I recently discovered a reference to a book by Edward David Luft, entitled  "The Naturalized Jews of the Grand Duchy of Posen in 1834 and 1835."  The book contains a list of Posen Jews who had limited citizenship rights conferred upon them, i.e., were "naturalized," in 1834 and 1835.

Most Posen Jews were not eligible for "naturalization," and Luft estimates that only 5.5% of Posen's Jews were naturalized. Luft's book also contains an English translation of the Prussian decree that legislated the repressive conditions that Jews were subjected to.  For example, even "naturalized" Jews could not vote in Prussian elections or hold elective office outside the Jewish community.  Moreover, to be "naturalized," a Jew had to possess significant assets (either owning a farm large enough to support the family, or a plot in the city (debt-free) worth 2,000 Reichthaler, or having 5,000  Reichthaler in savings) or receive a waiver of the asset requirement for a "patriotic endeavor for the state."  Jews who did not possess such assets were subject to deportation unless they could prove they were permanent residents of Posen province since June 1, 1815.  An allegation by a Jew that he had lived in the Province since before June 1, 1815 was almost never challenged until after 1835, and then very rarely.

Our Lewin Jacob Braunhart was identified as a "Lehrer"  (teacher or professor).  He was also identified as living in Schubin and was naturalized on August 8, 1834.

Actually my ex-cousin-in-law once removed, but who's counting? Hal Borne (born Cecil Harold Steinborn) was a bandleader and composer of popular music, best known as the music director for RKO Studios for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers from 1931-1940. Later, he was the band leader for the Tony Martin and Ginger Rogers' touring shows. He also wrote the music for one of the last Marx Brothers movies "The Big Store" and was a songwriter ("Tenement Symphony", "I'm Building Up to an Awful Letdown"). Here is a photo of Fred, Hal, and Ginger on the set of "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" in 1939: 

He was married to my father's cousin Gloria Metzner, whose stage name at that time was Gloria Dea.  She was a child magician; dancer in the Earl Carroll's Vanities in Hollywood and the Billy Rose Aquacade at the San Francisco World's Fair; and later an actress in several movies and serials.  She and Hal were married in the 1940s.  Here is a photo of them together in 1945: 

I have always wondered about the World War I draft card for my grandfather Mervyn Raphael Marks.  There have always been two things that bothered me about it.

The first bothersome entry was that he identified himself as a "farmer."  The second was that he had sole support of his mother, Mollie Raphael Marks. He had not yet married my grandmother, Celia Heyman.  That happened in 1918.

Let's take a look at these two "facts."  First, below are the two pages of his draft card:

I'm sorry, but unless I am terribly mistaken, my grandfather was not a farmer.  He was a salesman.  And although his parents according to the 1910 census were not living together (I could not find his father anywhere), I do believe that they were together in 1917 (his father Joseph Marks, died in 1919).

In reviewing the rules for deferment for World War I, about 50% of the men who registered in the first registration (men 21 to 31 years old), received deferments, and sole support of a parent and critical agriculture employment were two factors in receiving a deferment.

So did Grandpa lie to get out of the draft? His son is still alive, but I don't think this would be something that one would be proud to admit to one's son. On the other hand, maybe his parents were separated and he did work on a farm - but I doubt it. I don't think I will ever know. 

My grandmother, Celia Heyman Marks, was a whiz at the typewriter.  Because she mostly used manual typewriters all her life (she was born in 1894), she had incredibly strong fingers and hands.

The story goes that at the New York World's Fair in the early 1900s, she broke one of the first electric typewriters (which were first mass produced in 1902) because she typed so fast. On a manual typewriter, I know she exceeded 125 words per minute for an extended period.  I believe the world record is 147 wpm for an hour.

There was much more to my grandmother - she was smart as a whip and loved word games.

Here she is and below her photo is a photo of her typing medal in 1909 from the Wood's Brooklyn School of Business and Shorthand.

My great aunt, Martha Heyman, was married twice, once to Harry Christopher, and once to Leo Metzner. It is fascinating to me that her first marriage to Mr. Christopher lasted less than 3 months: 

Fortunately, her second marriage (and final one) to my great Uncle Leo Metzner lasted over 50 years (unfortunately she passed 2 months after their golden anniversary).  They changed their last name to "Day" in the 1940's: 

So who knows what lies ahead after a wedding, sometimes pain, sometimes bliss, sometimes both! 

