Finding aid for the Oskar Kohnstamm papers
6046
Finding aid prepared by Emily Hodgkins
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2014 March
Title: Oskar Kohnstamm papers
Collection number: 6046
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
German
Physical Description:
0.84 Linear feet
2 boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1905-1918
Date (inclusive): 1900-1983
Abstract: Papers of Dr. Oskar Kohnstamm, M.D. (1871-1917). The collection is predominantly made up of Dr. Kohnstamm's published work
and research in medical journals. It also includes materials that concern both Dr. Kohnstamm and the Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm,
which he established; there are photographs, newspaper articles, and informational brochures. Dr. Oscar (Oskar) Kohnstamm,
M.D. was a nerve and neurology specialist working around the turn of the 20th century in Koenigstein im Taunus, Germany. In
1902, he and his wife started a sanatorium for his psychiatry patients and constructed a dedicated building for this practice
in 1904-1905. By 1911 it was successful enough to be updated, remodeled, and expanded. He treated predominantly internal and
nervous ailments, and was published on subjects as wide ranging as hypnosis, the physiology of the brain and spinal cord,
and psychiatric illness.
Language: Most of the material is in German.
creator:
Kohnstamm, Oskar
Biographical note
Dr. Oscar (Oskar) Kohnstamm, M.D. was born in Pfungstadt in 1871. After studying in Giessen, Strassburg, and Berlin (particularly
under renowned pathologist Rudolf Virchow) he came to Koenigstein in 1894, where he set up his own medical practice. In 1896,
he married Eva Pauline Gad, the daughter of one of his professors, Johannes Gad, M.D. Dr. Kohnstamm specialized in physical,
neurological, psychological therapy. In 1902, he and his wife started a sanatorium for his psychiatry patients. They constructed
a building just for this purpose in 1904-1905, and in 1911 it was successful enough to be updated, remodeled, and expanded.
He treated predominantly internal and nervous ailments, and was published on subjects as wide ranging as hypnosis, the physiology
of the brain and spinal cord, and psychiatric illness.
Dr. Kohnstamm was known for hosting cultural activities in the Turnhalle part of the Sanatorium building, with concerts and
theater productions that both guests and patients could enjoy. Many well-known people and their families came to the Sanatorium
Dr. Kohnstamm in Koenigstein for treatment, and Dr. Kohnstamm's circle of friends came to include such people as Henry van
de Velde, Alexander der Moissi, Karl Wolfskehl, Botho Graef, Stefan George, and Otto Klemperer. Perhaps Dr. Kohnstamm's most
famous patient was renowned artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who had stayed at the Sanatorium in June and July of 1916. He created
a portrait of Kohnstamm and a series of murals on the walls of the Brunnenturm of the Sanatorium, the latter of which were
tragically destroyed during the Nazi period. After his oldest son Rudolf died in World War I in 1916 at the age of 19, Kohnstamm's
own health began to fail rapidly, and he died of appendicitis while in Frankfurt in 1917. However, the Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm
stayed open for business and research until 1939, when all businesses run by those with Jewish descent were forced to be sold
or closed. Parts of the Sanatorium building were eventually destroyed in an air raid on 1945 February 2-3. The remaining Sanatorium
building has been used as a post office.
Information gathered in part from: Sturm-Godramstein, Heinz. Juden in Koenigstein: Leben, Bedeutung, Schicksale. Koenigstein
im Taunus: Magistrat der Stadt Koenigstein Stadtarchiv, 1983.
This book is found in folder 2.16 of the Kohnstamm papers.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Oskar Kohnstamm papers, Collection no. 6046, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of
Southern California
Scope and Content
The Oskar Kohnstamm papers represent many parts of his medical career, both researching neurology and psychiatry and establishing
a well-known sanatorium.
The Medical Journals series contains published research articles, predominantly by Dr. Kohnstamm but also including a couple
from collegues on related topics. The majority of the journals are from German publications, and have been placed in chronological
order but original folder divisions have been maintained.
