Register of the I. Babel' letters

Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2017
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu


Title: I. Babel' letters
Date (inclusive): 1925-1939
Collection Number: 2006C32
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: Russian
Physical Description: 2 manuscript boxes (0.8 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Letters to family members relating to Russian literature and personal affairs. Includes typed transcripts. Photocopy.
Creator: Babelʹ, I. (Isaak), 1894-1940
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2006.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], I. Babel' letters, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Biographical Note

Isaak Babel', Russian/Soviet writer, was born in 1894, in Odessa. In 1915 he moved to Petrograd, where he met Maksim Gorky, who became his friend and mentor. He published Babel's two short stories in the Letopis' magazine. Gorky advised the aspiring writer to gain more life experience. According to one of Babel's stories, Doroga (The Road), he served on the Romanian front until early December 1917. He resurfaced in Petrograd in March 1918 as a reporter for Gorky's newspaper, Novaya zhizn (New Life). During the Russian Civil War, Babel' worked for the publishing house of the Odessa Gubkom (regional CPSU Committee), in the food procurement unit in the Narkompros (People's Commissariat of Education), and in a typographic printing office.
After the end of the Civil War, Babel' worked as a reporter for Zaria Vostoka (The Dawn of the Orient).
Babel' married Yevgenia Gronfein on August 9, 1919, in Odessa.
In 1920, Babel' was assigned to the First Cavalry Army and witnessed a military campaign in the Polish-Soviet War of 1920. He documented the horrors of that in the Konarmeiskiy Dnevnik, 1920 God (1920 Diary), which he later used to write Konarmiya (Red Cavalry), a collection of short stories.
In 1924, his mother and sister with her family immigrated to Belgium; in 1925 his wife immigrated to Paris. Babel' visited them several times during his trips to France; in 1929, his daughter Natalie was born. Babel' wrote letters to his family from 1925 through 1939, when he was arrested and put in prison.
Babel' was arrested in May 1939; his writings were confiscated and disappeared. He was tortured during interrogations. In January 1940 he was executed, and his name disappeared from literary life: it was removed from literary dictionaries and encyclopedias and taken off school and university syllabi. He was rehabilitated in 1954.

Scope and Content of Collection

Letters relating to Russian literature and personal affairs from Babel' to his family members: mother, Fania Babel'; sister, Mera Chapochnikoff, and her husband Grigorii; and Babel's wife and daughter. Includes typed transcripts. Photocopy.
It should be noted that some original letters do not have corresponding transcripts, while some transcripts were made from letters unavailable in this collection.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Russian literature

 

Correspondence 1925-1939

 

1925

box 1, folder 1

Two loose pages undated

box 1, folder 1

February 23

box 1, folder 1

May 12

box 1, folder 1

June 5

box 1, folder 1

July 15

box 1, folder 1

August 21

box 1, folder 1

November 5 16 20

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of November 5, 1925.
 

1926

box 1, folder 2

Undated

Scope and Contents note

Three letters to Babel's mother and one letter to his sister; one letter without beginning; and one letter from Babel's mother.
box 1, folder 2

January 1 6 26

Scope and Contents note

Unfinished letter.
box 1, folder 2

February 8

Scope and Contents note

Page 2 only.
box 1, folder 2

March 22 29 31

box 1, folder 2

April 5 16

Scope and Contents note

Includes a letter to sister of April 5, 1926 (two copies), and a letter to mother of April 16, 1926, containing an undated letter from Babel's mother (two copies).
box 1, folder 2

May 2

box 1, folder 2

July 16 30

box 1, folder 2

August 4 14

box 1, folder 2

September 7 10 16 17 23 29

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of September 17, 1926.
box 1, folder 2

October 3 13 23 27

box 1, folder 2

November 2 5 10 15 29

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of November 2, 1926 (to mother and sister), and a letter of November 10, 1926, and one loose page (beginning is missing).
box 1, folder 2

December 8 9 17

 

1927

box 1, folder 3

Undated

Scope and Contents note

Letter from Fania Aronovna (Babel's mother) to Mera (Babel's sister).
box 1, folder 3

January 3 11 22 28

box 1, folder 3

February 8 11

box 1, folder 3

March 1 5 7 11 18 26 30

box 1, folder 3

April 6 17 23 30

box 1, folder 3

May 8 28

box 1, folder 3

June 12 16 24

 

1928

box 1, folder 4

April 2 28

box 1, folder 4

May 10 21

box 1, folder 4

June 3 29

box 1, folder 4

September 30

box 1, folder 4

October 1 3 17 20 22 26 28 29 30

box 1, folder 4

November 5 6 11 13 16 19 23 25

box 1, folder 4

December 1 4 6 9 13 15 20 23 25

 

1929

box 1, folder 5

January 1 2 7 10 14 17 19 22 29

box 1, folder 5

February 6 9 13 20 23 28

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of February 23, 1929, was copied next to the postcard of July 20, 1929. See Box 1, Folder 6.
box 1, folder 5

March 4 14 16 19 29 30

box 1, folder 5

April 2 4 8 10 12 15 17 19 21 24 27

box 1, folder 5

May 1 5 7 9 11 15 17 21 24 27 30

box 1, folder 5

June 1 3 5 13 14 19 25 28 29

 

1929

box 1, folder 6

July 4 6 9 11 15 20 26 28

box 1, folder 6

August 1 7 8 10 11 14 17 20 27 31

box 1, folder 6

September 2 4 6 12 14 19 25 26

box 1, folder 6

October 2 4 7 10 17 26 29

box 1, folder 6

November 2 5 7 11 15 18

box 1, folder 6

December 2 6 14 21 24 27 30

 

1930

box 1, folder 7

January 10 16 21 30

box 1, folder 7

February 4 5 9 16 17 20 24

box 1, folder 7

March 6 10 28

box 1, folder 7

April 1 16 21 27

box 1, folder 7

May 10 13 18 20 25 26 31

box 1, folder 7

June 7 14 19 20 23 25 30

box 1, folder 7

July 1 6 16 22 28 31

box 1, folder 7

August 3 6 12 17 19 24 29

box 1, folder 7

September 2 15 21 24 25 29

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of September 25, 1930, was copied next to the postcard of December 15, 1930.
box 1, folder 7

October 6 8 13 18 21 25

box 1, folder 7

November 4 5 7 8 9 12 17 23 27

box 1, folder 7

December 10 14 15 20 25 28 31

 

1931

box 1, folder 8

January 2 14 21 27

Scope and Contents note

Additional copy of the January 2 postcard can be found next to the postcard of February 25, 1931. The postcard of January 27, 1931, was copied next to the postcard of April 19, 1931.
box 1, folder 8

February 4 8 11 19 25 27

box 1, folder 8

March 2 5 11 15 17 18 24 28

box 1, folder 8

April 5 11 12 16 19 24 25

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of April 24, 1931, was copied next to the postcard of July 15, 1931. See Box 1, Folder 9.
box 1, folder 8

May 3 5 7 12 14 15 21 24

box 1, folder 8

June 1 5 11 17 20 26 29

Scope and Contents note

Includes two postcards of June 20, 1931, and a letter and a postcard of June 26, 1931. The postcard of June 29, 1931, was copied next to the postcard of July 9, 1931. See Box 1, Folder 9.
 

1931

box 1, folder 9

July 2 7 9 12 15 17 18 20 22 26 30 31

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of July 2, 1931, was copied next to the postcard of October 21, 1931; the postcard of July 22, 1931, was copied next to the postcard of October 6, 1931. Includes two postcards of July 31, 1931.
box 1, folder 9

August 3 4 11 13 30

box 1, folder 9

September 1 6 7 15 18 25 26 28 30

box 1, folder 9

October 1 4 6 11 14 16 20 21 22 31

box 1, folder 9

November 8 14 18 19 27 30

box 1, folder 9

December 4 7 12 16 17 21 25

 

1932

box 1, folder 10

Undated

box 1, folder 10

January 2 7 12 25

box 1, folder 10

February 4

box 1, folder 10

March 3 16

box 1, folder 10

April 5 9 11 12 17 23 29

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of April 29, 1932, was copied next to the postcard of May 27, 1932.
box 1, folder 10

May 6 11 19 27

box 1, folder 10

August 5 17

box 1, folder 10

September 4 19 22 25

box 1, folder 10

October 2 4 6 12 17 20 22 27 28 29 30

box 1, folder 10

November 2 4 6 8 15 16 24

box 1, folder 10

December 11 15

 

1933

box 1, folder 11

January 1

Scope and Contents note

The postcard was copied next to the postcard of April 24, 1933.
box 1, folder 11

February 4 22

box 1, folder 11

March 4

box 1, folder 11

April 5 15 18 24 25

box 1, folder 11

May 2 5 11 18 20 24 28

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of May 2, 1933, was copied next to the postcard of December 9, 1933.
box 1, folder 11

June 18 26

box 1, folder 11

July 2 6 10 13 19

box 1, folder 11

September 1 3 21

box 1, folder 11

October 7 18 29

box 1, folder 11

November 8 12 16 26

box 1, folder 11

December 4 9 12 13 19 21 23 29

 

1934

box 2, folder 1

January 8 15

box 2, folder 1

February 4 13 18 25

box 2, folder 1

March 2 3 7 15 26

box 2, folder 1

April 2 5 14 23 29

box 2, folder 1

May 13 26

box 2, folder 1

June 8 18 20 23

box 2, folder 1

July 10

box 2, folder 1

October 16

box 2, folder 1

November 14 26

box 2, folder 1

December 13 23

 

