Student Profile: Abram Olszycki

How I Found Abram Olszycki:

When I first searched his name, one result came up, Abram Icchok Olszycki. The first and last name matched, but the boy who signed the album neglected to sign his middle name. However, the birth date of Abram Icchok Olszycki fell within the range of the birth dates of boys who attended Abram Olszycki's school. Furtheremore, the occuaption of Abram Icchok Olsycki was student, as was the occupation of the Abram who signed the album. Therefore, I deduced that Abram Icchok Olsycki from the records could probably be the Abram who signed the album. 

Abram's record reads "AUSG TR 14", indicating that he was transported, but there is no record of where or when. Because there is no date listed, I couldn't use the secondary sources document for additional insight. Instead, I searched his name in the Hospital, Labor, Deportation and Administrative Records from the Lodz Ghetto Database and Abram's name came up. This shows that he was transported and probably lived--am I right in making that assumption? Why would they put his name in the records if had died? I also looked throught the labor cards but his name was not there. I don't want to assume he died, but because I don't have a date for his transport and only a transport number, his fate remains unknown. Is there anywhere else I could look if I only have his name, birthdate and transport number? 

We try never to jump to any conclusions. We believe that all numbered transports went to Chelmno, but as you rightly note, it is difficult to look for someone knowing only a name, date of birth, and transport number, and our sources are often unclear on what transportation dates and numbers mean.

The Lodz Ghetto Inhabitants database functions as a census of sorts: information was recorded by address, and updated as deportations went along. This means that simply having information in the database doesn't tell us anything, other than that at one time after February 1940 this person lived in the ghetto.

I do appreciate your caution in keeping your conclusions in check. That's the mark of a thoughtful consumer of information and reader of history. Best of luck finding out more.