Einstein, Albert | Albert Einstein writes to Mileva's best friend, Helene Savic

Einstein, Albert

Typed letter signed ("A. Einstein"), Princeton, 6 December 1939

1 p. (278 x 215 mm), in German, to Helene Kauffler-Savic, Belgrade; horizontal and vertical folds.

Albert Einstein writes to a family friend from university days in Zurich. Helene Savic was the closest friend of Einstein's first wife Mileva and lived in the same boarding house. After World War II, she published her correspondence with Mileva, which was an important biographical source for Einstein's years in Zurich.

Writing from Princeton early in 1939, he tells Savic he is unable to help her with her difficulties in Belgrade. He reminisces about the relatively carefree days of student life in Zurich at the beginning of the century. He then goes on to give her news of his family. His oldest son has settled in South Carolina. His youngest is with Mileva in Zurich, suffering from mental illness ("unheilbar geisteskrank"). He ends by telling Savic that Mileva would love to hear from her and gives her the Zurich address.