The principal mission of the American Joint Distribution Committee (AJDC) since its founding has been to deliver aid to Jews in distress, usually as the result of war and discrimination. The founders had hoped that they would be able to close their doors after World War I but that proved not to be the case and with the rise of the Nazis their mission became one of helping Jews to emigrate and deal with the refugees who had fled but had nowhere to go. The basic division of labor between the AJDC and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) is that the AJDC helped refugees to emigrate and HIAS helped them once they reached their safe haven.
The Evian Conference of 1938 foresaw the need for a concerted effort to help the refugees and established the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees (IGCR). During the war, a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operated in Europe: Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Quakers, Red Cross, etc. The representatives of these organizations were attached to the ICGR. Jewish activities were under the auspices of the AJDC; their field workers were officially part of the IGCR and, as such, wore special patches on their uniforms and were permitted to us the Army Postal Service.The IGCR was subsumed in to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) on December 9, 1944. This arm of the UN was formed well before the formal establishment of the UN itself on May 7, 1945 and, indeed, functioned under the UNRRA name even before December 9, 1944. Its initial headquarters were in Italy, being the first Axis country fully occupied by the Allies. The modus operandi was established there and, by the end of the war in Europe, offices throughout the rest of Europe could be set up quickly.
Much like the AJDC in WWI, UNRRA initially hoped that their mission would be over relatively quickly. It wasn’t until the war ended that the full magnitude of the “displace persons” (DPs) was understood and UNRRA realized the enormity of the task before them. The UN recognized this by creating the Preparatory Commission of the International Refugee Organization (PCIRO) in December 1946. PCIRO began formal operation on June 30, 1947. The AJDC field workers were now under the aegis of PCIRO.
When the 15th member of the UN ratified the UN constitution in 1948, PCIRO was no longer a PC and bacme the IRO. The IRO continued its activities until February 1951 at which time it handed over operations to the United Nations High commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
It was not until February 1957 that the last DP camp, Foehrenwald, was closed.
This collection shows some of the many locations in which the AJDC served and is organized according to the organizational name in either the return address or printed corner card. There may be some overlap of dates since old stationery was often used even after the official name had changed. In some cases the organizational initials are not included on the cover and it is placed where is should be according to the “official” dates.
--Michael D. Bulmash, K1966
Browse the Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection.
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Censored Registered Bank Cover from Oslo, Norway to the American Friends (Quaker) Service Committee in Berlin
2019.2.231
Envelope addressed to “American Friends Service Committee,” “Rekommandert” stamped in red ink near top. Back includes black and red seal marked “DEN NORSKE CREDITBANKE – OSLO,” image of building near top.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Relatively little was done by most nations to rescue or assist the Jews of Europe attempting to avert the Nazi scourge, and who were in desperate need. Those countries that did take émigrés placed restrictions on the number. The burden of aiding and rescuing refugees fell on a limited number of Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and individuals. These organizations included AJDC or the American Joint Distribution Committee (“Joint”), HICEM, RELICO, UNRRA, and the AFSC, or the American Friends (Quaker) Service Committee. The AFSC was founded in 1917 to provide Quakers the opportunity to serve rather than take up arms in WWI. The AFSC was instrumental in assisting refugees escape from Germany, France, and other countries. It was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1948.
This cover arrived in Berlin on New Year’s day in 1940, just four months before the German invasion of Norway.
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Envelope From the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) to the American Joint Distribution Committee
2012.1.209
White envelope addressed to Joseph C. Hyman, American Joint Distribution Committee in New York from M.W. Beckelman, UNRRA. Includes Beckelman's signature.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was active from December 9, 1944-June 30, 1947. This envelope is an early use of the UNRRA designation. Stamped API 759 (Casablanca) June 28, 1944, self-censored.
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Envelope from the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees
2012.1.211
White envelope with decorative red and blue border. Address and return address both typewritten. Addressed to Mr. Joseph Hyman and Mr. Moses Leaultt from Arthur D. Greenleigh.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees (1938-Dec. 9, 1944), APO 394, Italy (Headquarters of Allied Commission).
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American Joint Distribution Committee Letter Signed by Saly Mayer
2015.2.99
Tan paper with AJDC address in upper left corner. Typewritten messsage. Signature in black in middle right. Purple rectangular table stamp on lower left.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Document typewritten in German from the American Joint Distribution Committee to the Communaute Israelite de Geneve, September 28, 1944, signed by Sally Mayer. Saly Mayer was director of the Swiss office of the "Joint", American Joint Distribution Committee, responsible for maintaining contact with the Jewish communities in German-occupied territories and for distribution of funds from the JDC. Document typewritten in German from the American Joint Distribution Committee to the "Communaute Israelite de Geneve", September 28, 1944, signed by Sally Mayer.
