Antje de Riese

Antje de Riese was the sister of Anna de Riese Wells, and daughter of Gretje Klover.

She was born January 1, 1890.

She immigrated to America and arrived in New York on December 2, 1929 on the vessel “Berlin”.

At the age of 46, she traveled to America on the SS Bremen on November 13, 1936 and arrived in New York on November 30. The passenger list shows that she had been in Baltimore from 1929 to 1936 and the last time she left Baltimore was September 13, 1936. She listed the nearest relative or friend in Germany as stepfather H. Meyer (Hermann Meijer). Her destination in Baltimore was Howard Wells and her sister, living at 3114 Berkshire Rd. in Baltimore.

Her Naturalization paper from June 28, 1932 stated that she lived at Berkshire Road and was a housekeeper, age 42, fair complexion, gray eyes, 5’7″ and 122 pounds.

Hilda referred to her as Tante Antje, or Aunt Antje.

She passed away April 26, 1975 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The doll was a Christmas gift from Tante Antje to Hilda in 1939. Composition dolls were made partially or wholly out of a composite material made of sawdust, glue, cornstarch, resin and wood flour. Composite dolls were marketed as unbreakable, compared to earlier more fragile dolls.
The doll has eyelids that close when she is laid down and has two front teeth!
Joyce, Tante Antje, Hilda, Anna Wells, Debbie, Ray
Undated letter from Antje to Hilda. Note the last sentence, "A little token for the children"", which was likely some money.