Guide to the Papers of George V. Wolfe (1904-1990) and Alice Wolfe (1905-1983), 1878-1991 AR 6313 / MF 821

Guide to the Papers of George V. Wolfe (1904-1990) and Alice Wolfe (1905-1983), 1878-1991
 
AR 6313 / MF 821

Processed by Maria-Tiffany V. Knittel

Leo Baeck Institute

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011

Phone: (212) 744-6400

Fax: (212) 988-1305

Email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

URL: http://www.lbi.org

© 2006  Leo Baeck Institute
Finding aid was encoded by Lea Osborne on March 31, 2006. Description is in English.
June 2008. Microfilm inventory added.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Wolfe, George, 1904-1990
Title: George and Alice Wolfe Collection
Dates: 1870-1991
Abstract: This collection documents the lives of George V. Wolfe (1904-1990) and his wife, Alice Wolfe (1905-1983). They lived in Vienna, Austria and immigrated to the United States in 1939. Included are records concerning their education, their professional careers, and their personal life. The collection also contains the records of Emil and Rosa Wolf, photo albums and some of George Wolfe's writings.
Languages: The collection is in German, English, Hebrew and Hungarian.
Quantity: 3 linear feet
Identification: AR 6313
Repository: Leo Baeck Institute
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Biographical Note

George Victor Wolfe (1904-1990) was born Georg Victor Wolf in Vienna, Austria on September 24, 1904 to Emil Wolf (1864-1942), a lawyer, and Rosa Wolf (neé Stein; 1870-1937). George had an older sister named Gertrud Charlotte (1899-1957) who immigrated to England and later to the United States.

George studied history, law, government, and philosophy at the University of Vienna and received his Ph.D. in History in 1928. Upon graduation, George began to study law exclusively and received his J.D. in 1930 from the University of Vienna. He worked as an assistant in his father's law office as well as for several courts until he was sworn in as an attorney in January 1938. However, in June of that same year the Nazis forbade him to practice law.

Alice Wolfe (neé Frisch) was born on April 2, 1905 in Topolcza, Hungary. Her parents were Eugen Frisch (1874-1920), a wine merchant and Helene Frisch (neé Bischnitz; 1880-1942). Alice had a younger sister named Irma.

Alice studied art history, archaeology and history at the University of Vienna. While attending a seminar in history, she met her future husband, George Wolfe, whom she married on August 8, 1928. After obtaining her Ph.D. in Art History, Alice joined the Albertina Museum in Vienna as a portrait cataloguer. She held this position until 1938 when the Nazis denied Jews the right to work in museums.

George and Alice fled to England in February 1939 with the help of the German Jewish Aid Committee, which guaranteed their financial support. The Wolfe's British entry permit was granted under the condition that they would not stay permanently in England. Both tried to help George's father, Emil Wolf, immigrate to Cuba, but they were unsuccessful. Emil later died in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Alice's mother, Helene Frisch was deported to Riga, Latvia.

In November 1939, George and Alice immigrated to New York, where Alice found work cataloguing William Randolph Hearst's collection of Majolica plates (which were to be auctioned). Shortly after their arrival, the couple moved to New Haven, Connecticut. There, Alice was made an honorary fellow in the Department of Art at Yale University and appointed as a research assistant in Renaissance Art at the Yale Art Gallery. George studied political science at Yale. After graduation, he worked as a temporary professor of political science at the university.

George and Alice changed their last name from Wolf to Wolfe when they became United States citizens in 1945 and 1946, respectively. The name "Wolf" was so often misspelled, that the couple decided to alter the spelling of it. In addition, George added a final "e" to his first name for the same reason.

Although George had difficulty finding a permanent teaching position, he was eventually hired at the College of Idaho, located in Caldwell, Idaho. In 1947, the couple left New Haven. George was successful in his academic career and stayed at the College of Idaho until he was named professor emeritus in 1970. Alice, however, became increasingly ill. She suffered from a degenerative neurological disease, which made it more and more difficult for her to walk. She also suffered from depression. Alice died on July 9, 1983 and George passed away seven years later on December 15, 1990.

