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The ANNE FRANK-Fonds (AFF) called its first press conference in January 2003 so as to introduce itself to the general public. The facsimile in the safekeeping of the AFF went on public display in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The board of trustees focussed on preparations for the 75th anniversary of Anne’s birth on 12 June 2004 and on the publication of hitherto unpublished parts of her writings.
The AFF works substantially behind the scenes. It is known to the outside world through its donations, grants and projects. The completion of the two facsimiles of the Diary and other writings, as a way of safeguarding these unique historic documents, prompted the press conference convened on 27 January 2003, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This conference was called to introduce the facsimile of the “Diary of Anne Frank” and other writings now in safekeeping in Basel. It also provided an opportunity to recall that Anne’s father, Otto Frank, lived in Birsfelden until his death in 1980 and that the AFF watches over the literary legacy of ANNE FRANK from its office in Basel.
Christine Wirz-von Planta (at that time National Councillor of the Liberal Democrat Party for Basel-Stadt) spoke of the significance of the Diary for her own life and for all studies relating to the history of the Shoah. Then, Hans Westra (Anne Frank House Amsterdam) presented the facsimile to Buddy Elias, the President of the of the AFF, and Klaus Müller (Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington) introduced his museum’s exhibition scheduled for Summer 2003. The press conference triggered massive response from the local media and also, quite particularly, from neighbouring southern Germany.
The Washington Exhibition
Custodians from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington asked the AFF for permission to include, not only the facsimile, but also a small number of pages written by ANNE FRANK herself as part of its tenth anniversary exhibition. This event, which was sponsored by the NIOD, the Anne Frank House and the AFF, was opened on 10 June 2003 by Laura Bush, wife of the US President, together with Buddy Elias, President of the AFF.
ANNE FRANK publications
During her time in the secret annexe, ANNE compiled her own anthology of quotations. Thanks to the initiative of Prof. Gerold van der Stroom, this hitherto unpublished compilation will appear under the title “Mooie-Zinnenboek” (“Book of Beautiful Phrases”). Further translations of the “Diary” - into Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Catalan and the language of the Roma people - have either been completed or are in preparation.
External relations
Regular meetings to co-ordinate ongoing projects are held alternately in Basel and Amsterdam between representatives of the ANNE FRANK-Fonds and the Anne Frank Stichting, Amsterdam. During the year under review, the entire board of trustees was shown the restructured archive of the Anne Frank House and inspected the work carried out in connection with the Diary by Liepman AG, the literary agency in Zurich.
Otto Frank House in Birsfelden
A small plaque on the front of the house commemorates Otto Frank. A reception, which was also attended by the tenants, marked the official inauguration of the building. As part of these festivities, the board of trustees planted a fruit tree in the garden.
Awards
In 2003, grants totalling CHF 620,000.- were given to projects concerned with promoting the interests of young people, encouraging tolerance and combating racism. Considerable sums went to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and to Anne Frank organisations in Great Britain and Germany. Every year, a significant amount is given to the ANNE FRANK Medical Fund for the Righteous. This fund provides urgently needed medication to those “Righteous Among the Nations” recognised by Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.
Further projects: Anne Frank Ethics Professorship in Basel, Verein Jugendkonferenz Bern, Stiftung gegen Rassismus und Antisemitismus [Foundation Against Racism and Antisemitism] Zurich, Anne Frank Peace Days in the city of Bergen, ANNE FRANK Centre Berlin, Jugendbegegnungsstätte Anne Frank [Youth Centre] Frankfurt/Main, University of Sussex, ELAH, Neve Shalom Israel, Verein Kezakimana Basel, Israel Goldstein Youth Village Jerusalem, Peter Huber School India, IMANAEH Basel, University of Wageningen, Projekt Jugendkultur gegen Gewalt [Young People Against Violence], World Quintet Basel, Leo Baeck Education Center Israel. Smaller contributions went to projects at home and abroad which reflect the ideals and principles of Anne Frank.
Basel, 01.07.2004/PML/ck
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