Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- David K. Jordan Esperanto Collection
- Dates:
- 1959, 1972, 1992-July 2018; undated
- Creators:
- Jordan, David K.
- Abstract:
- This collection contains material related to the constructed language, Esperanto, and was collected and created by David K. Jordan, emertius professor at University of California, San Diego. It includes conference yearbooks, buttons, books, coins, stamps, and other material.
- Extent:
- .42 Linear Feet and 1 box
- Language:
- English , Esperanto .
- Preferred citation:
-
For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The David K. Jordan Esperanto Collection (1959, 1972, 1992-July 2018; undated) includes .42 linear feet of material related to the constructed language, Esperanto. This includes conference yearbooks, buttons, books written by Jordan, books related to Esperanto and Volapuk, coins, and other material related to Esperanto.
- Biographical / historical:
-
"David K. Jordan received a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1969. His academic interests center in cultural and psychological anthropology, sociolinguistics, and the cross-cultural study of religion. Regional interests focus on Chinese society, especially in Taiwan, with a secondary interest in pre-Columbian Mexico.
Jordan has published on language, social structure, folk religion, and sectarianism in Taiwan and China and has written in and about Esperanto and the social movements associated with it and the associated area of interlinguistics.
His recent courses have concerned Taiwan, China and pre-Columbian Mexico, as well as the ethnography of Christianity. He has also taught the first quarter of Eleanor Roosevelt College's core sequence, "Making of the Modern World" ("MMW") in most years since the college was founded. (See his own web page for details.)
Jordan joined the anthropology faculty at UCSD in 1969. From 1994 to 2004 he also served as head ("provost") of Earl Warren College, one of UCSD's six undergraduate colleges, at the end of which time he was described by the Chancellor as "a campus personality."
Jordan retired in 2004, but continues actively teaching in "Making of the Modern World" as well as in the department."
Biography from David K. Jordan emeritus profile from University of California, San Diego
Esperanto is a constructed language that was created by L.L. (Ludwig Lazar) Zamenhof in the late 1800s. Zamenhof was born in 1859 to a Jewish family and was the oldest out of four brothers and three sisters. His family lived in Bialystok, a city in Poland that had a history of being part of Prussian and Russian territory. Several different communities resided within Bialystok, including Jewish, German, Russian, and Polish, which created a linguistic and cultural divide. This divide was one of Zamenhof's influences in the construction of the universal language, Esperanto.
Zamenhof had his first banquet to initiate the new language in 1878, though his first book titled, Unua Libro (First Book) was not published until 1887. The Unua Libro was written in Russian, Polish, German, and French and mainly discussed the language and the idea behind it. The second book titled, Dua Libro was released a year later in Esperanto. The first and second book, along with Zamenhof's promotion increased the awareness of the language. In 1888 small Esperanto groups began to form.
In the 1900s Esperanto became more widespread internationally with international congresses being held in Barcelona in 1909 and Antwerp in 1911. Several organizations, like the Universal Esperanto Association, began to form and create periodicals and world offices to promote Esperanto. The language continued to flourish until the start of World War One, where priorities shifted away from the promotion of the language.
After World War One, Esperanto had a resurgence. Esperanto was proposed to the League of Nations for use as the language for international relations. Although the proposal was accepted by most, it was not passed due to one vote. It was later recommended that all members of the League of Nations include Esperanto in educational material. This promotion of the language did not last long because some countries banned or discouraged the use of the language during World War Two and the Cold War.
Although Esperanto faced many challenges, it continues as a language spoken today by approximately two million people. Congresses and meetups occur in different countries to promote the use of Esperanto and to connect people with interests in Esperanto.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-10-15 23:21:02 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
- Preferred citation:
-
For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
- Location of this collection:
-
University Library, 5th Flr (5039)1000 E. Victoria StreetCarson, CA 90747, US
- Contact:
- (310) 243-3895