Finding Aid for the Albert Schweitzer, Alice Ehlers letters, 1928-1988 1988.01.r

Finding aid prepared by Claudia Horn
Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
One University Drive
Orange, CA, 92866
(714) 532 - 7711
rboyd@chapman.edu
03/24/2010


Title: Albert Schweitzer, Alice Ehlers letters, 1928-1988
Identifier/Call Number: 1988.01.r
Contributing Institution: Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Leatherby Libraries
One University Drive
Orange, CA, 92866
(714) 532 - 7711
rboyd@chapman.edu
Language of Material: The majority of the collection is in German
Container: 1
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1928-1988
Abstract: This is a collection of 34 letters from Albert Schweitzer to his friend, Alice Ehlers from 1928 to 1965. The letters discuss the mutual interest of Schweitzer and Ehlers in music, specifically the harpsichord and the organ.
Location note: Leatherby Libraries
Language of Materials note: The correspondence in this collection is primarily in German with some being written in French. The accompanying documentation is in English.

Arrangement note

The letters are arranged chronologically beginning with the first letter dated 1928 and the last letter dating 1965.
The documents related to the purchase of the letters are arranged chronologically by date beginning with October 28, 1988 and ending with November 19, 1988.

Scope and Contents note

The 34 letters in this collection span a 30 year correspondence between physician and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer and Mrs Alice Ehlers, a renowned harpsichordist and Professor of Music at the University of Southern California. Schweitzer writes to Ehlers from his home in Gunsbach and from the hospital in Lambarene. Schweitzer and Ehlers met and established their friendship in Berlin during the late 1920's. Ehlers left Nazi-Germany for England, and then moved to California. The correspondence covers topics of both personal and professional concern, including questions of music (Schweitzer was also a concert organist and music scholar) and how Schweitzer's work in Lambarene was progressing. Their correspondence continued until Schweitzers death in 1965.
The gift from Chapman Life Trustee and alumna Valerie Scudder '68 made it possible for Chapman University's Albert Schweitzer Institute to acquire the letters. Mrs. Scudder, a resident of Newport Beach, and a recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Award of Distinction, provided the $22,000.00 to purchase the letters from Alice's daughter, Maria Ehlers.
The gift documents refer to the purchase of 30 letters and copies of the letters written from Ehlers to Schweitzer; however, there are 34 letters in this collection and no copies of Ehlers' letters.

Biographical/Historical note

Albert Schweitzer, physician, philosopher and Nobel Peace Prize winner, born in Kaysersberg and reared in Gunsbach, Alsace, met and established a friendship with Alice Ehlers, a renowned harpsichordist who was born in Vienna. In 1933, Ehlers left Nazi-Germany for England, then migrated to California, and joined the faculty of USC in 1940.
In the letters, that span from 1928 to 1965, Schweitzer writes to Ehlers from his home in Gunsbach and from the hospital he established in 1913 in Lambarene in what was then French Equatorial Africa, and is now the Republic of Gabon.
In 1991, a book containing a translation of these letters, (and additional Schweitzer letters to Ehlers and letters from Ehlers to Schweitzer, which are not held by our Archives)was published. The book, Albert Schweitzer and Alice Ehlers: A Friendship in Letters, was translated and edited by Kurt and Alice R. Bergel, Chapman University faculty emeriti. The book was published by University Press of America, Lanham; New York; London, c1991. A label on the book states that the book is "A publication of The Albert Schweitzer Institute, Chapman University, Orange, California."

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation note

[identify item], Albert Schweitzer, Alice Ehlers letters, Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections and Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Valerie Scudder '68, Chapman Life Trustee and alumna, provided Chapman College with $22,000.00 to purchase the letters from Maria Ehlers, daughter of Alice Ehlers in 1988.

Conditions Governing Use note

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Box 1, Folder 1

Correspondence, Albert Schweitzer to Alice Ehlers 1928-1965

Language of Material: German
Physical Description: 0.084 Linear feet (1 folder)
creator: Ehlers, Alice, 1887-1981
creator: Schweitzer, Albert, 1875-1965

