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Salvadorian Diplomat's Paperwork Saved Lives during Holocaust Print E-mail
 2010-02-28

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum was given a gift of over 1,000 Salvadoran citizenship certificates issued by diplomat George Mantello to saves lives during the Holocaust. The certificates contain names, dates of birth and in many cases photos. 
 
Mr. Mantello sent out notarized copies of the certificates and kept the originals, more than 1,000 of which were found in a suitcase in a Geneva basement in 2005 and donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., by his son three years later.

Now museum researchers are trying to trace recipients of the certificates to get an idea of how many of them actually saved lives and learn the full scope of Mantello's rescue efforts. The citizenship certificates can be viewed on the museum Web site: A forgotten suitcase.
(Click on browse through all certificates.)
 
An article on this genealogical treasure was in several newspapers today, including the Washington Post which includes a slideshow and the NY Times (without the slide show).