PROGRAM: Karen S. Franklin will give an overview of Nazi Era
Looted Art issues in Jewish Museums in the US and Europe, and discuss how Jewish genealogical research
has been utilized to help solve ongoing cases in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Mrs. Franklin
has been researching major cases for the Origins Unknown Agency and the Looted Art Commission and will
explain how determining the provenance of art pieces, newly-discovered collectibles, and personal
possessions of former Jewish owners, is akin to genealogical sleuthing, offering as many twists, turns
and surprises. She is the author of the Resolution on Nazi Era Looted Art, which was approved by the
Council of American Jewish Museums in January 2007, and will describe how this resolution affects
claimants and the Jewish community. Recent lectures on this topic have resulted in several new cases
coming to light, and Franklin will also give an update on these cases.
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SPEAKER: Karen Franklin is director of the Family Research
Program at the Leo Baeck Institute and the former director of The Judaica Museum of The Hebrew Home for
the Aged in Riverdale. She is a past chair of the Council of American Jewish Museums and a past president
of IAJGS. She has served on the board of the American Association of Museums (AAM) and presently serves
on AAM/International Council of Museums. Mrs. Franklin is a GERSIG (German Special Interest Group)
coordinator, a juror for the Obermayer Award, and serves on many boards of national and international
organizations, speaking frequently throughout the world.
Mrs. Franklin will be introduced by E. Randol Schoenberg who litigated the
case of the Republic of Austria vs. Klitmann, in which he sought return of six famous
Klimt paintings to his client. After persuading the U S. Supreme Court that Maria Altmann
could sue Austria for return of the paintings, he agreed to arbitrate the dispute in
Austria. In January 2006 the arbitration panel decided that the paintings, valued at over
$325 million, should be returned to Mrs. Altmann.
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LIBRARY: The JGSLA Spiszman Traveling Library, with its collection of books and member
volunteers to assist you, will be available on the Magnin Auditorium mezzanine from 7 p.m
LOCATION: Skirball Cultural Center, Magnin Auditorium 2701 N. Sepulveda
Blvd. Exit the San Diego Fwy. at Skirball Center Dr. Turn right onto Sepulveda Blvd. and
right again into Skirball parking, opposite the Center entrance, or turn left on Herscher Drive,
north of the Center, to the underground parking lot.
Attendance Fees / Reservations: Free for JGSLA and GACS members, $5 for guests. Non-members are invited to join. Parking is free
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