Julia Sinsheimer @museum.de

An elderly married couple, looking into the camera with a friendly smile. Meet Leon and Julia Obermayer, parents of Arthur Obermayer, the co-founder of our museum.

Julia, née Sinsheimer, was born in New York City in 1900. Her father, Joseph Sinsheimer, was born in Creglingen in 1869, while her mother, Helmine Oberndörfer, came from Archshofen and was born that same year. Both separately emigrated to the United States at the age of 16.

In 1893, Joseph and Helmine were married in New York. Joseph worked his way up to become a wealthy manufacturer of ladies’ corsets – while their daughter Julia enjoyed a sheltered childhood in her parents’ home. She returned to their home country several times as a young girl. A number of visits to Creglingen and a lively exchange of letters show how closely emigrants stayed in contact with family members who’d stayed behind.

Julia trained at the University of Columbia’s prestigious Teachers’ College and went on to work in a bacteriological lab at Mount Sinai Hospital. In 1922, she met and fell in love with Leon Obermayer, whose family came from the area around Augsburg. They married in 1923. Their children Herman, Helen and Arthur were born in 1924, 1927 and 1931 respectively.

Julia and Leon shared two passions: travelling and collecting. From the early years of their marriage, they amassed an extensive collection of Jewish ritual art. That collection can now be viewed at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, a synagogue in Philadelphia. However, some pieces have made their way to us here in Creglingen – thanks to Julia’s son, Arthur Obermayer. They’re on display on the upper floor.

Julia’s uncle Rudolf Sinsheimer followed his brother to the US, but not until the early 1940s. Before that, he’d lived through the pogrom of March 25, 1933, which is the subject of our next stop.