Varian Fry

Varian Fry
[no date recorded on caption card] · Public domain · source
Name	Varian Fry
Birth date	October 15, 1907
Birth place	New York City
Death date	September 13, 1967
Death place	Dennis, Massachusetts
Occupation	Journalist, Human rights activist

Varian Fry was an American journalist and human rights activist who is best known for his efforts to rescue Jewish refugees and other individuals persecuted by the Nazi Party during World War II. Fry's work was influenced by his interactions with prominent figures such as Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann, and Lion Feuchtwanger. He was also familiar with the work of organizations like the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the International Rescue Committee. Fry's experiences during this period were shaped by events like the Munich Agreement and the Invasion of Poland.

● Early Life and Education

Varian Fry was born in New York City to a family of Harvard University graduates, including his father, Arthur Fry, and his grandfather, William Henry Fry. He grew up in a family that valued education and social justice, which was reflected in his later work with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Fry attended the Hotchkiss School and later graduated from Harvard University, where he was friends with individuals like Lincoln Kirstein and Edward Warburg. During his time at Harvard University, Fry was exposed to the ideas of prominent thinkers like John Maynard Keynes and Bertrand Russell.

● Career

Before his rescue efforts, Fry worked as a journalist and editor for publications like the New York Herald Tribune and The Living Age. He was also a member of the American Committee for Anti-Nazi Literature and was familiar with the work of writers like Ernest Hemingway and John Dos Passos. Fry's career was influenced by his interactions with notable figures like Dorothy Thompson and Reinhold Niebuhr. He was also aware of the activities of organizations like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of Strategic Services.

● The Emergency Rescue Committee

In 1940, Fry co-founded the Emergency Rescue Committee with individuals like Frank Kingdon and First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt. The committee's goal was to rescue Jewish refugees and other individuals persecuted by the Nazi Party from France and other parts of Europe. Fry worked closely with organizations like the Unitarian Service Committee and the Quakers to achieve this goal. He was also in contact with notable figures like Jan Masaryk and Vladimir Nabokov.

● Rescue Efforts

in France Fry traveled to Marseille, France in 1940, where he worked with individuals like Daniel Bénédite and Jean Gemähling to rescue refugees. He was also in contact with notable figures like André Breton and Max Ernst. Fry's efforts were influenced by events like the Battle of France and the Vichy France regime. He worked to help individuals like Marc Chagall, Jacques Lipchitz, and Hannah Arendt escape from France.

● Later Life and Legacy

After his rescue efforts, Fry returned to the United States and continued to work as a journalist and writer. He wrote for publications like The New Yorker and The Saturday Evening Post, and was friends with individuals like Whittaker Chambers and William F. Buckley Jr.. Fry's legacy was recognized by organizations like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Yad Vashem memorial center. He was also honored by individuals like Elie Wiesel and Simon Wiesenthal.

● Recognition and Remembrance

Varian Fry's efforts to rescue Jewish refugees and other individuals persecuted by the Nazi Party have been recognized by numerous organizations and individuals. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government and was honored by the American Jewish Committee. Fry's story has been told in books like Alicia Appleman-Jurman's Alicia: My Story and in films like The Varian Fry Story. His legacy continues to be recognized by organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.