Elsa Oppenheim studied law in Leiden, where she also graduated in 1911. She started working in the Vredespaleis (Peace Palace) in The Hague. Later she worked at the library of Leiden University. In 1941 she was discharged by the occupying forces. Near to despair she committed suicide on 8 April 1941.
See for a more extensive biography the website of the Universiteits Bibliotheek Leiden
Elsa Oppenheim came from an intellectual, social engaged family. Her grandfather was Urie Oppenheim, founder of the Oppenheimbank in Groningen. Her father was professor doctor Jacques Oppenheim, chief-executive of Groningen local coucil, member of the Coucil of State, president-curator of the Nederlands-Israëlitisch Seminarium in Amsterdam and also president of the Maatschappij tot Nut van de Israëlieten in Nederland. And her brother was Adriaan Synco Oppenheim, professor extraordinary in commercial law and civil law at Leiden University.
Addition of a visitor of the website
This person is commemorated on a memorial in Leiden. More information on this memorial can be found (in Dutch) on the website of the Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei.