Out of the Archives: Serendipity
by Kevin Schlottmann, Archival Services Manager, Center for Jewish History

Today is International Cat Day. This morning, one of our archival fellows was processing a collection from the Leo Baeck Institute, when she came across a diary/sketchbook. Inside she discovered a small glassine envelope containing little white chips. Upon closer inspection, the chips turned out to be nail (well, claw) clippings from a cat. It turns out that the diary is entirely dedicated to “Kapuziner Benediktiner Schnurrer Frater Kater Wolfgang Caspar Marzipan,” a beloved cat.

Above image: From the Hannelore Daniels Collection, Leo Baeck Institute (AR 25518).