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Scope and Contents

This collection documents the lives of George V. Wolfe and his wife, Alice Wolfe. The records date back to 1870 and span the majority of the 20th century. The material is arranged into six series: Personal and Family Documents, Articles, Correspondence, Memoirs, Photographs, and Miscellaneous.

Series I contains Personal and Family Documents. It is arranged into three subseries: Alice Wolfe, George Wolfe, and Family Papers.

Articles by and about George and Alice Wolfe may be found in Series II. This series is further divided into four subseries: Articles by Alice Wolfe, Articles by George Wolfe, Articles about George and Alice Wolfe, and Lectures and Speeches of George Wolfe.

Series III consists of correspondence. The correspondence is arranged in five subseries: Private Correspondence of George Wolfe, Official Correspondence of George Wolfe, Correspondence of Alice Wolfe, Miscellaneous Correspondence of George Wolfe, and Correspondence of Emil and Rosa Wolf.

George Wolfe's writings, as well as the writings of other authors, are contained in Series IV.

Photographs of George and Alice Wolfe may be found in Series V.

Series VI contains miscellaneous records.

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Arrangement

This collection is arranged into six series.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Open to researchers.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org

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Microfilm

The collection is on four reels of microfilm (MF 821):

  • Reel 1: 1/1 - 2/44
  • Reel 2: 2/45 - 2/64
  • Reel 3: 2/65 - 3/80
  • Reel 4: 3/81 - 3/94
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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known);George and Alice Wolfe Collection ; AR 6313; box number; folder number; Leo Baeck Institute.

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Container List

 

Series I: Personal and Family Documents, 1870-1987.

This series is in German and English with some Hebrew and Hungarian.
Eighteen Folders
Arrangement:

Topical

Scope and Content:

Series I contains George and Alice Wolfe's personal documents, as well as documents concerning their extended families. This series is arranged into three subseries: Alice Wolfe, George Wolfe and Family Papers.

Subseries 1: Alice Wolfe,  1905-1963.

This subseries is in German, English and Hungarian.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 1 consists of the personal materials of Alice Wolfe. Included are records documenting her education at both the Öffentliches Mädchen-Gymnasium der Schwarzwaldländischen Schulanstalten and the Universität zu Wien. Immigrant records, such as Alice's German and United States passports, are also contained here.

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Biographical Information and Personal Papers undated, 1923-1938
1 2 Diplomas 1933
1 3 Educational Records 1905-1932
1 4 Immigration Records 1908-1963

Subseries 2: George Wolfe,  1911-1987.

This subseries is in German and English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 2 contains George Wolfe's personal materials. Included are records documenting his education at the Staatsgymnasium Wien, the Universität zu Wien and Yale University, immigration records, and other personal records, such as poems and a marriage certificate.

Box Folder Title Date
1 5 Biographical Information undated, 1911 and 1987
1 6 Certificates undated, 1945 and 1981
1 7 Marriage Certificate 1928
1 8 Diplomas 1938
1 9 Educational Records 1915-1949
1 10 George V. Wolfe Conference 1981
1 11 Immigration Records 1930-1944
1 12 Memorabilia undated, 1911-1939
1 13 Ph.D. Thesis, Universität zu Wien 1929
1 14 Professional Records 1931-1940

Subseries 3: Family Papers,  1870-1986.

This subseries is in German and English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 3 is composed of the personal papers of George and Alice Wolfe's parents, Emil and Rosa Wolf and Eugen Frisch and Helene Bischnitz. Of note are records pertaining to the failed immigration attempt conducted by George and Alice on behalf of Emil Wolf.

Box Folder Title Date
1 15 Birth Certificate and Passport (Emil Wolf) 1870 and 1939
1 16 Deed of Gift 1939
1 17 Marriage Certificate (Emil and Rosa Wolf) 1898
1 18 Notebook undated
1 19 Obituary (Eugen Frisch) 1920
1 20 Vad Yashem Registration (Emil Wolf) 1986
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Series II: Articles, 1930-1991.

This series is in German and English.
Twenty Folders
Arrangement:

Topical

Scope and Content:

Series II consists of published articles by and about George and Alice Wolfe.

Subseries 1: Articles by Alice Wolfe,  1938-1944.

This suberies is in English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 1 contains some of Alice Wolfe's publications as an art historian. The subjects of these writings concern specific works of art as well as the critical works of other art historians. Her publications included articles and book reviews, which appeared in art journals and magazines.

Box Folder Title Date
1 21 Announcements of Publications 1941
1 22 Art Index 1938-1944
1 23 Book Reviews 1941-1944
1 24 Reprints and Articles 1941-1943

Subseries 2: Articles by George Wolfe,  1930-1976.

This subseries is in German and English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 2 contains George Wolfe's articles that were published in various legal and political science journals, in addition to a summary of papers that were published in Europe.

Box Folder Title Date
1 25 "The United States Directly Concerned: Article 79 of The United Nations Charter" (The American Journal of International Law) 1948
1 26 The Idaho Statesman (Multiple Articles) 1966-1976
1 27 Österreichische Anwaltszeitung (Multiple Articles) 1930-1936
1 28 "Queries We Brush Aside" (The Western Political Quarterly) 1966
1 29 Bibliography of Titles Published in Europe 1929-1937

Subseries 3: Articles about George and Alice Wolfe,  1958-1991.

This subseries is in English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 3 contains various articles that were published in newspapers and journals. Most of the articles are concerned with the professional achievements, however, the subseries also includes George Wolfe's obituaries.

Box Folder Title Date
1 30 The Coyote 1969
1 31 The Idaho Statesman 1981
1 32 News Tribune 1958-1978
1 33 Obituaries (George Wolfe) 1990-1991
1 34 Outstanding Educators of America 1970
1 35 Various Articles undated and 1991

Subseries 4: Lectures and Speeches of George Wolfe,  1947-1976.

This subseries is in English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 4 contains several speeches and lectures delivered by George Wolfe, most likely to his students at the College of Idaho. The subject of his speeches is predominantly political science.

Box Folder Title Date
1 36 Comments on Winston Churchill undated
1 37 "The World Was Waiting" (Lecture) 1947
1 38 Comments on College Education and Religious Faith 1960
1 39 Statements at the Meeting of the Idaho Board of Corrections 1976
1 40 Talk before Episcopal School Groups (Idaho) 1965
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Series III: Correspondence, 1925-1990.

This series is in German and English.
Twenty-Eight Folders
Arrangement:

Topical

Scope and Content:

Series III holds the correspondence of George and Alice Wolfe, as well as his parents, Emil and Rosa Wolf. Ths series has been arranged in the following subseries: Private Correspondence of George Wolfe, Official Correspondence of George Wolfe, Correspondence of Alice Wolfe, Miscellaneous Correspondence of George Wolfe, and Correspondence of Emil and Rosa Wolf.

Subseries 1: Private Correspondence of George Wolfe,  1940-1990.

This subseries in German and English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 1 consists of George Wolfe's private correspondence. Most of the documents are congratulation cards and letters from his students, illustrating his popularity among them. There are also several letters from friends and colleagues of his at the College of Idaho. Of note are the final letters from his father, Emil Wolf, and correspondence with Miriam Beer-Hofmann-Lens, a relative of George Wolfe.

Box Folder Title Date
2 41 Death of Helene Frisch 1967
2 42 Colleagues 1971-1986
2 43 Congratulations on 77th Birthday (1 of 2 folders) 1981
2 44 Congratulations on 77th Birthday (2 of 2 folders) 1981
2 45 Emil Wolf 1940-1941
2 46 Erling Skorpen 1985
2 47 Fred A. Picard 1976-1985
2 48 Farewell Card undated
2 49 Invitations to 77th Birthday 1981
2 50 Condolence Letters (Death of Alice Wolfe) 1983
2 51 Letters from Students (1 of 2 folders) 1971-1990
2 52 Letters from Students (2 of 2 folders) 1971-1990
2 53 Leo P. Reckford and Irene Kroger 1972-1985
2 54 Miriam Beer-Hofmann-Lens 1972-1985
2 55 Pat and Ray Jolly 1982-1988
2 56 Telegram to Prague (Concerning Emil Wolf and Helene Frisch) undated

Subseries 2: Official Correspondence of George Wolfe,  1940-1990.