1935

box 2, folder 2

January 7 14

box 2, folder 2

February 3 18 24

box 2, folder 2

March 14 23 24 31

box 2, folder 2

April 17

box 2, folder 2

June 13 15 27 28

box 2, folder 2

July 1 4 11 20

box 2, folder 2

August 5 8 21

box 2, folder 2

September 4 11 12 19 21 23 30

box 2, folder 2

October 3 9 13 19 23

box 2, folder 2

November 13 21

box 2, folder 2

December 13 15

 

1936

box 2, folder 3

January 7 28

box 2, folder 3

February 2 15 26

box 2, folder 3

March 1 5 18

box 2, folder 3

April 15 20 21 22 26

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of April 2, 1936, was copied next to the postcard of November 21, 1936; the postcard of April 15, 1936, was copied next to the postcard of June 7, 1936.
box 2, folder 3

May 27

box 2, folder 3

June 2 7 12 15 17 19 24 28

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of June 2, 1936, was copied next to the postcard of August 28, 1936.
box 2, folder 3

July 12 22 30

box 2, folder 3

August 8 10 13 20 28 30

box 2, folder 3

September 1 4 5 10 17 22 24

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of September 5, 1936, was copied next to the postcard of October 23, 1936.
box 2, folder 3

October 4 14 19 23 25 29 30

box 2, folder 3

November 2 3 5 7 11 12 15 18 21 24 30

box 2, folder 3

December 22

 

1937

box 2, folder 4

Undated

box 2, folder 4

January 2 6 8 11 27

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of January 2, 1937, was copied next to the postcard of December 1, 1937; the postcard of January 11, 1937, was copied next to the postcard of December 27, 1937.
box 2, folder 4

February 1 19

box 2, folder 4

March 5 11 13 18 28

box 2, folder 4

April 13 20 26

box 2, folder 4

May 1 7 10 17

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of May 1, 1937, was copied next to the postcard of December 12, 1937.
box 2, folder 4

July 10 13 19 30

box 2, folder 4

August 2 26

box 2, folder 4

September 6 16 19

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of September 6, 1937, was copied next to the postcard of October 11, 1937.
box 2, folder 4

October 4 6 11 14 20

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of October 14, 1937, was copied next to the postcard of November 7, 1937.
box 2, folder 4

November 3 5 7 12 16 20 26 27

box 2, folder 4

December 1 7 10 14 19 22 24 27

 

1938

box 2, folder 5

Undated

box 2, folder 5

January 5 9 11 14 31

box 2, folder 5

February 4 9 11 15 18 19 20 27

box 2, folder 5

March 7 12 20 24 25

box 2, folder 5

April 4 6 16 20 29

box 2, folder 5

May 10 13 15 24

Scope and Contents note

The postcard of May 13, 1938, was copied next to the postcard of June 21, 1938.
box 2, folder 5

June 1 7 12 17 21 24

box 2, folder 5

July 10 20 24 26 30 31

box 2, folder 5

August 3 4 12 16 18 19 22 25

box 2, folder 5

September 11 20 24 26

Scope and Contents note

Includes two postcards of September 11, 1938.
box 2, folder 5

October 3 9 19 25 30

Scope and Contents note

Includes two postcards of October 9, 1938.
box 2, folder 5

November 2 9 15 30

box 2, folder 5

December 2 25

 

Transcripts of Correspondence 1926-1939

 

1926

box 2, folder 6

Undated

Scope and Contents note

Two undated letters from Babel's mother and one undated letter from Babel'.
box 2, folder 6

January 26

box 2, folder 6

February

box 2, folder 6

April 6 16

box 2, folder 6

May 2

box 2, folder 6

July 16

box 2, folder 6

August 14 30

box 2, folder 6

September 17 23

box 2, folder 6

October 13 23

box 2, folder 6

November 2 10 15 29

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of November 2.
box 2, folder 6

December 8 9

 

1927

box 2, folder 7

January 3 11

box 2, folder 7

February 2

box 2, folder 7

March 5 7 18 26

box 2, folder 7

April 12

box 2, folder 7

May 8

box 2, folder 7

June 12

box 2, folder 7

From mother December 31

 

1928

box 2, folder 8

April 2 28

box 2, folder 8

May 21

box 2, folder 8

June 3

box 2, folder 8

October 1 3 9 20 22 26 28 29 30

box 2, folder 8

November 6 11 13 25 29

box 2, folder 8

December 1 4 6 13 15 25

 