The series entitled "Materials concerning Dr. Kohnstamm and his Sanatorium in Koenigstein im Taunus" contains ephemera, newspapers,
and other materials concerning Dr. Kohnstamm's biographical details, or information regarding the establishment and running
of the Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm. These materials were also placed in chronological order but original folder divisions have
been maintained.
Acquisition
Gift of Ann C. Hayman, February 14, 2014.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kohnstamm, Oskar -- Archives
Clippings
Neurology--Study and teaching--20th century--Archival resources
Photographs
Physicians--Germany--20th century--Archival resources
Psychology--Study and teaching--20th century--Archival resources
Publications
Sanatoriums--Germany--20th century--Archival resources
Medical Journals
Bulk, 1905-1918
1900-1951
Box 1, Folder 1
Ueber Koordination, Tonus, und Hemmung nebst Bemerkungen zur Bewegungstherapie
1900-1901
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oscar Kohnstamm in Koenigstein im Taunus. Sonderabdruck aus der "Zeitschrift fuer diaetetische und physikalische Therapie"
1900/1901, Band IV, Heft 2.
Box 1, Folder 2
Intelligenz und Anpassung
1905
Scope and Content
Von Oskar Kohnstamm. Sonderabdruck aus: "Archiv fur die gesamte Psychologie." VI. Band, 1. und 2. Heft.
Box 1, Folder 3
Vom Urspring des pradorsalen Langsbundels und des Trigeminus ein Beitrag zur topischen Diagnostik der Oblongata
ca. 1905
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oskar Kohnstramm, Konigstein im Taunus. Sonderabdruck aus der "Psychiatrisch-Neurologischen Wochenschrift", 7. Jahrgang,
Nr. 24. Nach einem Vortrag auf der 30. Wanderversammlung sudwestdeuschter Neurologen und Irenaerzte 1905.
Box 1, Folder 4
Die centrifugale Stroemmung in sensiblen Nerven
1905
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oscar Kohnstamm (Koenigstein i. Taunus). Sonder-Abdruck aus den Verhandlungen des Kongresses fuer Innere Medizin.
XXII. Kongress. Wiesbaden 1905.
Box 1, Folder 5
Kunst als Ausdruckstaetigkeit: Biologische Voraussetzungen der Aesthetik
1907
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oskar Kohnstamm.
Box 1, Folder 6
Beziehungen zwischen Zwangsneurose und Katatonie?
1908 October 1
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oscar Kohnstamm, Koenigstein i. T. Sonder-Abdruck aus "Zentralblatt fuer Nervenheilkunde und Psychiatrie," 31. Jahrgang.
Erstes Oktoberheft 1908. Neue Folge 19. Bd.
Box 1, Folder 7
Hypnotische Stigmatisierung und biologisches Gestaltungsproblem
1908
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oskar Kohnstamm, Koenigstein i. Taunus. Zeitschrift fuer den Ausbau der Entwicklungslehre. Band II, Heft 10, 1908.
Box 1, Folder 8
Geistige Arbeit und Wachstum
1908
Scope and Content
Eine energetisch-biologische Fragestellung von Dr. Oscar Kohnstamm, Sanatorium Koenigstein i. T. Sonderabdruck aus der Medizinischen
Klinik: Wochenschrift fuer praktische Aerzte. Jahrgang 1908, Nr. 47.
Box 1, Folder 9
Psychobiologische Grundbegriffe
1909
Scope and Content
III. Gefuhl und Empfindung. Von Dr. Oscar Kohnstamm, Koenigstein i. Taunus. Zeitschrift fuer den Ausbau der Entwicklungslehre
und Archiv fuer Psychobiologie. III. Jahrgang, 1909, Heft 3/4.
