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Arvid Theodors Hammers - Immigrant Stories
Arvid Hammers was born in Riga, Latvia in 1942 during the German occupation of that country. His family fled Latvia in 1944 as the Soviet Army was approaching, and he spent the next seven years in a series of refugee camps in Germany. The family emigrated to the United States in 1951, settling in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
The family flees Latvia
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Growing up in Germany in post-war Europe
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Arvid’s emigration to American in 1951, and life in the United States
Photos
Caption
Anna Jekaba Hammers was Arvid’s paternal grandmother, born in 1889 in Rankas, Latvia. Anna was responsible for running the family business, a chain and nail factory in Latvia. She stayed in Latvia when Arvid’s family fled to Germany in 1944.
Where:
Latvia
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This is a formal photo of Teodor Hammers, Arvid’s paternal grandfather, taken during World War II. Teodor was later killed in an automobile accident.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1939-1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid’s father and grandfather owned a chain factory in Riga, Latvia. This photo of the factory employees was taken sometime in 1940. (The Soviets occupied Latvia in June, 1940.) Anna, Arvid’s grandmother is seated in the middle of the front row.
Where:
Riga, Latvia
When:
1940
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid Alexander Hammers, Arvid’s father, is pictured with Arvid at about age four in the late 1940s, likely in Germany after leaving Latvia.
Where:
Germany
When:
Late 1940s
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid at two months old is held by his mother Milda in Riga, Latvia, in 1942.
Where:
Riga, Latvia
When:
1942
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The Displaced Persons Camp in the northern district of Bad Cannstatt, Germany where Arvid and his parents stayed after the Soviet invasion and occupation of Latvia. They lived in Germany from 1944 to 1951. This camp was later named Camp Funker Kaserne.
Where:
Bad Cannstatt, Germany
When:
1944 to 1951
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This picture of Arvid on November 22, 1947 was taken when he was five while in Kempten, Bavaria, likely one of the places the family lived while in Germany.
Where:
Kempten, Bavaria
When:
November 22, 1947
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid’s father was a staff member with the International Recovery Organization, which operated out of a number of locations in Germany to help in the post-war recovery efforts. This picture was taken of the staff in Nellingen, Germany in 1950.
Where:
Nellingen, Germany
When:
1950
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid’s family lived on the second floor of this two story house, their first home in America, located near the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago, in the early 1950’s. Arvid’s mother helped clean the house for the landlady living on the first floor.
Where:
Chicago
When:
Early 1950's
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid and his parents are pictured visiting with a second cousin in Bellwood, Illinois in the early 1950’s.
Where:
Bellwood, Illinois
When:
Early 1950's
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid, nine years old, with his mother, Milda Leipins Hammers while traveling by train, in November, 1951. The family was moving from Hindenburg to Bremen, Germany as part of journey to the port of debarkation and departure to America.
Where:
Germany
When:
November, 1951
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The embarkation station for the Hammers family was Camp Grohn, Bremen, Germany, December, 1951.
Where:
Camp Grohn, Bremen, Germany
When:
1951
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
The USS General Leroy Eltinge, was a Navy transport ship that made several trips from New York to Bremerhaven, Germany to bring refugees to the United States. Arvid and his parents processed through Ellis Island in New York City, December, 1951.
Where:
USS General Leroy Eltinge
When:
December, 1951.
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Arvid, age ten, is shown shortly after arriving in the United States. The picture was taken in Chicago, Illinois circa 1951-1952.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Circa 1951-1952
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid, about thirteen, is posing with boxing gloves in Chicago, Illinois. Arvid worked at Sears, part-time, and was able to use the YMCA as an employee benefit. He earned pocket money boxing and playing pool.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Circa 1955
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid at age nineteen (circa 1961) in Chicago, Illinois.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
Circa 1961
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Arvid Hammers donned his graduation gown for his graduation from John Marshall High School, Chicago, IL in 1961.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
1961
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
In 1956, Arvid is pictured (third from the left, back row) with his 8th grade class at Morse School, Chicago, Illinois.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
1956
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Arvid traveled to Latvia with his three children in July, 2014. A family picture was taken outside a restaurant in with Theodore (Teddy), Alexander (Alex), and Margot.
Where:
Riga, Latvia
When:
July, 2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
This is a picture of Arvid Hammers, September, 2014.
Where:
Unknown
When:
September, 2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The Latvian Namejs ring with bold braiding in silver or gold is given to family or friends as a symbol of friendship and trust. Arvid had a ring made for each of his children by a jeweler in Riga. Engraved in each ring are the words “God is guarding me”.
Where:
Riga, Latvia
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo