Erich Knapp papers, 1905-2005

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Summary

Creators:
Knapp, Erich
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.
Extent:
119 manuscript boxes, 8 oversize boxes, 1 card file box (58.4 Linear Feet)
Language:
German
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Erich Knapp papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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

Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2000.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Erich Knapp papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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