This subseries is in English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 2 contains George Wolfe's official correspondence with the College of Idaho and other academic institutions.

Box Folder Title Date
2 57 College of Idaho 1971-1990
2 58 Donations to College of Idaho 1973-1990
2 59 Letters Received at Retirement 1970
2 60 Rhodes Scholarship 1981
2 61 Volunteer Work with the Parole Board undated, 1975
2 62 Western Political Quarterly Membership 1972
2 63 Yale University 1940-1943 and 1990

Subseries 3: Correspondence of Alice Wolfe,  1925-1958.

This subseries is in German and English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 3 contains Alice Wolfe's correspondece with Yale University, private correspondence, and letters from her mother Helen Frisch, sent shortly before being deported to Riga.

Box Folder Title Date
2 64 Helene Frisch 1940-1941
2 65 Private Correspondence 1925-1958
2 66 Yale University 1940-1947

Subseries 4: Miscellaneous Correspondence of George Wolfe,  1967-1987.

This subseries is in English.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 4 contains miscellaneous correspondence, including invitations and notes.

Box Folder Title Date
2 67 Miscellaneous Correspondence 1967-1987
2 68 Honors and Invitations 1983-1986

Subseries 5: Correspondence of Emil and Rosa Wolf,  1928-1946.

This subseries is in German.
Scope and Content:

Subseries 5 contains the private correspondence of Emil and Rosa Wolf, George Wolfe's parents. Included are letters from friends of Emil Wolf as well as letters Emil and Rosa Wolf wrote to their children, George and Gertrud. Some items of interest are poems and morning greetings that Rosa Wolf wrote to George during his childhood.

Box Folder Title Date
2 69 Emil Blum (Upon His Return from Theresienstadt) 1946
2 70 Emil Wolf to Erich von Kahler 1935
2 71 Emil and Rosa Wolf to Their Children 1928
2 72 Poems and Morning Greetings undated
2 73 Postcard of Wagner-Jauregg to Emil Wolf 1937
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Series IV: Writings, 1971-1980.

This series is in German and English.
Seven Folders
Arrangement:

Topical

Scope and Content:

Series IV contains writings by George Wolfe and other authors. These include a memorial book that was arranged by a friend of George, a manuscript of a book, and a copy of the Totenbuch Theresienstadt, in which Emil Wolf was registered.

Box Folder Title Date
3 74 Autobiographical Sketches 1976-1979
3 75 Class Reunion Play 1975-1977
3 76 Encounters with Members of the Hapsburg Family 1974
3 77 Memoriam Book undated
3 78 The Inn on the Cliff 1975-1980
3 79 Totenbuch Theresienstadt 1971
3 80 When John Spencer Had Retired 1973
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Series V: Photographs, 1909-1976.

This series is in English.
Four Folders
Scope and Content:

Series V consists of photographs that were not removed from the collection.

Box Folder Title Date
3 81 Photographs (1 of 4 folders) 1909-1976
3 82 Photographs (2 of 4 folders) 1909-1976
3 83 Photographs (3 of 4 folders) 1909-1976
3 84 Photographs (4 of 4 folders) 1909-1976
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Series VI: Miscellaneous, 1878-1991.

This series is in German and English.
Nine Folders
Arrangement:

Topical

Scope and Content:

Series VI hold various records, including personal materials and correspondence.

Box Folder Title Date
3 85 Brochures Mentioning George Wolfe undated
3 86 Correspondence (Between The Frick Library and Irma Frisch-Farrington) 1991
3 87 Correspondence (Concerning Family Member's Gravestones) 1985
3 88 Writings by George Wolfe (Handwritten) undated
3 89 Emil Wolf's Latin Exercises 1878
3 90 Newspaper Clipping about George Wolfe undated
3 91 Notes from Pribram and Weixlgärtner undated and 1928
3 92 Project by George Wolfe 1977
3 93 Translation of Goethe's Poem (Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh) undated
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