DACS

borchardthermann Preliminary Inventory of the Hermann Borchardt Papers, 1918-1960s Processed by: Meghan Lyon; machine-readable finding aid created by: Meghan Lyon David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 002050905

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: April 2009Processed by Meghan Lyon, April 2009; finding aid encoded by Meghan Lyon, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, April 2009 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Preliminary Inventory of the Hermann Borchardt Papers, 1918-1960s David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Borchardt, Hermann Hermann Borchardt Papers, 1918-1960s Material in English, German 4.2 Linear Feet 3200 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. German writer and intellect who escaped a Nazi concentration camp and immigrated to New York in 1937. Collection consists of correspondence between Borchardt and several friends, including several news clippings and photographs. Subjects discussed include the emergence of Nazi Germany under Hitler and the origins and consequences of World War II. The remainder of the collection consists of literary manuscripts, drafts, and notes from Borchardt's writings, as well as some correspondence and newspaper clippings. Many of the materials are not in order and are in poor condition. Writings are in German and English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Hermann Borchardt Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Provenance

The Hermann Borchardt Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 2007.

Processing Information

Accessioned by Meghan Lyon, April 2009

Encoded by Meghan Lyon, April 2009

This collection is minimally processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Biographical Note

Hermann Borchardt was a German intellectual with Marxist leanings who left Germany in 1933 following Hitler's rise to power. He moved to Russia to teach German, but his exposure to the oppression he found there led him to reverse his political leanings and become an outspoken critic of communism. His family was expelled from Russia in 1936, and returned to Germany. Borchardt spent 10 months in Nazi concentration camps before finally being allowed to leave Germany and immigrate to the United States, where his family later joined him. He continued to write books, short stories, and articles criticising communism. His best work is considered to be The Conspiracy of the Carpenters, published in 1943; other works include Philosophische Grundbegriffe (1927); The Bloody Deeds of Germersheim Before the Eternal Judge, Music of the Near Future, The Red Document (1929); The Brethren of Halberstadt (1938); and The Wife of the Police-Commissionaire (1946). He died of a heart attack in 1951.

Borchardt's youngest son, Frank, was born in New York City, and eventually became a professor of German Languages at Duke University.

Collection Overview

The original collection consists of correspondence between Borchardt and several friends, including several news clippings and photographs. Subjects discussed include the emergence of Nazi Germany under Hitler and the origins and consequences of World War II. They despise Hitler's tactics, expressed dismay with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, and criticized Hitler's deal with Russia's Stalin (i.e. the German-Russian Non-Aggression Pact of 1939). The collection also makes reference to German playwright Bertolt Brecht, whose views of war the correspondents agreed with.

The accession (2008-0158) appears to consist largely of literary manuscripts, drafts, and notes from Borchardt's writings, as well as some correspondence and newspaper clippings. Many of the materials are not in order and are in poor condition. Writings are in German and English. This addition is unprocessed.

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.

Borchardt, Hermann.--b. 1888. Hitler, Adolf--1889-1945. Chamberlain, Neville--1869-1940. Brecht, Bertolt--1898-1956. Germany--Treaties, etc.--Soviet Union, 1939 Aug. 23. The brethren of Halberstadt. The conspiracy of carpenters. The smoke rose up forever. Germany--politics and government--1933-1945. Soviet Union--foreign relations--Germany. Drafts (documents) Translations (documents) Contents of Collection Letters, 1934-1950 (1 box)

This portion of the collection (55 items) includes correspondence between Borchardt and several friends, including several news clippings and photographs. Subjects discussed include the emergence of Nazi Germany under Hitler and the origins and consequences of World War II. They despise Hitler's tactics, expressed dismay with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement, and criticized Hitler's deal with Russia's Stalin (i.e. the German-Russian Non-Aggression Pact of 1939). The collection also makes reference to German playwright Bertolt Brecht, whose views of war the correspondents agreed with.

1Letters, 1934-1950 Accession (2008-0158), 1918-1960s (7 boxes)

Accession (2008-0158) (3150 items; 4.2 lin. ft.; dated 1910s-1960s and no date) consists of literary manuscripts, drafts, and notes from Borchardt's writings, as well as some correspondence and newspaper clippings. Many of the materials are not in order and are in poor condition. Writings are in German and English.

This addition is unprocessed. Materials have been refoldered and German titles have been transcribed from the original folders to the best of our ability. Many pages were loose and unlabelled.

1The Brethren of Halberstadt, Acts I-II The Smoke Rose Up Forever Conspiracy of the Carpenters Louise, Act I Text, no label, pages 340-770 Printed materials Griechische Bildwerke und Der Stille Garten Captivity, by Fred Uhlman Calendar, no year Moritz von Schwind 2The Brethren of Halberstadt, Act III Weinhold manuscripts Geschichte eines bosen Gewissens Loose pages, no label Froanziger Jahre Short story Text, no label Michael Schirmer, 1933 Antonia Wellhöhner, 1918 Tale of a Noblewoman 3Dritter Akt. Rudolf K. Kommer: Hotel Ambassador (The Smoke Rose Up Forever, Acts I-IV) 1914 and 1918

Articles, clippings, correspondence.

Correspondence, 1945-1948 Newspaper clippings and miscellaneous materials Correspondence, to Mimi [Hermann's wife, Dorothy Redmer Borchardt] from Baby, 1960s 4Die Verschwörungder der Zimmerleüte Text, no label, p. 5-138 Loose pages Braunes (?) Die Verschwörung der Zimmerleüte Luise: Dritter Akt. Das Gericht Loose drafts (in German) Newspaper clippings Nächte Methodik-Minsk, 1935 I Akt: Die Razzia 5Der Verlorene Haufe (The Vanguard), 1939 The Conspiracy of the Carpenters Tale of a Noblewoman I Geschichte Einer Edelfrau Club der Hamloser Angefaugener Roman (?) Die Nacht der Versöhnung Loose pages, no label 6Loose pages, no label 1923 A Thaler und A Pfenning und No Reich to the Germans Loose pages, no label Das Paradies des Kleinen Otto Tale of a Noblewoman II Der Kleine Engel in Österreich The Smoke Rose Up Forever Loose pages, no label Austria newspaper, 1948 7Clippings on foreign alliances, domestic peace, and the Far East Loose pages, no label Drafts of chapters Die Sünde des Erafen Gotter (II) Mann und Frau (III) Erste Begegnung (VII) Diner bei Gotter (VIII) Sofort zü Arbe Schreiben Roman: Das jahr 1918 1918: Schwester Martha Die Brüder von Halberstadt Schluss Rapibel Kapital (?) Loose pages and manuscripts Short stories Eros Stark Wie der Tod The Legend of the Gothamists Tag der Befreiung Der Schwarze Freitag Verpöbelung der Gebildeten durch exakte Wissenschaft Erstes Kapitel German National Character (Part I) Outside Education (Part II) Make Them Forget (Part III) Secondary Schools (Part IV) Uprising of a Ruling Class (Part V)