Karin Zacharias

Cut-outs of two paper dolls with colorful dresses, holding books and flowers.
Paper Dolls, 1941

These German paper dolls, which would have been a rare toy and thrilling to receive, were mailed to Karin Zacharias by her grandmother, Helene Zacharias, who was still in Berlin. Helene Zacharias later died in Theresienstadt.
A worn brown leather bag.
Schoolbag, 1939

This is Karin Zacharias’ schoolbag, which she carried from her home on Wayside Road to the Kadoorie School. Its contents include report cards from the school; language notebooks; postcards sent to Karin by relatives in Germany; and logbooks she kept as a Girl Guide.
A composition notebook with the front illustration of a girl wearing a yellow-and-blue uniform; the notebook says "Be Prepared."
Girl Guides Logbook

Karin used this logbook as a member of the 13th Girl Guides of Shanghai.
A twisted silver ring with a blue diamond at its top.
Ring

This ring was made for Karin by her brother, who, after he finished school in Shanghai, did an apprenticeship with a silversmith.
A brown wallet decorated with the painting of a man holding buckets hanging from a rod balanced on his shoulders.
Painted wallet, undated

This wallet was painted by Karin Zacharias’s schoolmate Chaya, as a Shanghai-themed gift for Karin.