Sala Kirschner

Sala Kirschner (born Sala Garncarz, 1928 – 2018) was a Polish-American woman known for surviving five years of forced labor camps during the Holocaust and for preserving a collection of letters and diaries written to her by family and friends during that period. These documents, collectively known as the Sala Garncarz Kirschner Collection, provide a rare and intimate look at the experiences of Jewish individuals and families separated by the Holocaust.

Born in Sosnowiec, Poland, Sala Garncarz was forced into a labor camp at age 16. She was subsequently transferred to several other camps, including Geppersdorf, Landeshut, and Grunberg, all located in the Gross-Rosen complex. Throughout her incarceration, Sala meticulously preserved the letters and diaries she received, despite the great risk of being discovered. These writings offered her solace and a connection to the life she had left behind.

After liberation in 1945, Sala eventually immigrated to the United States and married Sidney Kirschner. She kept the collection of documents hidden for over 50 years, finally sharing them with her daughter, Ann Kirschner, in the early 1990s.

The Sala Garncarz Kirschner Collection has since become a significant historical resource. It has been exhibited at the New York Public Library and other institutions, and has formed the basis for books, plays, and documentaries. The collection sheds light on the emotional and psychological toll of the Holocaust, and highlights the importance of personal narratives in understanding historical events. It is now housed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.