Wilhelm Eckstein Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists mainly of unpublished writings of the lawyer and antimilitarist Wilhelm Eckstein. These writings include an anti-war pamphlet, a manuscript on the life of the spy Bolo Pasha that also deals with the French politician Joseph Caillaux, a section of a manuscript on economic principles, and a large amount of poetry. Although many of the papers are undated, some indicate that they were written between 1915 and 1936. The bulk of the papers deals with the politics surrounding World War I and warns of further international conflict.
Beyond these writings, the collection also includes notebooks, loose notes, clippings, collections of poems not written by Eckstein, and a few personal papers. The pamphlet "Kaiser und Krieg oder Republik und Frieden?" in folder 6 was written by Eckstein under his pseudonym Siegfried Balder. The book of poetry is a bound book that holds handwritten poetry, songs, and clippings of poems glued to the pages, most of which deals with World War I. The poetry in folder 10 tends to be anti-war. The notebooks in folder 11 and many of the notes and annotations found throughout the collection are written in German shorthand. The clippings include poetry, a series by Fritz Maralt called “Rund um das Geld,” and a few clippings related to Bolo Pasha.
Dates
- Creation: 1906-1941
Creator
- Eckstein, Wilhelm, 1872-1944 (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in German with a few documents in French.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to researchers.
Access Information
Readers may access the collection by visiting the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the Center for Jewish History. We recommend reserving the collection in advance; please visit the LBI Online Catalog and click on the "Request" button.
Biographical Note
Wilhelm Eckstein was born in Munich, Germany in 1872. He studied law and economics in Munich and Berlin and began his legal career in 1900 at the Kanzlei Berstein-Loewenfeld in Munich before founding his own practice. He was a contributor to the satirical publication Simplicissimus and connected to circles of avant-garde artists and writers of Munich around 1900. He was drafted into the Germany army during World War I and developed a strong anti-military and anti-war stance that he would express in poetry and other writings throughout the following decades, sometimes under the pseudonym Siegfried Balder.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection holds unpublished writings of the lawyer Wilhelm Eckstein (born 1872), including a manuscript on the spy Bolo Pasha and the French politician Joseph Caillaux, anti-war writings, part of a work on economics, autobiographical sketches, and large amount of poetry. Other materials include notebooks, loose notes, clippings, and a few personal papers.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by document type.
Digitization Note
The collection was digitized and made accessible in its entirety.
Separated Material
A copy of the book A travers les lignes ennemies by Ernest Tonnelat and Hansi (Jean Jacques Waltz) was removed to the LBI Library. Some shorthand notes by Eckstein are written on the pages.
Processing Information
Duplicates were removed. Where notes were found folded inside notebooks, these were unfolded but kept in the same place in the notebook. Oversize clippings were unfolded, flattened, and placed in an oversize folder. Among these clippings is one from the October 2, 1938 edition of the Paris-Soir that was found tucked inside the book “A travers les lignes enemies” at page 86. Fragile papers were placed in Mylar sleeves.
Subject
- Eckstein, Wilhelm, 1872-1944 (Person)
- Caillaux, Joseph, 1863-1944 (Person)
- Bolo, Paul, 1867-1918 (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Wilhelm Eckstein Collection undated, 1906-1941 AR 10350
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Leanora Lange
- Date
- © 2013
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Sponsor
- Made possible by the Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives Grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources through The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support "Illuminating Hidden Collections at the Center for Jewish History." Digitized as part of the CJH Holocaust Resource Initiative, made possible by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