1929

box 2, folder 9

January 7 10 14 17 19

box 2, folder 9

February 9 13

box 2, folder 9

March 4 14 16 19 29 30

box 2, folder 9

April 2 4 7 8 10 12 17 19 21 24

box 2, folder 9

May 1 9 11 15 17 21 24 27 30

box 2, folder 9

June 2 5 13 14 19 25 28 29

box 2, folder 9

July 4 6 9 11 26 28

box 2, folder 9

August 7 8 10 11 14 17 20 27 31

box 2, folder 9

September 2 6 14 19 25 26

box 2, folder 9

October 4 7 10 17 26 29

box 2, folder 9

November 5 7 11 15 18 23

box 2, folder 9

December 2 6 14 21 24 27 29

 

1930

box 2, folder 10

January 8 10 31 30

box 2, folder 10

February 5 9 16 17 20 24

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of February 9, 1930.
box 2, folder 10

March 6 10 28

box 2, folder 10

April 1 16 21 27

box 2, folder 10

May 10 13 18 20 25 31

box 2, folder 10

June 7 10 14 23 25 30

box 2, folder 10

July 16 19 28 31

box 2, folder 10

August 3 6 17 24 29

box 2, folder 10

September 2 8 13 28 21 24 25

box 2, folder 10

October 6 8 13 18 21 25

box 2, folder 10

November 4 5 7 8 9 12 17 23 27

box 2, folder 10

December 10 14 15 20 25 28

 

1931

box 2, folder 11

January 4 8 21

box 2, folder 11

February 8

box 2, folder 11

March 5 6 11 17 18

box 2, folder 11

May 3 5 7 12 15 19 24 28

box 2, folder 11

June 1 5 11 17 20 26

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of June 1, 1931, and of June 17, 1931.
box 2, folder 11

July 3 7 12 17 20 26 30 31

box 2, folder 11

August 3 4 11 13 17 30

box 2, folder 11

September 1 7 15 18 22 25 26 28 30

box 2, folder 11

November 18 19

box 2, folder 11

December 4 25

 

1932

box 2, folder 12

January 2 7 15

box 2, folder 12

March 16

box 2, folder 12

April 9 17

box 2, folder 12

August 17

box 2, folder 12

September 19 25

box 2, folder 12

October 17 20 27 28

box 2, folder 12

November 6 8 15 24

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of November 15, 1932.
box 2, folder 12

December 15

 

1933

box 2, folder 13

February 4 22 26

box 2, folder 13

March 4

box 2, folder 13

May 29

box 2, folder 13

July 6 13 19

box 2, folder 13

September 29

box 2, folder 13

October 7 18

box 2, folder 13

November 16 26

 

1934

box 2, folder 14

January 15

box 2, folder 14

February 4 18

box 2, folder 14

March 26

box 2, folder 14

April 2 23

box 2, folder 14

June 23

box 2, folder 14

October 16

 

1935

box 2, folder 15

January 7 14

box 2, folder 15

February 3 17 18

box 2, folder 15

March 23 27 31

box 2, folder 15

April 17

box 2, folder 15

June 13 15 27

box 2, folder 15

July 4 15 20

box 2, folder 15

August 5 8 9 21

box 2, folder 15

September 12 19 21 23 30

box 2, folder 15

October 3 9 19 30

box 2, folder 15

November 23

box 2, folder 15

December 5 9 15 27

 

1936

box 2, folder 16

February 26

box 2, folder 16

April 21 22

box 2, folder 16

June 2 12 19 28

box 2, folder 16

August 20

box 2, folder 16

September 1 4 24

box 2, folder 16

October 7 10 14

box 2, folder 16

November 2 3 5 7 12 20 24 30

box 2, folder 16

December 7 24

 

1937

box 2, folder 17

January 6 8

box 2, folder 17

February 1 19

box 2, folder 17

March 5 13 18

box 2, folder 17

April 20

box 2, folder 17

May 7 10 17

box 2, folder 17

July 10 13 19

box 2, folder 17

August 2 4 16

box 2, folder 17

September 16 19

box 2, folder 17

October 6 20

box 2, folder 17

November 3 5 16 27

box 2, folder 17

December 1 19 22 24

 

1938

box 2, folder 18

January 3 5 11 14 26 31

box 2, folder 18

February 4 11 18

box 2, folder 18

March 7 12

box 2, folder 18

April 6 16 30 29

box 2, folder 18

May 4 10 13 15 24

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of May 24, 1938.
box 2, folder 18

June 1 8 12 17 24

box 2, folder 18

July 10 20 24 25 26 30

Scope and Contents note

Includes two letters of July 26, 1938.
box 2, folder 18

August 3 4 12 16 18 19 22

box 2, folder 18

September 11 20 24

box 2, folder 18

November 2 9 15 30

box 2, folder 18

December 2 25

 

1939

box 2, folder 19

January 2

box 2, folder 19

March 31

box 2, folder 19

May 10