MenuRegister of the Michael Ivanovitch Rostovtzeff Papers, 1897-1968
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.
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
- Duke University. Special Collections Library.
- Languages
- English,, Latin,, French,, German,, Spanish or Castilian,, Russian,, and Italian.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript 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 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllDivided 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.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent, organization or society. Arranged chronologically under the correspondent when there is more than one letter to or from a correspondent. Following the A-Z arrangement are folders arranged alphabetically by surname.
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.
Arranged alphabetically.
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.
Arranged alphabetically by language and chronologically within each language.
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, 1938is 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.
Comprised of five subseries Biographical Materials, Pictures, Writings, Financial Papers, and General. Each subseries primarily documents Rostovtzeff's professional affiliations.
Primarily black and white photographs. Subjects include Michael and Sophie Rostovtzeff, scenes in Russia, and archaeological sites, possibly Dura-Europos.
Arranged chronologically.
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.
Arranged chronologically.
Includes notes for a lecture series and the preparation of a bibliography of Rostovtzeff's works.
Historical Note
| Date | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| 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.
Subject Headings
- 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).
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Michael Ivanovitch Rostovtzeff Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Michael I. Rostovtzeff Papers (1897-1968) were donated to the Rubenstein 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