Alfred Barber
| Born: |
10-01-1918 |
| Faculty: |
Medical School | Medical University Vienna |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Alfred BARBER, born on October 1st, 1918 in Vienna/Austria (entitled residency ('heimatberechtigt') for Vienna/Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Markus Barber (merchant, born in 1884 in Gromicz/Poland) and his wife Ettie Barber (cook, born in 1888 in Czortkow/Poland), lived together with his parents in Vienna 20th district, Rauscherstrasse 7/10-11 until 1936. After he had graduated from high school ('Realgymnasium') in Vienna 2nd district on June 18th, 1936, he moved to his own apartment in Vienna 2nd district, Rotensterngasse 24/5, began to study medicine at the University of Vienna and was enrolled finally in spring term 1938 at the Medical School in the 2nd year of his studies.
On May 11th, 1938, Barber declared his wish to emigrate together to the USA or to Argentinia with both his parents, his sister Martha (seamstress, born in 1920 in Vienna) and his orphaned cousin Walter Bellmann (pupil, born in 1928 in Vienna) at the Department of Emigration of the Jewish Community [Fragebogen Nr. 222]. He stated that he was – besides his medical studies – working as a trainee tailor since two years and, furthermore, had passed a course for chauffeurs including a course in technical engineering with automobiles. In emigration he planned to continue his medical studies with financial help of his family, or to set up his own business as a tailor.
On November 20th Alfred and Marthe Barber made an invoice to emigrate to the USA at the department of emigration at the Jewish Community Vienna, which was granted in December 1938.
Together with his sister Marthe Barber emigrated to New York/USA by the end of December 1938. After he had arrived he had to work and earn money and could not afford the money for the medical studies in America. He found a job as an errand boy for a cousin who owned a clothing design company, the Landau Embroideries. Working as a pattern maker finally leaded him to designing.
In 1943 Barber entered the US Army, served for three years and then went back to New York City, where became well-known as a designer and clothing embroiderer.
He tried to get into medical schools in New York to continue his studies, but finally had to give up his wish of becoming either a doctor or dentist because of financial reasons.
In 1968 he founded his own firm in New York.
After 50 years of hard work Alfred Barber retired in the 1980s. In 1983 he moved to Cape Coral, Florida and during retirement taught art, beading and sculpture.
Alfred Barber died 2000 at age of 82 years.
Lit.: POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 358; information from his daughter Ruth Barber, 2014; Archive of the Jewish Community Vienna/Department of Emigration, 2014; Vienna City archive/Historical Central Registration of Viennese inhabitants, July 1st, 2014; KNIEFACZ/POSCH 2017c.
Katharina Kniefacz