Samuel Braunhart, my great great great Uncle, who held several elected political posts between 1880 and his death in 1906 in San Francisco, was a feisty and outspoken sort, who often got into spats with his colleagues.

Politics in America today has nothing compared to a hundred or so years ago.  But to have a pistol drawn on you?  Wow!

On this Mother's Day we remember our deceased Braunhart mothers. Some of us knew you and all of us wish we had met you. 

Sara Braunhart Bernstein - Mother of Amalie, Ernestine, Cecelia, Hattie, Max and 2 others unknown 

Helene Baszynska Braunhart - Mother of Moritz, Jakob, Anna, Martha, Theodor, Carl, Selma, Cecelia, Julius, Philipp, Frieda, Caesar, and one unknown 

Anna Braunhart Tulman - Mother of Mildred, Muriel, Stanley, and Helene 

Martha Braunhart Sternbach - Mother of Leo, Harold, and Regina 

Hedwig Bukofzer Braunhart (Wife of Carl) - Mother of Hanna and Heinz 

Ilse Gass Hart (Wife of Jacob) - Mother of Erna, Margaret, and Herbert 

Else Schmalenbach (Wife of Phillip) - Mother of Horst, Gisela, and Bernhard 

Frieda Braunhart Brunn - Mother of Henry and Miriam 

Cecelia Bernstein Markheim - Mother of Arthur, Robert, Minnie, Pauline, Leo, and Edith 

Hedwig (Hattie) Bernstein Fried - Mother of Leo 

Ernestine Bernstein Heyman - Mother of Celia, Martha, Arthur, Robert, Leo, and Mynette 

Dorka Asch Braunhart (Wife of Julius) - Mother of Lothar and Lilly  

Unfortunately we do not have photos of the following Braunhart mothers: 

Rosa Levison Braunhart – Mother of Harry

Amalie Bernstein Brock - Mother of Teresa, Regina, and Eric

My father, Robert Joseph Marks, had a terrific sense of humor.  When faced with an adversary, his motto was "kill them with kindness". He took pleasure in combining humor with getting a dig at someone who was giving him a bad time.

Bill Fiset, the columnist for over 35 years at the Oakland Tribune, who regularly wrote human interest stories, memorialized my father's interaction with the Sequoyah Country Club and Castlewood Country Club in the following story:

My dad's cousin - Gloria Metzner, who went by the stage name Gloria Dea when she was in the movies in the 1940 and 1950s, started her entertainment career as a magician.  Her father, Leo Metzner, performed in local circles as "The Great Leo."

The following are two articles, regarding Gloria's magical exploits - one at age 7, and one at age 11.  She later took her act to The Hotel El Rancho Vegas, the Las Vegas Strip's first casino resort.

For some time period between 1939 and 1950, there were a few Braunharts who escaped the Nazis and traveled to Shanghai, China.  These were Theodor Braunhart, Doris Braunhart (Julius' wife), and Julius and Doris's two children - Lothar and Lilly.

George Gandel, who later married Sara Selma Braunhart, also was in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum has a list of the thousands of Jewish refugees who escaped the Nazi occupation.

Below is a list of the Braunhart and Gandel addresses and occupations while they were in Shanghai:

Theodor Braunhart - 350/137 Chusan Lu - Street Salesman
Lothar Braunhart - 350/137 Chusan Lu - Waiter
Doris Braunhart - 350/137 Chusan Lu - No occupation
Lilly Hoorin - 350/137 Chusan Lu - No occupation
George Gandel - 630 Haimen Lu - Salesman

Lilly was either married (or divorced) at the time to Alexander Hoorin who was a journalist/correspondent.  He does not appear in the database.  Here is a photo of Lilly and Alexander in better days:

Additionally in 1948, Theodor, Doris, Lothar, and Lilly were on the list of "Displaced Persons in Shanghai Registering for Emigration to Canada".  George Gandel was not on this list.  Theodor was identified as a Hatter, Doris as a cook, Lillly as an accountant, and Lothar as a commercial artist and waiter.  It is unknown whether or not they entered Canada.  We do know that Doris, Lothar, and Lilly ended up in San Francisco in the 1950s.  Theodor did not make it to America.  He spent some time in Palestine and went back to Germany to find his wife Lucie, but died of ill health in Germany.