Franziska Henrica Donner (1900 - 1992)

Born 15 Jun 1900 in Inzersdorf, Hietzing, Niederösterreich, Österreich

Ancestors

Wife of Syngman Rhee — married 8 Oct 1934 (to 19 Jul 1965) in New York City, New York, United States

Died 19 Mar 1992 at age 91 in 한국 서울

Biography

Franziska Donner is Notable.

Franziska Henrica Donner was born on 15 June 1900 in Inzerdorf, Austria.^[1] (About 1900 is listed in multiple documents.^[2][3][4])

She was baptised on 1 July 1900 in Wieninzersdorf, Vienna, Austria.^[1] Her parents were Rudolf Donner and Franziska Gerhartl.^[1][3]

On 4 October 1934, Franziska Donner, age 34 (born about 1900 in Inzersdorf, Austria) arrived at New York City, New York, United States on the SS Europa.^[2]

Franziska Donner, age 34, married Syngman Rhee, age 59, on 8 Oct 1934 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.^[3]

In August 1939, Francesca Rhee (age 38) and Syngman Rhee (64) arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii on the SS Matsonia from Los Angeles, California.^[4]

She passed away in 1992.

Research Note

Francisca Henrica Donner had sister Barbara Franziska Donner born on 23 July 1896, and baptised on 2 Aug 1896 in Wieninzersdorf, Vienna, Austria.^[5]

Some sources, including currently Wikipedia, list Barbara Franziska Donner as the wife of Syngman Rhee, rather than Franziska Henrica Donner. However they all quote the 1900 birth year not 1896, and do not provide any evidence that she was referred to as Barbara, only as Franziska or Fanny.

Young Ick Lew's biography of Syngman Rhee,^[6] also only refers to her as Francesca Donner, not Barbara.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "Vienna, Austria, Catholic Church Registers, 1600-1960", Archiv de Erzdiözese Wien; Wien, Österreich; Katholische Kirchenbücher; Pfarre: Inzersdorf; Signatur: 9232; Laufendenummer: 01-25, Ancestry Record 61634 #17413541 (accessed 4 October 2023), Francisca Henrica Donner baptism on 1 Jul 1900 (born 15 Juni 1900), child of Rudolf Donner & Franziska Gerhartl, in Wieninzersdorf, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957", The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at and Departing from Ogdensburg, New York, 5/27/1948 - 11/28/1972; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715, 1897-1957, Ancestry Record 7488 #2017646575 (accessed 4 October 2023), Name: Franziska Donner; Gender: Female; Ethnicity/ Nationality: German; Marital Status: Single; Age: 34; Birth Date: abt 1900; Birth Place: Austria; Other Birth Place: Inzersdorf; Last Known Residence: Vienna, Austria; Departure Port: Bremen, Germany; Arrival Date: 4 Oct 1934; Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA; Residence Place: Austria; Final Destination: New York City, New York; Years in US: Always; Citizenship Intention: Yes; Height: 5 Feet, 4 Inches; Hair Color: Brown; Eye Color: Brown; Complexion: Fair; Money in Possession: $350; Person in Old Country: F Donner; Person in Old Country Relationship: Mother; Person in Old Country Residence: Inzersdorf, Austria; Person in US: S Rhee; Person in US Relationship: Friend; Mother: F Donner; Ship Name: Europa.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24DR-Y74 : 21 June 2023), Syngman Rhee and Franziska Donner, 1934.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1900-1959", National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Honolulu, Hawaii, Compiled 02/13/1900 - 12/30/1953; NAI Number: A3422; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85, Ancestry Record 1502 #825330 (accessed 4 October 2023), Name: Francesca Rhee; Gender: Female; Race: German; Marital Status: Married; Departure Age: 38; Arrival Age: 38; Birth Date: abt 1901; Birth Place: Austria; Place of Origin: Hawaii; Departure Date: 11 Aug 1939; Departure Place: Los Angeles, California; Last Residence Place: Honolulu, USA; Final Destination Place: T. H.; Arrival Date: 16 Aug 1939; Arrival Place: Honolulu, Hawaii; Length of Time in US: 2 Months; Complexion: Fr; Eye Color: Gry; Hair Color: Brn; Height: 5 Feet 2 Inches; Person in Old Country Name: Mrs Francesca Donner; Person in Old Country Residence Place: 5 Laurenzo, Vienna, Austria.
5. ↑ "Vienna, Austria, Catholic Church Registers, 1600-1960", Archiv de Erzdiözese Wien; Wien, Österreich; Katholische Kirchenbücher; Pfarre: Inzersdorf; Signatur: 9232; Laufendenummer: 01-22, Ancestry Record 61634 #17410899 (accessed 2 October 2023), Barbara Franziska Donner baptism on 2 Aug 1896 (born 23 Juli 1896), child of Rudolf Donner & Franziska Gerhartl, in Wieninzersdorf, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
6. ↑ "The making of the first Korean president: Syngman Rhee's Quest for Indepenence 1875-1948", by Young Ick Lew. (U Hawaii Press, 2013).

See also:

• Wikipedia contributors. "Franziska Donner." Wikipedia. Accessed 21 Jan 2018.
• Wikidata: Item Q113840