Register of the Michael Ivanovitch Rostovtzeff Papers, 1897-1968
[top]Descriptive Summary
Creator
Rostovtzeff, Michael Ivanovitch,
1870-1952
Title
Michael Ivanovitch
Rostovtzeff Papers,
1897-1968
Extent
Linear ft. of shelf space of occupied: 4.5
Number of items: ca. 2,500
Repository
Number of items: ca. 2,500
Duke University. Special Collections
Library.
Languages
English,
Latin,
French,
German,
Spanish or Castilian,
Russian,
and Italian.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsCollection is open for research.
However, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in the Michael I.
Rostovtzeff papers have not been transferred to Duke
University. For further information, see the section on
copyright in the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare
Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Michael Ivanovitch
Rostovtzeff Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special
Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Michael I. Rostovtzeff Papers (1897-1968)
were donated to the Special Collections Library in 1992 by
the American Society of Papyrologists.
Processing Information
Processed by: Daniel Daily
Assisted by: Sallie Locke and Brent Johanson
Date Completed: Nov. 20, 1992
Encoded by: Daniel Pitti and Stephen Miller
[top]
Biographical Note
| 1870, Nov. 10 | Born, Zhitomir (the Ukraine), Russia |
| 1888 | Graduated from the First Classical Gymnasium, Kiev, Russia |
| 1892 | B.A., University of St. Petersburg |
| 1899 | Master of Latin Literature, University of St. Petersburg |
| 1901 | Married Sophie M. Kulezycki |
| 1903 | Doctor of Latin Literature, University of St. Petersburg |
| 1905-1918 | Member, Constitutional Democratic Party |
| 1916-1919 | Member, Russian Academy of Sciences |
| 1918 | Emigrated to Great Britain |
| 1918-1920 | Lecturer, Queen's College, Oxford University |
| 1920-1925 | Professor of Ancient History, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wis. |
| 1925-1939 | Sterling Professor of Ancient History, Yale University |
| 1926-1927 | Published A History of the Ancient World |
| 1926 | Published The Social and Economic History of the Roman Empire |
| 1928-1937 | Director of the Yale University Expedition at Dura-Europos |
| 1938 | Published Dura-Europos and Its Art |
| 1939 | Appointed Director of Archaeological Studies, Yale University |
| 1941 | Published The Social and Economic History of the Hellenistic World |
| 1944 | Appointed as the Sterling Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology, Emeritus |
| 1952, Oct. 20 | Died, New Haven, Conn. |
Professor Rostovtzeff received honorary degrees from the University of Leipzig (1909), Oxford University (1919), University of Wisconsin (1924), Cambridge University (1934), Harvard University (1936), Athens University (1937), and the University of Chicago (1941). He was also a member of numerous national academies and learned societies, both in the United States and Europe. Included among these are Phi Beta Kappa, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philological Society, La Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia, Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, and the Polish Academy of Science.
[top]Collection Overview
The Michael I. Rostovtzeff Papers span the years
1897 to 1968 with the bulk dated 1926 to 1954. The
collection chiefly consists of the correspondence of
Michael Rostovtzeff and C. Bradford Welles, a colleague of
Rostovtzeff's at Yale University, with other scholars in the
fields of ancient history, archaeology, and philology.
Other materials include autobiographical writings by
Rostovtzeff, photographs, financial papers, and clippings.
The papers primarily reflect Michael Rostovtzeff's tenure as
a faculty member of the Classics Department at Yale
University.
The Papers of Michael I. Rostovtzeff provide
information on the scholarly study of the ancient world
during the first half of the twentieth century. In the
Correspondence Series, letters from scholars in England,
America, and Europe focus on matters of historical
interpretation, archaeological work at Dura-Europos, and
philological analysis. Notable scholars include Rene
Mouterde, W. W. Tarn, Franz Cumont, Athur D. Nock, Vincenzo
Arangio-Ruiz, Tadeusz Zielinski, Walter Otto, and Fritz
Heichelheim.
The Biographical Materials Subseries contains
Rostovtzeff's narrative of the Provisional Government's fall
during the Russian Revolution of 1917, his opposition to
Bolshevism, and his eventual emigration from Russia. The
Correspondence Series also documents Rostovtzeff's
assistance to European scholars seeking teaching and
research positions in the United States during World War
II. A number of letters between Rostovtzeff and Alvin
Johnson, Director of the New School for Social Research,
concern efforts by Johnson to identify refugee scholars for
faculty positions at the New School for Social Research.
[top]
Subject Headings
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
- Rostovtzeff, Michael Ivanovitch, 1870-1952.
- Welles, C. Bradford (Charles Bradford) 1901-
- Yale University--Faculty.
