Papers of Martin Martins (formerly Schmalz)
1900-1954
Archives
Total copies: 1
Personal papers (photocopies)
This collection is important from several viewpoints: it sheds light on the life of a German Jewish family prior to 1939; on the problems of immigration to Britain; on life in Palestine in the 1930s; and of the work of Professor Polanyi and his association in Physical Chemistry.
Related Material:See M757 for further papers of Martin Martins and his wife Leah
Place:/Manchester/Manchester/Lancashire/England
Title:
Papers of Martin Martins (formerly Schmalz)
Date of work:
1900-1954
Reference number:
GB127.MISC/787
Level of description:
Fonds
Includes:
Custodial history:
Martin Martins (formerly Schmalz) was born in Gnesen in the then German province of Posen in 1908. After the First World War this area became Polish and many Germans moved to Germany, particularly the German Jews. The family Schmalz moved to Berlin in 1922. He worked as a Chemo-Technician in the team of Professor Michael Polanyi at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute (Department of Physical Chemistry) until 1933 when he was dismissed from his post because he was Jewish.
His dismissal coincided with an invitation from Polanyi to help develop the Department of Physical Chemistry at Manchester University. Here he played an important part in developing advanced equipment such as the oxygen isotope separator and the Polanyi-Frommer 'life period' between sodium atoms and organic halides. He was forced to leave, however, as a result of British immigration policy. He was only allowed a permit for 6 months at a time and by 1935 was being pressurised to leave the country. At the suggestion of Professor Namier he met Dr. Chaim Weizmann who was head of the newly established scientific institute (now the Weizmann Institute), where he was offered a contract by Dr. Weismann.
From 1935-1939 he worked at the Institute and in 1936 married Leah Sandler who joined him in Palestine. In 1939 they returned to England Holiday and were caught there by the outbreak of war. Thereafter Martin worked mainly in Britain, eventually going into Chemical Engineering design. He designed the manufacturer of polarizing material which were made into discs for the Royal Naval Scientific Service.
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedThis material is stored off site and we require 2 weeks' notice in order to retrieve it.
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
Record types:
Manchester Archives and Local Studies
Language:
English
Record number:
7203396