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Envelope From the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) to the American Joint Distribution Committee
2012.1.210
White envelope with decorative red and blue border. Addressed to Mr. Louis Sobel, Joint Distribution Committee, New York, from B. D. Mayer, UNRRA, New York.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: The United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was active from December 9, 1944-June 30, 1947. This envelope is an early use of the UNRRA designation. Stamped APO 787 (Cairo), November 9, 1944, and censored by the British.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Envelope, Sent from APO 757 (Munich)
2012.1.268
White envelope with red and blue decorative border and grey background stripes. Includes a handwritten address to Mr. M. Marosches and handwritten return address from Mrs. Najder Matylda.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution.Envelope posted by a Polish field agent with the UNRRA at APO 757 (Munich) to Palestine using a U.S. Army air letter sheet, originally specified "via A.D.J.C./Paris," but apparently placed in the regular military mail stream and "Returned for Additional Postage." 6c stamp was affixed and postmarked January 26, 1946 (BPO 24, Frankfort), a delay of seven months.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Letter
2012.1.263
Handwritten letter on white paper addressed to the Jewish Joint, Geneva from A. Ben-Moshe.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution. This is an example of a letter sent to the AJDC in Switzerland, which was then passed on by the service.
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Envelope from the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees
2012.1.212
White envelope addressed to R.B. Resnik in black ink. Sent by Frank W. White.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees (1938-Dec. 9, 1944), APO 394, Italy (Headquarters of Allied Commission) to R.B. Resnick AJDC/IGCR, On next page: November 7, 1945 from R.B. Resnick, self-censored.
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Envelope from APO 394, Italy
2012.1.208
Long brown envelope addressed to Mr. Paul Baerwald on War Department Official Business stationery.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: An envelope from APO 394, Italy, the headquarters of the Allied Commission.
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Letter from the American Joint Distribution Committee/United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Team in Bavaria
2012.1.213
Typewritten letter in German to Saly Mayer on American Joint Distribution Committee stationery.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: APO 757 (Munich), November 16, 1945, request for tracing information from Saly Mayer. Note blue AJDC/UNRRA handstamp at lower right.
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Envelope from the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
2012.1.214
Green envelope with typewritten address to the AJDC Offices. Includes censor tape and stamp on left side.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: An envelope from UNRRA Team 1065-L in Landsberg/Lech, Germany to the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, Melbourne. It was sent through the German postal system and censored by U.S. Military censorship. Faint blue ADJC hand stamp for Landsberg/Lech.
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Envelope from AJDC in Paris to Saly Mayer and AJDC in Switzerland
2014.1.389
Front: Typewritten, addressed to Saly Mayer; three stamps. Back: Printed return address, 'AJDC, 19, Rue de Teheran, PARIS -8'
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Saly Mayer (1882-1950) was a retired Swiss businessman who, as a representative of the American Joint Distribution Committe in neutral Switzerland, was instrumental in saving the lives of thousands of European Jews. After the Anschluess in 1938, despite Swiss opposition to the settlement of refugees, Mayer was involved in the reception and settlement of Austrian refugees in Switzerland despite Swiss opposition. As the fate of European Jewry became more widely known, Mayer made a number of attempts to smuggle children out of Belgium and France. He was an important contact in Switzerland for the American War Refugee Board, and took part in the infamous Eichmann-inspired "Jews for trucks" negotiations. Rudolf Kastner has asked Meyer to attempt to bring about a deal with the Nazis as a Swiss private citizen since the "Joint" was an American organization. Indeed, Meyer's hands were tied in as much as he could not really provide any goods or services to the Nazis–he could only stall for time. The Nazis first released 318 Jews from Bergen-Belsen, and later another 1368 Jews who were able to find freedom in Switzerland. By February, 1945, Meyer was able to secure the release of another 1200 Jews from Theresienstadt.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Envelope
2012.1.267
Tan envelope with handwritten address to Emmi Hamburger with a stamped return address.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution.This envelope was couriered from the AJDC, Paris (address on back flap) to the AJDC, Frankfort and was placed in the German mail. The hand stamp at upper left reads, "If undeliverable, return to AJDC." Receipt was confirmed by the addressee during an interview. There are two types of AJDC double circle hand stamps. The one on the cover is the larger and more common.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Correspondence to Palestine
2012.1.271abc
Business Card: Small business card advertising G. Mally and G. Ahlfeld's "Modesalon."Envelope: Greenish envelope hand addressed to Flora Ahlfeld with censor tape on back flap.Letter: Double-sided handwritten letter with greeting, "Liebe Flora!"
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution. This correspondence was recieved by AJDC on the same day as noted in pen within the AJDC small double circle hand stamp (rarely seen). Contents of this censored letter include a small card for the writer's clothing shop.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Envelope to Australia
2012.1.275
Brown envelope addressed to "Mr. A. Rabin" in purple pencil. Includes censor tape and stamp.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution. An envelope from the Central Committee of Liberated Jews in Bavaria (hand stamp on reverse), via the American Joint Distribution Committee, to Sydney, Australia, censored.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Correspondence to Palestine
2012.1.269abc
Envelope: Tan envelope with handwritten address to M. Reinberg. Includes bottom of address crossed out in red pen. Back flap has handwritten return address to Mozes Poehuesewski.Letter: Two page letter handwritten in pencil in Yiddish.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution.A letter from a Holocaust survivor in Munich to a cousin in the Jewish Brigade, handed to an American Joint Distribution Committee worker who took it to the office where it was censored and sealed with brown tape, tied by blue AJDC large double circle hand stamp. The AJDC delivered it to the British Army post office, which could not locate him. A hand stamp dated February 19 so stated and it was returned to sender, being censored on return in Offenbach (March 22). It was readdressed to Palestine and re-mailed June 6 with a German machine mark, passing through British FPO 550 (Trieste, July 3) and FPO 233 (Jerusalem, July 12) thence to Tel Aviv.
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Envelope from the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration sent from APO 254 (Germany)
2012.1.218
Brown envelope with typewritten address to Mr. Sally Mayer from S. Seidlin.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: ADJC c/o UNRRA Team 55 to Sally Mayer. ADJC's Headquarters moved from Frankfort to Munich to Heidelberg and back to Frankfort. Field agents often carried HQ stationery with them and sent mail from a convenient APO.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Envelope to Australia
2012.1.272a
Green envelope with handwritten green address to G. Rottbart from M.E. Verco. Includes white censor tape.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution.This envelope was from the Jewish Information Service, Sub UNRRA Team 108, munich with censor labels and large AJDC double circle hand stamps. This was sent to the Jewish Welfare Society, Melbourne with the name of the recipient for forwarding. This would have been carried under cover to the Welfare society.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Envelope to Australia
2012.1.272b
Green envelope with handwritten address to the Jewish Welfare Society with "For A.J. Isakoff" written at bottom. Includes censor sticker on back flap.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution.This envelope was from the Jewish Information Service, Sub UNRRA Team 108, munich with censor labels and large AJDC double circle hand stamps. This envelope included the recipient's address from a field worker at APO 757 (Munich). This would have been carried under cover to the Welfare society.
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The American Joint Distribution Committee as Courier post-World War II Letter
2012.1.266
Tan stationery titled "American Joint Distribution Committee. Includes a one-line message in English.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: In addition to its various humanitarian missions, the American Joint Distribution Committee acted as a mail carrier not only for its field workers, but also for refugees, displaced persons and other Jews in need. For the most part, this service was provided through its Paris office. Mail would be gathered at other offices and sent by courier to Paris whence it would then be sent abroad either by messenger or under cover to a local Jewish agency for distribution. This letter asks the American Joint Distribution Comittee at Hamburg to forward letters.
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Envelope from the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration sent from APO 887 (France)
2012.1.226
White envelope with decorative red and blue border. Typewritten address to the Victorian Search Bureau from the American Joint Distribution Committee.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: To Australia through French PO.
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Envelope from the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration sent from APO 777 (Austria)
2012.1.225
Brown American Joint Distribution Committee stationary from with typewritten address to the Joint Distribution Committee, New York.
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Envelope from the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration sent from APO 170 (Germany)
2012.1.219
Brown envelope with typewritten address to Mr. Benjamin B. Goldman with A.J.DC. return address stamped in purple.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: ADJCs Headquarters moved from Frankfort to Munich to Heidelberg and back to Frankfort. Field agents often carried HQ stationery with them and sent mail from a convenient APO.
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from the United National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration sent from APO 633 (Germany)
2012.1.221
White envelope with red decorative border. Typewritten address to Mr. M. Jacob Joslow from Lucy Schildkret.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: From AJDC HQ in Frankfort. Jacob Joslow was at the ADJC NY office, then at AJDC/UNRRA HQ Munich and then back in NY, always communicating through APO 757.
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American Joint Distribution Committee Envelope Concerning Displaced Persons, Sent from APO 777 (Saltzberg)
2012.1.257
Brown envelope with typewritten address to Mr. M. Berger with stamped return address to the American Joint Distribution Committee Headquarters.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: Envelope from the American Joint Distribution Committee Displaced Persons Divison at the U.S. Forces in Austria (USFA) headquarters.