Oppenheimer Family Archive Who was where, and when
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Receipt

Bank deposit receipt from The National City Bank of New York

20.03.1940 New York, New York, USA (86th Street Branch) Julius Oppenheimer , Elsa Oppenheimer , Mina Oppenheimer , Leo Moser , Jacob Kaufmann , Frida Oppenheimer 
THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK

86th St.         BRANCH                     NEW YORK. 3-20-40. 19

Received from  Miss Mina Kaufman.

The following: Fifteen dollars ($15.00) cash plus $1000 check
of Harlem Savings Bank to be order endorsed.
To be used to open credit in favor of Julius Oppenheimer.

                                THE NATIONAL CITY BANK OF NEW YORK
                                BY [Signature: G. Leogla [?]]

S.F. 1013 PS 1-39
SC

This bank receipt documents a critical step in the Oppenheimer emigration: Mina Kaufmann depositing $1,015 ($15 in cash plus a $1,000 check from Harlem Savings Bank) at the National City Bank's 86th Street branch to open a letter of credit in favor of Julius Oppenheimer. This letter of credit would have served as proof of financial support for the American immigration authorities and could also be used to purchase transatlantic passage. The amount of $1,000 in 1940 (approximately $22,000 today) was a substantial sum, demonstrating the significant financial commitment required from sponsors. The Harlem Savings Bank check suggests Mina had savings specifically set aside for this purpose. The 86th Street branch location is consistent with the Upper West Side German-Jewish community where Mina and other sponsors lived.