Alma Rosé

The Gustav Mahler - Alfred Rosé collection at Western University is unique for its memorabilia relating to Gustav Mahler. Originally donated in 1983 by Mrs. Maria C. Rosé, the collection has a wide range of items including letters, photographs, postcards, and scores. The collection has grown over the years to include 6 supplements that provide more information on the Rosé family. Today, the collection is held by  Western Archives  to preserve these original items for use by researchers and historians.

This StoryMap is an example of how we can use Western's archival materials and historic maps to discover hidden stories. One of the gems of  the collection , for example, is the life of Alma Rosé. Alma was the niece of Gustav Mahler and established herself as a violinist throughout Europe. With the rise of Nazi Germany, Alma was forced to flee her home as she was of Jewish heritage. Eventually, she was captured and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she died two years later.

Follow the life of Alma Rosé through her performance career across Europe, her attempts to flee Nazi capture, and ending with her death in Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Alma Rosé's story is just a small part of the Gustav Mahler - Alfred Rosé collection at Western University that is known around the world as being the largest collection of Mahler material. This hidden story of the  Western Archives  is a tragic one that brings attention to the horrors of the Holocaust, but also to the beauty of music and its ability to bring people together in the darkest of times. Mahler continues to play a large role in classical music with his works being performed around the world and being studied in all music programs. Western University even had a Mahler dedicated weekend in the 2022/2023 academic year to celebrate the life of the composer, showing the prominence he plays in music today.

Special thanks to Zack MacDonald, Amanda Jamieson, and the staff at the Western Archives for their assistance with the collection and the preparation of this  StoryMap .

The Gustav Mahler - Alfred Rosé collection. Western Libraries. (n.d.).  https://www.lib.uwo.ca/music/gmar.html .

Historical Pictures and Documents. Historical pictures and documents / Gallery / Auschwitz-Birkenau.  https://www.auschwitz.org/en/gallery/historical-pictures-and-documents/ .

Mahler Foundation. (2022, February 15). Arnold Josef Rose.  https://mahlerfoundation.org/gt-member/arnold-josef-rose/ .

Story maps. Western Libraries Geospatial Hub. (n.d.). https://western-libraries-geospatial-hub-westernu.hub.arcgis.com/pages/story-maps.

Brown. (2009). Remembering Alma Rosé and the Women’s Orchestra at Auschwitz. American String Teacher, 59(4), 50–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/000313130905900409.

Gilbert. (2005). Music in the Holocaust : confronting life in the Nazi ghettos and camps. Clarendon Press.

The Gustav Mahler - Alfred Rosé collection. Western Libraries. (n.d.).  https://www.lib.uwo.ca/music/gmar.html .

Historical Pictures and Documents. Historical pictures and documents / Gallery / Auschwitz-Birkenau.  https://www.auschwitz.org/en/gallery/historical-pictures-and-documents/ .

Mahler Foundation. (2022, February 15). Arnold Josef Rose.  https://mahlerfoundation.org/gt-member/arnold-josef-rose/ .

Newman. (2000). In the Shadow of Death. Strad, 111, 964–971.

Newman, & Kirtley, K. (2000). Alma Rosé : Vienna to Auschwitz. Amadeus Press.