Snatager family papers

The Snatager family papers include biographical material, correspondence, documents and journals relating to Bernard, Olga, and Leonie Snatager’s pre-war and wartime experiences in the Netherlands. The collection includes Bernard’s birth certificate and telegram announcing his birth, documents relating to his business, and records relating to his death as well as Olga’s birth certificate, vaccination certificates, marriage certificates, and letters regarding her pension. The collection also includes a Dutch ID card for Leonie, poetry written by Leonie for her father, papers relating to her time at the University of Amsterdam, and 15 journals written by Leonie in 1943 while she was in hiding in the Netherlands. Bernard Snatager (1871-1935) was born in the Netherlands and married Olga Stern (1877-1945) in 1912. They had one daughter, Leonie Snatager (later Penny, 1918-2013) born in the Haag, Netherlands. Bernard passed away in 1935 from heart complications. In the early 1930s, Leonie began studying economics at the University of Amsterdam. After the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, Leonie and Olga decided it would be best for Leonie to come home. Leonie continued to go to school and graduated in 1940. Olga and Leonie were soon forced from their apartment and they decided to separate and go into hiding. Leonie obtained false papers and went into hiding in the Netherlands under the name Jane Lambert. She stayed with various family members posing as a student looking for work as a housekeeper. While in hiding she kept a journal about her thoughts and experiences. Olga and her sister were in hiding in Amsterdam, but were found and sent to Auschwitz where they perished. After the war Leonie volunteered for an American Jewish organization where she interviewed survivors. Leonie immigrated to the United States in 1948. In 1953 she married Walter Penney (1913-2000) and they had three children, Walter F. Penny Jr, Bernard, and Olga. Leonie was close friends with Etty Hillesum and worked to ensure Etty’s diaries were published. Leonie mentions Etty often in her own journals. Copyright Holder: Mr. Bernard Penney