- Yale University--Dept. of Classics.
- New School for Social Research (New York, N.Y.).
- Johnson, Alvin Saunders, 1874-
- Heichelheim, Fritz M. (Fritz Moritz).
- Otto, Walter Gustav Albrecht, 1878-1941.
- Arangio-Ruiz, Vincenzo, 1884-1964.
- Mouterde, Rene, 1880-1961.
- Nock, Arthur Darby, 1902-
- Cumont, Franz Valery Marie, 1868-1947.
- Bickerman, E. J. (Elias Joseph), 1897-
- Tarn, W. W. (William Woodthorpe), 1869-1957.
- Zielinski, Tadeusz, 1859-1944.
- History, Ancient.
- Excavations (Archaeology)--Dura-Europos (Ancient City).
- Russia--History--Revolution, 1917-1921.
- World War, 1939-1945--Refugees.
- Refugees, Political--20th Century.
- Dura-Europos (Ancient City).
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Correspondence Series, 1918-1968, undated (bulk 1926-1954). | ||||||
| | Miscellaneous Series, 1897-1961, undated | ||||||
 | | Oversized Materials | ||||||
Detailed Description of Collection
Correspondence Series, 1918-1968, undated (bulk 1926-1954).
Divided into three subseries: Individuals,
Subjects, and Languages. Letters to and from an individual,
or letters pertaining to a subject may be located within
more than one subseries. Correspondence in English, Latin,
French, German, Spanish, Russian, and Italian is scattered
throughout the subseries.
Correspondence: Individuals Subseries, 1921-1968, undated (bulk 1926-1954).
Consists of letters to Rostovtzeff or copies
of letters sent by him. Included are letters which did not
originate from, nor were addressed to Professor Rostovtzeff,
including a substantial number of letters either to or from
C. Bradford Welles. Many
of the letters pertain to Professor Rostovtzeff's teaching
positions at
Oxford University, the
University of Wisconsin,
and
Yale University; his
study of ancient history; and his work as Director of the
Yale Expedition at
Dura-Europos.
A:
1934, Oct.-1955, June
B-C:
1937, Apr.-1947, July
D-F:
1936, Dec.-1953, Jan., undated
G-J:
1932, Feb.-1953, May , undated
K:
1921, May-1954, Aug.
L:
1936, Mar.-1948, Jan.
M:
1925, Sept.-1954, Dec., undated
N-O:
1934, Jan.-1960, May
P:
1932, Jan.-1968, Mar.
R-Sc:
1920s, 1936, Sept.-1963, Dec., undated
Se: 1930,
Feb.-1965, Sept.
Sh-Sn:
1933, Jan.-1964, May, undated
Soc:
1936, Sept.-1964, Jan.
Sok-Sz:
1933, May-1965, Feb., undated
T-Z:
1931, Mar.-1962, Oct.
Arangio-Ruiz, Vicenzo,
1938, Feb.-1953, May
Cumont, Franz,
1927, Feb.-1939, Oct.
Heichelheim, Fritz M.,
1933, Jan.-1942, Sept.
Mouterde, Rene,
1934, Nov.-July, 1960, undated
Nock, Arthur and C. Bradford
Welles,
1932, May-1963, Jan.
(3 folders)
Otto, Walter,
1934, Nov.-1948, June, undated
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.,
and Russian relatives,
1918-1941, undated
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.,
letters not sent to the addressees,
1942, Sept.-1950, June, undated
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.
to
C. Bradford Welles, 1930, May-1946, Oct., undated
(2
folders)
Rostovtzeff, Sophie,
Sympathy letters to,
1952, Oct.-1953, Jan., undated
(2
folders)
Rostovtzeff, Sophie to
C. Bradford Welles, 1944, Oct.-1954, June
Schubart, Wilhelm,
1933, Jan.-1960, Aug., undated
Welles, C. Bradford
and
Mrs. F.S. Merrill, 1944, Sept.-1946, July
Welles, C. Bradford
to
Michael I. Rostovtzeff,
1930, Nov.-1946, July
Welles, C. Bradford
and
Mariano San Nicolo, 1933, Aug.-1955, May
Welles, C. Bradford
and
W. W. Tarn,1939, Feb.-1954, Dec., undated
Welles, C. Bradford
and
Toll, Nina,1932, Nov.-1936, July 2
Box 2
Wilammitz to
Michael I. Rostovtzeff,1926, May,-1930, July
Zielinski, Tadeusz,
1929, Apr.-1940, June
Correspondence: Subjects Subseries 1918-1966, undated (bulk 1926-1950).