Scope and Contents note

This collection consists of 34 letters from Albert Schweitzer to his friend, Alice Ehlers, on their mutual interest in music. Note: Page numbers refer to the translated letters in "Albert Schweitzer and Alice Ehlers: A Friendship in Letters", translated and edited by Professors Emeriti Kurt and Alice R. Bergel.
Letters with date and page reference.
1.[1928] (Bergell, p. 3)
2. 9/16/1932 (p. 5)
3. 12/22/1932 (p. 6)
4. 7/14/1933 (p. 8)
5. 5/27/1934 (p. 9)
6. 12/5/1934 (p. 11)
7. 12/1934 (p. 12)
8. 1/14/1935 (p. 13)
9. 2/18/1935 (p. 14)
10. 5/28/1935 (p. 15)
11. 10/17/1935 (p. 17)
12. 11/10/1935 (p. 20)
13. 12/25/1935 (p. 21)
14. 2/11/1936 (p. 23)
15. 4/15/1936 (p. 25)
16. 9/2/1936 (p. 26)
17. 11/9/1938 (p. 30)
18. 2/17/1942 (p. 32)
19. 11/30/1942 (p. 33)
20. 5/29/1943 (p. 44)
21. 10/24/1943 (p. 46)
22. 3/5/1944 (p. 48)
23. 7/7/1945 (p. 52)
24. 5/26/1946 (p. 54)
25. 11/17/1950 (p. 59)
26. 1/21/1951 (p. 60)
27. 9/1952 (p. 63)
28. 12/17/1959 (p. 67)
29. 5/3/1960 (p. 69)
30. 6/25/1961 (p. 71)
31. 10/4/1961 (p. 74)
32. 6/17/1963 (P. 76)
33. 3/23/1964 (p. 78)
34. 6/21/1965 (p. 79)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Albert Schweitzer Institute. Chapman University. Orange, California.
Bergel, Alice, Dr., Professor, 1911-1998
Bergel, Kurt, Dr., Professor Emeritus, 1911-2001
Ehlers, Maria
Scudder, Valerie, 1914-1989 -- Correspondence
Ehlers Alice 1887-1981 -- Correspondence
Harpsicordists -- Correspondence
Lambarene (Moyen-Ogooue, Gabon)
Nobel Prize winners
Organists -- Correspondence
Schweitzer, Albert 1875-1965 -- Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 3

Albert Schweitzer correspondence ephemera 1960's

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 0.25 Linear feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials note: The materials in this collection are in English and German.
creator: Bergel, Alice, Dr., Professor, 1911-1998
creator: Bergel, Kurt, Dr., Professor Emeritus, 1911-2001
creator: Ehlers, Maria
creator: Schweitzer, Albert, 1875-1965
creator: Tau, Max, 1897-1976

Scope and Contents note

Material consists of various translations of Albert Schweitzer's letters to Alice Ehlers by Kurt and Alice Bergel, and correspondence by Maria Ehlers to Kurt Bergel, and letters by Albert Schweitzer to Valerie Scudder, Mrs. Arthur Schmidt, and Mrs. Marjorie Mosher Schmidt.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Albert Schweitzer Institute. Chapman University. Orange, California.
Ehlers, Alice, 1887-1981
Schmidt, Arthur A.
Schmidt, Marjorie Mosher
Scudder, Valerie, 1914-1989
Schweitzer, Albert 1875-1965 -- Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 4

Max Tau manuscript

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 0.25 Linear feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials note: The materials in this collection are in German.
General Physical Description note: Missing pages, torn and stained pages.
creator: Tau, Max, 1897-1976

Scope and Contents note

One partial manuscript written by Max Tau and sent to Albert Schweitzer. Acoompanying note says: "Max Tau's ms. sent to Schwitzer--all about Schweitzer and Nobel prize celebrations in Norway. Einstein--and atom bomb. Rhena and Kazantzakis at Buchenesse in Frankfort."

Biographical/Historical note

Max Tau was a German-Norwegian writer, editor, and publisher noted for his contribution to promoting literary exchange between Germany and Norway, especially in the context of reconciliation after World War II Tau grew up in an environment characterized by what he later termed the "Jewish-German" symbiosis, in a Jewish household heavily influenced by the Jewish enlightenment. He studied literature, art history, philosophy, and psychology at universities in Berlin, Hamburg, and Kiel. He earned his doctorate at the University of Kiel, defending a dissertation on the German writer Theodor Fontane. [Wikipedia] He is the 1950 recipient of the Peace Prize of the German Book trade.

Conditions Governing Access note

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use note

There are no restrictions on the use of this material.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Schweitzer, Albert, 1875-1965
Nobel Prize winners
Schweitzer, Albert 1875-1965 -- Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 2

Documents, acquisition of the Schweitzer letters. 1988

Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 0.084 Linear feet (1 folder)

Scope and Contents note

These documents include correspondence between the donor and Chapman College as well as the receipt for the purchase of the letters.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Albert Schweitzer Institute. Chapman University. Orange, California.
Bergel, Kurt, Dr., Professor Emeritus, 1911-2001 -- Correspondence
Doti, James L., President
Ehlers, Maria
Schweitzer Miller, Rhena
Scudder, Valerie, 1914-1989
Ehlers Alice 1887-1981 -- Correspondence
Schweitzer, Albert 1875-1965 -- Correspondence