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, Germany1912 Joined the German youth movement Wandervogel1917 Drafted, German Army Signal Corps1918 Joined the Unabhangige Sozialdemokratische Partei1920-1921 Teacher, Volkshochschule Schloss Tinz, Tinz, Germany1920 Joined the Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands1921 Married Rose Schlesinger
Author, Rote Soldaten: Politische Tragodie in 5 Akten1922 Author,
Der Mann, der eine Idee hat
Die Mutter, Der Fluchtling
Vom Urkommunismus bis zur proletarischen Revolution
Die Wissenschaft der burgerlichen Gesellschaft: Eine marxistische Untersuchung1923 Author, Wer ist der Dummste?1924 Author,
Geschichte der burgerlichen Gesellschaft: Von ihren
Anfangen bis zur Schwelle der grossen Revolution
Der Wolkenkratzer: Amerikanischer Sketch1924-1925 Author, Die spannenden Abenteuer des 12 jahrigen Freiheitshelden Antonio Mascaro im Bauernaufstand zu Mallorka1925 Cultural editor, Die Rote Fahne1925-1933 Research associate, Institut fur Sozialforschung, Universitat Frankfurt, Germany1926 Author, Das erwachende China: Ein Abriss der Geschichte der gegenwartigen Probleme Chinas1928 Ph.D. in economics, Universitat Frankfurt1931 Author, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Chinas: Versuch der wissenschaftlichen Analyse einer grossen asiatischen Agrargesellschaft1933 Married Olga Joffe
Arrested; spent nine months in prison and in three
concentration camps1934 Left Germany for England and then the United States1934-1939 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 China1936 Author (under the pseudonym Klaus Hinrichs), Staatliches Konzentrationslager VII1939 Joined the Wider Quaker Fellowship
Broke with the Communist movement after the Nazi-Soviet Pact1939-1968 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. Goldfrank1941 Naturalized American citizen1943-1944 Lecturer in Chinese, Columbia University, New York City1944-1945 Associate Professor in International Studies, Columbia University, New York City1945-1946 Associate Professor in the University Seminars, Columbia University, New York City1947-1949 Acting professor of Chinese History, University of Washington, Seattle1949 Author (with Feng Chia-sheng), History of Chinese Society: Liao (907-1125)1949 Joined the American Committee for Cultural Freedom1949-1966 Professor of Chinese History, University of Washington, Seattle1950 Subpoenaed to appear before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in executive session1951 Subpoenaed to appear before the Internal Security Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee in open session1957 Author, Oriental Despotism: A Comparative Study of Total Power
1960 Author, From Marx to Mao: A Viewer's Guide1966-1988 Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Washington, Seattle1977 Author, Beitrage zur marxistischen Asthetik1988 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 UniversityStanford, CA 94305-6003, US
- Contact:
- (650) 723-3563