Includes correspondence concerning
Rostovtzeff's contribution to
The Cambridge Ancient
History. Also contains other correspondence from
publishers in
England, as well as in
Germany and
France, concerning the
publication of Rostovtzeff's works. Correspondence from the
British publishers comment on the effects of
World War II upon publishing
and everyday life.
The focus of a substantial number of letters
is Professor Rostovtzeff's efforts to aid refugee European
scholars in obtaining faculty positions in the
United States during
World War II.
The Cambridge
Ancient History,
1926, June-1933, Mar., undated
(2 folders)
The Clarendon Press,
1926, June-1942, Sept. undated
(2
folders)
Harvard University:
Offer of an appointment as a university professor,
1938
Harvard University, The Dumbarton
Oaks Research Library and Collection,
1940, Aug.-1950, Nov.
Princeton: Advisory
Council to the Department of Classics,
1947, July-1966, Dec.
Publications: French
correspondence,
1923, Dec.-1939, Aug.
Publications: German
correspondence,
1928, Apr.-1939, July
Recommendations by
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.,
1936, Nov.-1950, Jan. (Restricted)
Refugee scholars:
Bickerman, Elias, 1939, Apr.-1942, Jan.
Refugee scholars: Curriculum
vitae,
1938-1941; n.d
Refugee scholars:
English, French, German, and
Italian languages, 1937-1942, undated
Refugee scholars:
Johnson, Alvin, 1940, Aug.-1941, Apr.
Refugee scholars:
Slavic, French, and Italian
languages, 1929-1943, undated
University appointments,
1918, Apr.-1944, June.
Yale Research Funds,
1938, Aug.-1943, May
Correspondence: Languages Subseries, 1920-1951
Primarily letters received by Rostovtzeff
from scholars in
Great Britain and
Europe. Contains
correspondence in English, French, German, Italian, Latin,
Russian, and Spanish. Included are letters concerning
Rostovtzeff's archaeological work at
Dura-Europos and
matters of historical interpretation and philological
analysis. Included in the German correspondence are letters
from scholars hoping to emigrate from
Germany due to political
changes after
World War I or
anti-semitism. A letter dated
April 15, 1938 is written from a
concentration camp in
Germany and describes
the conditions within the camp. In the Russian
correspondence, the topics of the letters include
humanitarian aid to people in
Russia, censorship of
mail, and archaeology.
English,
1921, Dec.-1951, Nov., undated
(9
folders)
French, 1920, Nov.-1950, Feb., undated
(4 folders)
German,
1926, May-1944, Jan.
(3
folders)
Italian,
July, 1927-May, 1940, undated
Latin,
March, 1926-1939, 1930s
Box 3
Russian,
1920-1945, 1940s, undated
(5
folders)
Spanish,
1940, Sept.-1946, Feb.
Miscellaneous Series, 1897-1961, undated
Comprised of five subseries Biographical
Materials, Pictures, Writings, Financial Papers, and
General. Each subseries primarily documents Rostovtzeff's
professional affiliations.
Biographical Materials Subseries, 1918-1954 and undated
Awards and honors,
1918-1951
(2
folders)
Autobiographical Writings,
1940; undated
Curriculum vitae and lists of
publications,
1951
Obituary notices, clippings,
1952-1963
Obituary notices,
1952-1954, undated
Pictures Subseries, 1909-1941 and undated
Primarily black and white photographs.
Subjects include
Michael and Sophie Rostovtzeff,
scenes in
Russia, and
archaeological sites, possibly
Dura-Europos.
Box 3
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.,
1926-1933, undated
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.,
and colleagues,
1931-1941, undated
Rostovtzeff, Michael I.,
and
Russia, 1909, undated
Rostovtzeff, Michael I. and
Sophie,
undated
Writings Subseries, 1926-1961
Includes offprints, typed drafts, and
clippings of reviews for
The Social and Economic
History of the Roman Empire and
The Social and Economic
History of the Hellenistic World, and a first
edition of
Samuel Eliot Morison's The Scholar in
America.
1926-1961
Financial Papers Subseries, 1921-1932 and undated
Papyri and antiquities, accounts
and purchases,
1930-1932, undated
Publications, accounts and
receipts relating to,
1921-1932, undated
General Subseries, 1897-1952, undated
Includes notes for a lecture series and the
preparation of a bibliography of Rostovtzeff's works.
1897-1952
Oversized Materials
Oversize Cabinet
OC:III:1
:
Correspondence Series
Individuals Subseries, 1927-1962
Subjects Subseries, 1929-1950
Miscellaneous Series
Biographic Materials Subseries, 1918-1953, undated
Writings Subseries, 1941-1942, undated
Financial Papers Subseries, 1931
General Subseries, 1919, 1943, and undated
