WOLF, ALFRED, 1898-1981.
Alfred Wolf papers, 1898-1981

Restrictions on Access

Unrestricted access.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Source

Gift of Gladys Wallace, 1993.

Custodial History

Gladys Wallace was a friend of Alfred Wolf.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Alfred Wolf papers, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Appraisal Note

Ginger Smith, former Director of the Rose Library, acquired this collection as part of the library's holdings in the history of Atlanta, Georgia.

Processing

Processed by Barbara J. Mann, September 1993.

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Biographical Note

Alfred Wolf was born March 24, 1898 in Heilbronn, Germany, to Julius (March 22, 1870-[?] 1939) and Cecile Held Wolf (February 18, 1876-[?] 1937). Wolf's Jewish name was Menachem Bar Joel Malivi. Wolf enlisted in the Signal Corps of the Royal Bavarian Army January 10, 1916 and served until December 28, 1918. Afterwards, he enrolled in the School for Textile Technology in Reutlinger and upon graduating was certified as a textile engineer. Upon completion of this program, Wolf enrolled in the University of Frankfurt in fall of 1919 to pursue a degree in economics and political science. During this time he also worked as a "volunteer'' or unpaid worker to learn more about the textile industry. In 1921, he transferred to the University of Lausanne in Switzerland for approximately a semester. He graduated from the University of Frankfurt on October 17, 1922 with a Ph.D. After graduating from the University of Frankfurt, he began working for his father and uncle in the family business, W. M. Wolf Company, which took news clippings and turned them into materials used for spinning. In 1936, he went to work for another textile company, Buurl and Biach in Vienna, for which he did a great amount of traveling. Because of Hitler's threat to German Jews, both in Germany and Austria where Wolf was working, he realized the need to get out. He was able to set up a sorting plant in St. Louis, France, for his firm. The Wolf family then moved from Vienna to St. Louis. When France declared war on Germany in 1939, the French posted a notice that all German and Austrian national males were to report to specific camps where they were then interred. Wolf reported to Cap d'Antibes in September of 1939 and was kept there until December, when he was then transferred to Les Milles. He was there from December 1939 until February 1940, at which time he was sent to Manosque. In Manosque the French, realizing that the prisoners were probably not a threat after all, enlisted them as French soldiers. Wolf served as a member of the 313 Compagnie des Prestataires from February 1940 until the unit was demobilized in July 1940. At this point, the Wolf family realized that their only hope was to emigrate to the United States. Alfred Wolf reached New York City on February 8, 1941; his family had arrived the week before. Wolf found a job with the Malden Spinning and Dyeing Company in Malden, Massachusetts, as a common laborer and began work on February 24, 1941. He then went on to work for Star Woolen Company in Cohoes, New York, in April 1941, and was transferred to the South Pittsburg, Tennessee plant in the fall of 1942. He remained there until fall of 1945 when he lost his job because the plant was to be dismantled. Repeated efforts to find a job were to no avail until December 1945. On December 11, 1945 he began work as the general manager of the Henry Channing Textile Company of Atlanta. He held this position until retirement. Wolf married Trudl Victor ([December 10, 1903?- ?]), daughter of Jakob and Irma Victor, on May 4. 1924. This union produced two children, Ursula Julie (July 4, 1926-[?]) and Frank (June 4, 1928- [?]). Trudl Wolf was a novelist and wrote under the pen name Victoria Wolf. She had several books published. They were divorced on August 19, 1947. She went on to marry Dr. Eric Wolff, a cardiologist, on September 9, 1949 and her pen name then became Victoria Wolff. Alfred Wolf married Lillian Greta Lazarus (June 15, 1907- August 1962) on April 4, 1948. Lillian was a buyer for Rich's Department Store in Atlanta and also a relative of that family. Alfred Wolf died January 10, 1981. He was buried in Crest Lawn Memorial Park in Atlanta.

Biographical Source:Sources used to compile this biographical note include the collection itself, Wolf's obituary from the January 11, 1981 issue of The Atlanta Journal, and Contemporary Authors volume 11 (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984: p. 524).

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the papers of Alfred Wolf from 1898-1981. The papers contain his autobiography, "Alfred's Story," which is in the form of both manuscript carbon and audiocassette recordings. Also included is an undated photograph of Wolf. The autobiography describes his life growing up, gives family history of other family members, describes his experiences as a soldier in World War I, as a student, his working career in the textile industry, both in Europe and in America, his marriages, and other aspects of his life and thoughts.

Arrangement Note

Arranged by record type.