Sylwester B. Knap papers

Collection — Container: Single Folder Collections - 2002 Box 18 (02.0487-02.0511), Folder: 02.0507 - Folder 1

Identifier: 02.0507

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Sylwester B. Knap papers contain an oral history transcript and a political prisoner certificate. Knap's oral history focuses on his childhood during the time World War II began in Europe which includes attempting to find refuge in Czestochowa, his experiences in the Gross-Rosen concentration camp, forced labor, mistreatment, camp selections, contracting Typhus, liberation, becoming wounded, finding his family after the war, his uncles involvement in the resistance movement, and his feelings toward talking about the war.

Dates

Created: 1939-2002
Other: Majority of material found within 1939-1945
Other: Date acquired: 12/11/2002

Creator

Knap, Sylwester B., 1929-2018 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to all researchers.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Associate Dean for Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Florida State University Libraries as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.

Biographical or Historical Information

Sylwester B. Knap was born on January 1, 1929 in Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland. Once World War II began, his mother took the family to Czestochowa, Poland where they were detained and deported to Leipzig, Germany. His father was sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp, and he was taken to the Gross-Rosen Concentration Camp. With the advance of the Allies, he was sent to Litomerice in Czechoslovakia where he worked in the mines underground. He was liberated by the Russians and was wounded by accident. Once he left the hospital, he began searching for his family, he found his brother in an orphanage and his father who survived Buchenwald. He passed away on December 16, 2018.

Extent

1 folders

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Custodial History

Transferred from the Institute on World War II and the Human Experience to FSU Libraries Special Collections & Archives in July 2022.

Source of Acquisition

Donated.

Method of Acquisition

The oral history was conducted by Rafal S. Knap on November 29, 2002 in Panama City, Florida.

Subjects

Concentration camp inmates--Selection process Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Częstochowa (Poland) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Forced labor--Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Gross-Rosen (Concentration camp) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Holocaust survivors Subject Source: Lcnaf
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Leipzig (Germany) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Piotrków Trybunalski (Poland) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Typhus fever Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Displaced persons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Food supply Subject Source: Local sources
World War, 1939-1945--Poland Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Prisoners and prisons Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
World War, 1939-1945--Underground movements Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings