PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

tsmiecho — Wed Jul 16, 2025 2:44 am

Author: tsmiecho

Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 2:44 am

Hi Sophia,

Indeed, perfect timing . Just as we've started our research, tennis has really taken off in popularity after Iga Świątek's victory.

Best regards,
Anna

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Sophia — Tue Jul 15, 2025 10:47 am

Author: Sophia

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2025 10:47 am

Hi everyone,

As we celebrate the victory this past weekend of Iga Świątek winning at Wimbledon, let's remember also the great Polish women who preceded her, including our forum's favorite: Wiera Richter. If you follow this link and go to the third page, you will see a nice action photo of her in 1927:

https://jbc.bj.uj.edu.pl/dlibra/publication/922919/edition/886110?search=cmVzdWx0cz9hY3Rpb249QWR2YW5jZWRTZWFyY2hBY3Rpb24mdHlwZT0tMyZwPTAmcWYxPWF2YWlsYWJpbGl0eTpBdmFpbGFibGUmcWYyPXJvb3RfaWQ6MjUwMDQ0JnZhbDE9cTpSaWNodGVyJTJDK1dpZXJh

Best regards,
Sophia

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Sophia — Mon Jul 14, 2025 2:42 pm

Author: Sophia

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 2:42 pm

Having looked at the records that Barb just posted, I would go with these two spellings when referring to Wiera's father:
1. Reinhold Richter
2. Rajnhold Rychter
These two forms will sound practically identical if the former is spoken using the rules of German pronunciation and the latter using rules of Polish pronunciation.
Just my two cents,
Sophia

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Mon Jul 14, 2025 1:27 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 1:27 pm

Hi,
Sorry, I forgot to post Rainhold's birth and death records, when I posted Matylda's records. He was baptized and reported dead in the Catholic Church. 25.02.1855-20.10.1930. So it is likely that his grave can be found in a Catholic cemetery.

https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=pol&bdm=B&w=05ld&rid=1950&search_lastname=rychter&search_name=Rainhold&search_lastname2=&search_name2=&from_date=1855&to_date=1855

No. 78 https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=408&se=&sy=1855&kt=1&plik=076-079.jpg&x=1925&y=550&zoom=1.75

https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=eng&bdm=D&w=05ld&rid=D&search_lastname=rychter&search_name=rajnhold&search_lastname2=&search_name2=&from_date=1930&to_date=1930

No.346 https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=424&se=&sy=1930c&kt=1&plik=343-346.jpg&x=1837&y=1475&zoom=1

Regards,
-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Sophia — Mon Jul 14, 2025 7:24 am

Author: Sophia

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 7:24 am

tsmiecho wrote:

Cemetery Search Results
I've been searching for Rinehold and Matylda's graves but haven't found them in the Łódź cemetery records. Specifically, they don't appear in the search database for the largest evangelical cemetery https://lodzogrodowa.grobonet.com/grobonet/start.php?id=wyniki&name=richter&submit=Szukaj. I believe if we could locate their grave, we might be able to connect with family members (assuming the grave still exists).

The absence of both graves and death certificates from the parish records suggests they may have left before their deaths and passed away elsewhere.

Hi Anna,

I want to make a quick comment on this part of what you wrote. I would be cautious to draw any conclusions from the lack of online cemetery records and lack of online parish records of death for the Richters. Grobonet is not at all complete, and other online grave websites like FindAGrave are also incomplete. The same is true for sites we have relied on in this search so far, like Geneteka. Much of what gets indexed on those sites is volunteer-driven and therefore whole chunks of data are missing. Further, the deaths of Reinhold and Matylda may be during years that are not available to researchers because they fall within the 100-year privacy policy. More confounding still is that fact that many graves are not permanent, even today.

If you are in Lodz, and if you are fluent in Polish, perhaps you would take a look for local newspapers to see if you can find death notices. Trish found a reference to the year 1930 for Reinhold's death, albeit without source information, but it could be a good starting point for you. Also, you can search city directories for Lodz (both business directories and address directories) to get a sense of when various people were in the city. When they disappear from those directories, you can begin to focus on potential death dates if you believe they did in fact die while still in Lodz.

May I also suggest you make note of the spelling REINHOLD as opposed to Rinehold and Rienhold which you have used in some of your posts here.

I do hope that you are able to pull together enough data to get corrections made to those websites which have incorrectly stated that Wiera's grandfather was Zygmunt.

Best of luck in your continuing research for this very interesting family,
Sophia

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Sun Jul 13, 2025 11:17 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 11:17 am

Hi Trish,
I got this from my Brazilian friend. He also sent me a website, but unfortunately it is not free.

-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Trish — Sun Jul 13, 2025 9:58 am

Author: Trish

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 9:58 am

Hi Anna, Barb, and Sophia,

I found a few trees in various websites. None of them had the exact date for the death of Wiera Richter. They all state she died in 1972 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. None of the trees have any documentation for proof of this information listed.

In one tree listed the birth and death of Reinhold Richter. He was born 25 February 1855 in Lodz. He died 20 October 1930 in Lodz. There is no documentation for proof of these dates.

I found the following information on the Brazil, Sao Paulo Immigration Cards, 1900-1965.

Name Wiera Mathilde Richter
Gender Female
Birth May 24 1892
Lodz, Polonia
Arrival Mar 22 1953
Santos, Brazil
Residence Rua Das Guajuviras, 102 - Jabaquara
Father Reinhold Richter
Mother Mathilde Richter
Source: Brazil, São Paulo Immigration Cards, 1900-1965
Page: 401

Name Jadwiga Von Scheibler
Gender Female
Birth Jan 10 1890
Lodz, Poland
Arrival Mar 22 1953
Santos, Brazil
Residence Rua Das Guajuviras, No 146 - Jabaquara
Father Reinhold Richter
Mother Mathilde Richter
Source: Brazil, São Paulo Immigration Cards, 1900-1965
Page: 149

Regards,
Trish

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

tsmiecho — Sun Jul 13, 2025 8:31 am

Author: tsmiecho

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 8:31 am

Hi Barb,

Thank you so much for all the incredible research and documentation you've shared! Your findings about the family relationships are fascinating.

I should clarify that I am not related to Wiera or the Richter family. I'm from Łódź and work at the university here. I conduct research on industrial families from our city's textile manufacturing era. During my studies, I came across Wiera and found her to be such a colorful and intriguing figure that I wanted to delve deeper into her story and hopefully connect with any surviving family members.

My primary interest is indeed in Wiera's life story - her tennis career, her travels, and particularly her later years in Brazil. As someone studying the industrial families of Łódź, I find the broader Richter family history equally fascinating, especially given their prominence in our city's textile industry.

Your confirmation about Wiera's death in São Paulo in 1972 would be incredibly valuable. The fact that you have contacts in Brazil who might be able to help locate her grave is exactly the kind of breakthrough I was hoping for.

Thank you again for your dedication to this research.
Best regards,
Anna

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Sun Jul 13, 2025 2:26 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 2:26 am

Hi Anna,
I know more and more about the family. There is a lot of reading. The documents are written in Russian and Polish and this takes time. My theory was correct. Wiera's grandfather's name was Jozef. Reinhold (Wiera's father) was the younger brother of Zygmunt.
You don't say what kind of family connection you have with Wiera. Everything indicates that Wiera was not married, and that you are not her descendant. I see that some of the children of Reinhold and Zygmunt emigrated to England, the USA and Brazil. It is a very interesting family history. The family was prosperous.
Matylda Richter nee Lorenz (Reinhold's wife, Wiera's mother) was born on October 19th, 1863 and died on January 27th, 1935. The confirming documents can be found here:

No.690 https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=87&se=&sy=1863&kt=1&plik=687-690.jpg&x=2037&y=1592&zoom=1.75

No. 22 https://metryki.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=pg&id=87&se=&sy=1934c&kt=2&plik=019-022.jpg&x=1934&y=1093&zoom=1

Both died in Lodz. Matylda was widowed in 1935.
It will be better if you tell us what specific information you need. Is it only information about Wiera that you are looking for? I am now in Poland and do not have much time to look at the documents, but I am going home next week and can continue searching. I'll contact someone I know in Brazil and ask if Wiera's year of death in São Paulo in 1972 can be confirmed. Possibly get help to find her grave.

Have a nice day,
-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

tsmiecho — Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:55 am

Author: tsmiecho

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:55 am

I found that Wikipedia https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiera_Richter incorrectly states Zygmunt was Wiera's grandfather - even the birth date is wrong. Based on our research, Zygmunt is actually Rienhold's brother, not her grandfather.

I'll be examining documents on https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/jednostka/-/jednostka/27463453 to find more evidence about the correct family relationships.

As a mother of two young children (ages 2 and 4), I'm currently less available due to summer break but staying current with research developments.

Thank you all for your continued support in uncovering the true story of this remarkable family!

Best regards to everyone!

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

tsmiecho — Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:39 am

Author: tsmiecho

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:39 am

Thank you so much for all the wonderful discoveries you've shared with me!
We now know that she lived in Poland, specifically in Łódź, in her father Rinehold's palace. Today, this very palace houses the rectorate of Łódź University of Technology.

I plan to reach out to the university authorities to see if they have any knowledge about the family's fate. It's quite possible they might have historical records or institutional memory that could shed light on what happened to them.

Cemetery Search Results
I've been searching for Rinehold and Matylda's graves but haven't found them in the Łódź cemetery records. Specifically, they don't appear in the search database for the largest evangelical cemetery https://lodzogrodowa.grobonet.com/grobonet/start.php?id=wyniki&name=richter&submit=Szukaj. I believe if we could locate their grave, we might be able to connect with family members (assuming the grave still exists).

The absence of both graves and death certificates from the parish records suggests they may have left before their deaths and passed away elsewhere.

The Southampton Connection - September 9, 1934
I find the departure to Southampton on September 9, 1934 particularly intriguing. This suggests she traveled to Great Britain, which opens up fascinating possibilities. The timing could be related to her tennis career or perhaps matters of the heart - who knows! This was during an era when many people were traveling through Southampton for various reasons.

Journey Through Europe
Thanks to your collective help, we know she left Poland for Germany (before, during, or after the war) as there are documents confirming that she and her sister were in Germany, where Ksenia passed away. Despite my searches, I haven't been able to locate Ksenia's grave either.

The Brazilian Chapter - 1953
Later, we know she departed for Brazil in 1953. At that time, she was already 61 years old and apparently unmarried (at least she hadn't changed her surname, which was the standard practice then). This was quite a bold decision considering her age and the fact that she was traveling alone.

Polish immigration to Brazil was significant during this period, with many Poles settling primarily in the state of Paraná. The peak of Polish immigration to Brazil occurred between 1895-1914, but there were still immigrants arriving in the 1950s.

Life in Brazil - The Mystery
What fascinates me most is wondering what she could have been doing in Brazil. We know she was a tennis player who achieved considerable success, but certainly at age 61, she wouldn't have been actively competing. This aspect of her story is particularly intriguing to me. I also have no information about where she was buried or who cared for her in her later years.

I must admit that the amount of help I've received here on this forum has truly surprised me. I am immensely grateful and thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your assistance in piecing together this remarkable woman's journey across continents and through such turbulent times in history.

The story spans from the palaces of Łódź to the ports of Southampton, through wartime Germany, and finally to a new life in Brazil - it's quite an extraordinary tale that we're uncovering together!

Anna

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Trish — Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:18 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:18 pm

Sophia wrote:

Hi Trish, Barb and Anna,

I am guessing that Anna is either away at the moment or perhaps not receiving notification that she has had replies. It happens! So let's just stay patient. We are finding great info here. I will send a private message to Anna in a moment, because that will be likely to reach her.

This link will take you to a document in the Polish Archives. I would draw your attention especially to Scan #12:

https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/jednostka/-/jednostka/27463453

which I believe is showing the names of the heirs of Zygmunt Richter. This should help shed some light on the names of his closest family, however my command of Polish is not strong enough to say for sure what all the genealogical implications are of the names that are shown here.