Box 1, Folder 10
Babinskis Hysteriebegriff
1909 June
Scope and Content
Kritisches Referat von Dr. Oskar Kohnstamm-Koenigstein i. Taunus. Sonderabdruck aus: Die Therapie der Gegenwart. 50. Jahrgang,
Neueste Folge. XI Jahrgang, 6. Heft, Juni 1909.
Box 1, Folder 11
Das Vestibulariszentrum der Augenbewegungen
1911 June 2-3
Scope and Content
VI. Herr Oskar Kohnstamm-Koenigstein. Abdruck aus den Verhandlungen der Deutschen otologischen Gesellschaft auf der zwanzigsten
Versammlung in Frankfurt a. M. am 2. und 3. Juni 1911.
Box 1, Folder 12
System der Neurosen vom psychobiologischen Standpunkte
1912
Scope and Content
Ergebnisse der Inneren Medizin und Kinderheilkunde. Sonderabdruck aus Band IX.
Box 1, Folder 13
Das System der Neurosen
1912
Scope and Content
Sonderabdruck aus der Deutschen Zeitschrift duer Nervenheilkunde. 43. Band. Kohnstamm in Koenigstein i. T.
Box 1, Folder 14
Ueber eine materielle Ursache der sogen. hysterischen Hamverhaltung
1912
Scope and Content
Sonderabdruck aus der Deutschen Zeitschrift fuer Nervenheilkunde. 45. Band. Kohnstamm in Koenigstein i/Taunus.
Box 1, Folder 15
Zwecktaetigkeit und Ausdruckstaetigkeit
1913
Scope and Content
Von Oscar Kohnstamm. Sonderabdruck aus "Archiv fuer die gesamte Psychologie". XXIX. Band, 1. und 2. Heft.
Box 1, Folder 16
Schizothymie und Zyklothymie
1914
Scope and Content
Von O. Kohnstamm-Koenigstein im Taunus. Sonderabdruck aus der Berliner klin. Wochenscr., 1914, Nr. 40.
Box 1, Folder 17
Ueber gewisse gegen Schafmittel refraktaere Formen von Schlaflosigkeit
1914
Scope and Content
Von. Dr. O. Kohnstamm (Koenigstein i. Taunus). Sonder-Abdruck aus den Verhandlungen des Deutschen Kongresses fuer innere Medizin.
XXXI. Kongress. Wiesbaden 1914.
Box 1, Folder 18
Demonstration einer Katatonieartigen Erscheinung beim Gesunden (Katatonusversuch)
1915
Scope and Content
Von O. Kohnstamm (Koenigstein i/T.). Separat-Abduck aus "Neurologisches Centralblatt". Uebersicht der Leistungen auf dem Gebiete
der Anatomie, Physiologie, Pathologie und Therapie des Nervensystems einschliesslich der Geisteskrankheiten. 1915. Nr. 9.
Box 1, Folder 19
Ausserzweckhaftigkeit und Form in Leben und Kunst
1916
Scope and Content
Von Oscar Kohnstamm.
Box 1, Folder 20
IX. System der Neurosen von psycho-biologischen Standpunkte
ca. 1917
Scope and Content
Von Oscar Kohnstamm-Koenigstein i. T. With handwritten annotations throughout the text, and pages of notepaper with handwritten
notes found in the front cover.
Box 1, Folder 21
Deutsche Zeitschrift fuer Nervenheilkunde: Offizielles Organ der "Gesellschaft deutscher Nervenaerzte"
1917
Scope and Content
1917. Band 56, Heft 4/6.
Box 1, Folder 22
Ueber das Krankheitsbild der retro-anterograden Amnesie und die Unterscheidung des spontanen und des lernenden Merkens
1917
Scope and Content
Monattsschrift fuer Psychiatrie und Neurologie. Sonder-Abdruck aus Band XLI. Heft 6. (1917.) (Aus dem Vereinslazarett 244
[Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm, Koenigstein i. Taunus].)
