a stiff, loosely woven strip of discolored white cloth is glued to 1 insert; the other end is pushed into the base. p. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide with a specimen suspended in dried yellow adhesive and covered by a small, thin, square, clear glass coverslip. A green label is glued to the top with handwritten specimen name and date. q. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide with a small, thin, square, clear glass coverslip stuck to a dried yellow adhesive, with a blank, green, square paper label with black lines glued to the top. r. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide fragment with a green, square paper label with black lines glued to the top with handwritten date and specimen name. The lower section is broken off. s. Thin, flat, clear, rectangular, glass microscope slide fragment with a green, square paper label with black lines glued to the top, with handwritten date and specimen name. The lower section is broken off. t. Eight pieces of irregularly shaped, thin, flat, clear glass from broken microscope slides. The pieces vary in size and are attached to adhesive tape. u. Lightweight, light brown, rectangular, wooden box base with dovetail corner joints and adhered sides. The top is open. One short end is missing. v. Rectangular, black speckled brown cardboard box base and lid. The lid has notches on each long end for ease of removal. Sides are folded and stapled, with added strips of adhesive tape. It contains several yellowed fragments of newspaper from 1954 and has an inscription on the lid.