Karl August Wittfogel papers, 1728-1992

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Wittfogel, Karl August, 1896-1988, Goldfrank, Esther Schiff, and Ulmen, G. L.
Abstract:
Speeches and writings, memoirs, correspondence, notes, studies, reports, printed matter, and audiovisual materials, relating to the history of China from ancient times to the twentieth century; the development of Chinese studies in the West; the concept of an Asiatic mode of production; and the history of German, Russian, Chinese and international communist movements. Includes some papers of Esther Schiff Goldfrank and G. L. Ulmen.
Extent:
409 manuscript boxes, 11 card file boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 6 album boxes, 61 envelopes, 1 oversize folder, 15 microfilm reels, 1 videotape cassette, 2 phonorecords, 19 slides, sound recordings (183.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Karl August Wittfogel papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1896 September 6
Born, Woltersdorf, Germany
1912
Joined the German youth movement Wandervogel
1917
Drafted, German Army Signal Corps
1918
Joined the Unabhangige Sozialdemokratische Partei
1920-1921
Teacher, Volkshochschule Schloss Tinz, Tinz, Germany
1920
Joined the Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands
1921
Married Rose Schlesinger
Author, Rote Soldaten: Politische Tragodie in 5 Akten
1922
Author,
Der Mann, der eine Idee hat
Die Mutter, Der Fluchtling
Vom Urkommunismus bis zur proletarischen Revolution
Die Wissenschaft der burgerlichen Gesellschaft: Eine marxistische Untersuchung
1923
Author, Wer ist der Dummste?
1924
Author,
Geschichte der burgerlichen Gesellschaft: Von ihren
Anfangen bis zur Schwelle der grossen Revolution
Der Wolkenkratzer: Amerikanischer Sketch
1924-1925
Author, Die spannenden Abenteuer des 12 jahrigen Freiheitshelden Antonio Mascaro im Bauernaufstand zu Mallorka
1925
Cultural editor, Die Rote Fahne
1925-1933
Research associate, Institut fur Sozialforschung, Universitat Frankfurt, Germany
1926
Author, Das erwachende China: Ein Abriss der Geschichte der gegenwartigen Probleme Chinas
1928
Ph.D. in economics, Universitat Frankfurt
1931
Author, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Chinas: Versuch der wissenschaftlichen Analyse einer grossen asiatischen Agrargesellschaft
1933
Married Olga Joffe
Arrested; spent nine months in prison and in three
concentration camps
1934
Left Germany for England and then the United States
1934-1939
Research associate, International Institute of Social Research, associated with and located on the campus ofColumbia University, New York City (formerly the Institutfur Sozialforschung)
1935-1937
Researcher in China
1936
Author (under the pseudonym Klaus Hinrichs), Staatliches Konzentrationslager VII
1939
Joined the Wider Quaker Fellowship
Broke with the Communist movement after the Nazi-Soviet Pact
1939-1968
Founder and director, Chinese History Project, Columbia University, New York City (co-sponsored by the Institute of Pacific Relations and the International Institute of Social Research, and after 1947, by the University of Washington and Columbia University)
1940
Married Esther S. Goldfrank
1941
Naturalized American citizen
1943-1944
Lecturer in Chinese, Columbia University, New York City
1944-1945
Associate Professor in International Studies, Columbia University, New York City
1945-1946
Associate Professor in the University Seminars, Columbia University, New York City
1947-1949
Acting professor of Chinese History, University of Washington, Seattle
1949
Author (with Feng Chia-sheng), History of Chinese Society: Liao (907-1125)
1949
Joined the American Committee for Cultural Freedom
1949-1966
Professor of Chinese History, University of Washington, Seattle
1950
Subpoenaed to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in executive session
1951
Subpoenaed to appear before the Internal Security Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee in open session
1957
Author, Oriental Despotism: A Comparative Study of Total Power
1960
Author, From Marx to Mao: A Viewer's Guide
1966-1988
Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Washington, Seattle
1977
Author, Beitrage zur marxistischen Asthetik
1988 May 25
Died, New York City
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1966.
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], Karl August Wittfogel 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