Box 2, Folder 1
Medizinische und philosophische Ergebnisse aus der Methode der hypnotischen Selbstbesinnung
1918
Scope and Content
Von Dr. Oscar Kohnstamm.
Box 2, Folder 2
Das Unterbewusstsein und die Methode der hypnotischen Selbstbesinnung
1918
Scope and Content
Journal fuer Psychologie und Neurologie. Band 23, Ergaenzungsheft 1. (Aus dem Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm, Koenigstein im Taunus.
Von Oskar Kohnstamm.
Box 2, Folder 3
Der Arzt als Erzieher des Kindes [only front cover]
1919
Scope and Content
Vorlesungen von Professor Ad. Czerny in Berlin. Fuenfte, vermehrte Auflage.
Box 2, Folder 4
Medical and Philosophical Results of the Method of Hypnotical Self-Observation
1918 and 1951
Scope and Content
The Journal of General Psychology, 1951, 44, 71-111. Sanitarium Dr. Kohnstamm, Koenigstein im Taunus, Germany. Oskar Kohnstamm,
M.D. [English posthumous translation and publication].
Found with the German version of the same medical article, published in 1918, and a piece of paper with handwritten notes.
Box 1, Folder 5
Neuropsyche und Hirnrinde
1932
Scope and Content
Von Dr. med. M. Friedemann, Koenigstein i. Taunus. Sonderdruck aus "Der Nervenarzt". 5. Jahrgang 1932, Heft 2.
Box 2, Folder 6
Medical and Philosophical Results of the Method of Hypnotical Self-Observation
1951
Scope and Content
The Journal of General Psychology, 1951, 44, 71-111. Sanitarium Dr. Kohnstamm, Koenigstein im Taunus, Germany. Oskar Kohnstamm,
M.D. [English posthumous translation and publication]. 6 copies.
Box 2, Folder 7
Medical and Philosophical Results of the Method of Hypnotical Self-Observation
1951
Scope and Content
The Journal of General Psychology, 1951, 44, 71-111. Sanitarium Dr. Kohnstamm, Koenigstein im Taunus, Germany. Oskar Kohnstamm,
M.D. [English posthumous translation and publication]. 5 copies.
Materials concerning Dr. Kohnstamm and his Sanatorium in Konigstein im Taunus
1905-1983
Box 2, Folder 10
Aus dem Taunus: 16 Bilder von Fritz Wucherer, Cronberg i. T. 2. Auflage, Bilder aus der Heimat, Heft
1921
Box 2, Folder 11
[Informational booklet with pictures, all about the Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm in Koenigstein im Taunus]
ca. 1925-1935
Scope and Content
Handwritten notes on many of the pages.
Box 2, Folder 12
Die alte Bruecke: Tiefdruckbeilage des Stadt-Blatts der Frankfurter Zeitung
1926 August 15
Box 2, Folder 13
Oskar Kohnstamm: Eine Biographische Skizze von Rudolf Laudenheimer
1927
Box 2, Folder 14
Koenigstein im Taunus: Hoehenluft und Nerven-Kurort [Informational booklet]
undated
Box 2, Folder 15
[Newspaper clippings about Dr. Kohnstamm and his patients]
1970
Scope and Content
Also included with the clippings is the envelope they were found in.
Box 2, Folder 16
Juden in Koenigstein
1983
Scope and Content
Written by Heinz Sturm-Godramstein. Article about Drs. Oscar and Eva Kohnstamm on pages 26-30.
Box 2, Folder 8
[Photos of the Sanatorium Dr. Kohnstamm, Koenigstein im Taunus]
ca. 1905-1920
Box 2, Folder 9
[Photos of Oskar Kohnstamm (1917) and the Sanatorium Kohnstamm, Koenigstein (1911)]
1911 and 1917
Box 2, Folder 17
[Photographs of Koenigstein im Taunus]
1985-1986
Scope and Content
Originally backed on cardboard together in a picture frame. The caption on the back read, "Koenigstein/Taunus, Germany--1985-1986."
