Objects

Excerpt from the birth certificate of Marta Józefa Olchawa (born Bauer) issued by the Registry Office in Wołomin on 5 April 1957 – official document, single-page, on a blank paper sheet, filled in by hand, in Polish. In the top left corner, there is the name of the issuer: “THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF POLAND | Province | Wołomin County | REGISTRY OFFICE | in WOŁOMIN” (the words: “Wołomin” and “in WOŁOMIN” have been stamped). Underneath, there is the filing number: 14/202/1957. On the right side of the page, in the top part, there is the title of the document, followed by the main text of the excerpt from birth certificate – the printed template is filled in by hand, and the place of issuance is stamped in red ink: “City of WOŁOMIN”. In the bottom left corner, there is a fiscal stamp with a red ink stamp reading: “City of WOŁOMIN”. At the bottom edge, on the left side of the page, there is information on the document template: “M-7 CWD Baza Łódź zam 3999/S/Łź | PZG w Panianicach 676-56 948-090 piśm sat. Kl. 5 70 f 2/3A5”. In the centre of the page, there is a round red stamp of the Registry Office in Wołomin. The document is hand-signed by Deputy Director of the Registry Office, Zakrzewski. On the reverse, there is a number handwritten in blue pen: “205/57”.

The document gives the first names of Marta Olchawa’s parents: Kazimierz and Stanisława. According to the testimony of Elżbieta Chmielewska – a friend of Marta Olchawa (born Bauer) – Stanisława Olchawa was never married. The identity of Kazimierz Olchawa has not been established. In the document, Stanisława’s maiden name is given as Olchawa (added by hand in pencil). Marta Olchawa was rescued from the Lvov ghetto. Her biological parents, Ernestyna née Kutin and Izydor Marek Bauer (a violinist from Lvov), died in the Jewish quarter. Marta Bauer was taken in by Stanisława Olchawa. Marta took on her surname, and the new mother gave her a middle name – Józefa. | Text by Monika Harchut