Access
Use
Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
Biographical Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Title: Erich Knapp papers
Date (inclusive): 1905-2005
Collection Number: 2000C32
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
German
Physical Description:
119 manuscript boxes, 8 oversize boxes, 1 card file box
(58.4 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, writings, financial records, press releases, bulletins, newsletters, serial issues, clippings, other printed
matter, and photographs, relating to West German foreign policy, political conditions in West Germany and reunified Germany,
political aspects of Islam, and promotion of world peace through Islam.
Creator:
Knapp, Erich
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 2000.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Erich Knapp papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
1932, April 13: Born, Heppenheim, Germany
1950-1952: Member of Bund Deutscher Jugend
1952: Graduated from high school
1954-1955: Attended University of Kansas on a Fullbright Scholarship
1955-1957: Studied political science, sociology, and history at Hamburg and Frankfurt Universities
1957-1958: Worked as a journalist at Frankfurter Neue Presse
1961-1963: Worked at IBM Deutschland in Sindelfingen
1963-1974: Served as Press Attaché in the West German Foreign Ministry (Auswärtiges Amt), posted at Bonn, Germany, and subsequently
at N'Djamena, Chad; Lagos, Nigeria; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Cairo, Egypt
1980-1981: Served on executive committee of the German Green Party (Die Grünen)
2006: Died
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection documents the political career of Erich Knapp through correspondence, writings, financial records, press releases,
bulletins, newsletters, serial issues, clippings, other printed matter, and photographs, relating to West German foreign policy,
political conditions in West Germany and reunified Germany, political aspects of Islam, and promotion of world peace through
Islam.
The collection contains records primarily related to Die Grünen, the Sozialdemokratische Partei, the German Foreign Ministry
(Auswärtiges Amt), as well as a number of other German political organizations. Another main focus of the collection is on
Knapp's advocacy of Muslim communities both in Germany and internationally. He belonged to several organizations that sought
to promote religious tolerance and political equality for Muslims, including Tauhid Stiftung, Preussischer Nationalkongress,
and Project Musa.
The collection is divided into twenty five series based on form and subject according to Knapp's involvement in various organizations
and political parties. The Correspondence series consists of Knapp's personal and professional communications with individuals,
government agencies, and religious organizations. The Printed Matter series consists primarily of newsletters, journals, magazines,
pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to German politics and culture as well as various religious themes. The Auswärtiges
Amt series consists of correspondence and printed matter related to Knapp's career in the German Foreign Ministry.
There are several series devoted to various members of Knapp's immediate family, including his mother and father, Philipp
Knapp and Luise Knapp respectively, and his wife, Ellen Knapp. A Biographical File consists of Knapp's personal identification
materials and newspaper clippings related to Heppenheim, Germany, Knapp's place of birth.
The Writings series consists of drafts of essays and books on topics related to politics and religion, as well as handwritten
notes on various subjects.
The Photographs and Negatives series consists of photographs, negatives, and photo albums containing images documenting Knapp's
family vacations and political activities.
A handful of series relate to Knapp's involvement in various German political parties and organizations, including the Aktionprogramm
der Sozialistischen Welteuropäischen Partei, the Bund Deutscher Jugend, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany/Christian
Socialist Union of Bavaria, the Deutsche Gruppe der Liberalen Weltunion, Die Grünen, Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold/Bund Aktiver
Demokraten, and various groups advocating for Rheinland Independence.
Lastly a group of series document Knapp's involvement with various religious organizations, including the Pressischer Nationalkongress,
the Tauhid Stiftung, and Project Musa.
Whenever possible, the original folder titles given by the creator have been maintained. Within individual folders, materials
have been kept in their original order as accumulated by the creator. Consequently, there is a great diversity in the forms
of materials within individual folders; for example, correspondence files often contain newspaper clippings, pamphlets, or
other items.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Peace
Journalists
Germany (West) -- Foreign relations
Germany (West) -- Politics and government
Germany -- Politics and government -- 1990-
Islam and world politics
Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
Grünen (Political party)
Bund Deutscher Jugend
Freie Demokratische Partei
Germany (West). Auswärtiges Amt