Best regards,
Sophia

P.S. Sometimes I have found with szukajwarchiwach's website that when you follow a link, it tells you it is not available, just ignore that and hit "refresh" on your browser and see if it opens.

Hi Sophia,
Great record! Thank you for posting it!.
Regards.
Trish

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Sophia — Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:24 pm

Author: Sophia

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:24 pm

Hi Trish, Barb and Anna,

I am guessing that Anna is either away at the moment or perhaps not receiving notification that she has had replies. It happens! So let's just stay patient. We are finding great info here. I will send a private message to Anna in a moment, because that will be likely to reach her.

This link will take you to a document in the Polish Archives. I would draw your attention especially to Scan #12:

https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/jednostka/-/jednostka/27463453

which I believe is showing the names of the heirs of Zygmunt Richter. This should help shed some light on the names of his closest family, however my command of Polish is not strong enough to say for sure what all the genealogical implications are of the names that are shown here.

Best regards,
Sophia

P.S. Sometimes I have found with szukajwarchiwach's website that when you follow a link, it tells you it is not available, just ignore that and hit "refresh" on your browser and see if it opens.

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Trish — Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:11 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:11 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Hi,
It would be nice if Anna would share with us certain information about the family. We work a little bit blindly.
My theory is that Reinhold Richter was the younger brother of Zygmunt Richter. Both were born in the same place. That means he could not be Wiera's grandfather. Her grandfather's name was Jozef.

-Barb

Hi Barb,
Thank you for getting back to me. I too was a bit confused too about Wiera's grandfather. This is why I asked who Wiera's parents were in a previous post.

Regards,
Trish

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:08 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:08 pm

Hi,
It would be nice if Anna would share with us certain information about the family. We work a little bit blindly.
My theory is that Reinhold Richter was the younger brother of Zygmunt Richter. Both were born in the same place. That means he could not be Wiera's grandfather. Her grandfather's name was Jozef.

-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

Trish — Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:33 pm

Author: Trish

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 1:33 pm

BarbOslo wrote:

Hi Anna,
Sophia found a document that could change everything we've found so far. We need to take a fresh look at the case.

-Barb

Hi Barb, Sophia, and Anna,

I never received notice that there was a response to this thread. It seems we are are starting over with new information that Sophia found. Is there anything I can look up?

Regards,
Trish
PS: Barb, Hope you have a nice time in Poland.

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:17 pm

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:17 pm

Hi Anna,
Sophia found a document that could change everything we've found so far. We need to take a fresh look at the case.

-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:17 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 3:17 am

Hi,
Here is Wiera, Ksenia and Jadwiga's brother:
https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=eng&bdm=S&w=05ld&rid=8757&search_lastname=richter&search_name=reinhold&search_lastname2=&search_name2=&from_date=1850&to_date=

-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:15 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:15 am

Hi,
Here are the children of Jadwiga Paulina Richter (Wiera and Ksenia's sister) and her husband Karol Wilhelm von Scheibler.
https://geneteka.genealodzy.pl/index.php?op=gt&lang=eng&bdm=B&w=05ld&rid=B&search_lastname=Scheibler+&search_name=karol&search_lastname2=&search_name2=jadwiga&from_date=1910&to_date=

In the baptismal record of twins born in 1919 I read that Reinhold Richter (the child's grandfather, and Wiera's father) was the godfather of Karol Eryk Hubertus. Wiera Richter was the godmother of Mira Wiera Urszula. This confirms that Wiera was still living in Łódź at that time. Mira Wiera Urszula emigrated to Brazil in 1953. The Arolsen archive must be checked for the surname Scheibler. I will later see if I can find Jadwiga Paulina's birth record from 1890 and her marriage record.

-Barb

Re: Searching for Information about the Richter Family from Łódź

BarbOslo — Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:22 am

Author: BarbOslo

Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:22 am

Hi Sophia,
We need to look closely at both weddings (1885 and 1879). If it is really Zygmunt who was the grandfather of Wiera, then we need to find a new birth record for Wiera. Check her siblings. Basically start the job over.
Anna, do you know for sure that it is Zygmunt who was Wiera's grandfather?

-Barb