Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding aid for the Hans Eckstein research files, 1897-1984, bulk 1920-1984
910156  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Biographical/Historical Note
  • Administrative Information
  • Separated Material
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Hans Eckstein research files
    Date (inclusive): 1897-1984 (bulk 1920-1984)
    Number: 910156
    Creator/Collector: Eckstein, Hans, 1898-
    Physical Description: 2.5 linear feet (5 boxes)
    Repository:
    The Getty Research Institute
    Special Collections
    1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
    Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
    (310) 440-7390
    Abstract: This collection reflects the major research interests of German scholar, Hans Eckstein, from archaeology to architectural history, including historic preservation, the rebuilding of post-World War II German cities, exhibitions, and museums, as well as his large circle of colleagues and friends. Materials include primarily correspondence and manuscripts, but also clippings, publications, and photographs.
    Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record  for this collection. Click here for the access policy .
    Language: Collection material is in German and English.

    Biographical/Historical Note

    Hans Eckstein, 1898-1986, was a German scholar and architectural historian. He studied with art historians Friedrich Gundolf, Karl Jaspers and Alfred Weber in Heidelberg and with Gerhart Frankl, Heinrich Wölfflin and Friedrich Wolters in Munich. He worked as an assistant in the Staatliche Museen in Berlin and in the Archäologischen Instituts Berlin. In 1925 he returned to Munich and worked as a journalist on the Frankfurter Zeitung and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, as well as for other publications, writing primarily about archeology. Around 1927 his interests turned to art and contemporary architecture. He wrote numerous articles for journals such as Zeitschrift für bildende Kunst in Leipzig, Werk the Swiss Werkbund publication, Kunst und Künstler published by Karl Scheffler, Kunst published by F. Bruckmann, and Die Form, the journal for the Deutscher Werkbund. In 1932 he published two books, Neue Wohnbauten and Die schöne Wohnung and in 1938 Monographie Vierzehnheiligen and Künstler über Kunst. During World War II, Eckstein worked as a photographer and as a translator of essays by artists and architects. After 1945, he again worked as a journalist and editor and was active in the Deutscher Werkbund and the Freunde des Neuen Bauens, addressing issues in architecture and the politics of culture. He became director of the Neuen Sammlung in Munich 1956, concerned primarily with its collection of modern applied art and industrial design. Eckstein also participated in numerous exhibitions of decorative arts, furniture and design.

    Administrative Information

    Access

    Open for use by qualified researchers.

    Publication Rights

    Preferred Citation

    Hans Eckstein research files, 1897-1984 (bulk 1920-1984), Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 910156.
    http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa910156

    Acquisition Information

    The collection was acquired October 14, 1992.

    Processing History

    Rose Lachman processed the collection and wrote the finding aid.

    Separated Material

    Eight bulletins from the Roerich Museum and 1 brochure (and duplicate copy) containing the staff and curriculum for the Master Institute of the Roerich Museum, were separated to the Getty Research Library.
    Roerich Museum bulletin, Vol. 1, Jan 1931, Feb 1931, Apr 1931, May 1931, Jun 1931, Jul 1931, Aug 1931, Sep 1931. Master Institute of the Roerich Museum, 1930-1931.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    This collection, consisting primarily of correspondence and manuscripts, spans the years 1920-1984 (with the exception of the transcribed letters from Max Liebermann, dated 1897-1934). The archive reflects the major interests of Hans Eckstein, from archeology to architectural history. Numerous letters and essays deal with architectural theory, the preservation of historical landmarks, the rebuilding of German cities after World War II, and the mounting of exhibitions to display the work stemming from the Deutscher Werkbund and the Neue Bauen (modern architecture). Within the correspondence with artists is correspondence about the artist Josef Scharl which contains 49 photographs of his works dating from the late 1920s and 1930. A file of 24 letters with artist and designer Wilhelm Wagenfeld describes his works as well as his politics. Many other letters reflect Eckstein's wide circle of colleagues and acquaintances: writers, architects, artists, collectors, editors and publishers. Biographical writings on artists, critiques and reviews of architects, their publications and construction projects can be found here in manuscripts and in published pieces.
    A small group of manuscripts, photographs, publications and newspaper clippings tell the story of Nicholas Roerich (Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh, 1874-1947), the Russian artist, philosopher, educator and explorer. This material also covers the founding of a museum, the Nicholas Roerich Museum in New York, dedicated to his ideas.
    Another series comprises thirteen photographs including five African images from the Han Coray Collection. Lastly, 28 transcribed letters from the artist Max Liebermann are addressed to various correspondents.

    Arrangement note

    The papers are arranged in 6 series: Series I. Correspondence, 1922-1984; Series II. Manuscripts, ca. 1930-ca. 1950; Series III. Deutscher Wekbund (DWB) and Neue Bauen, 1932-1980; Series IV. Nicholas Roerich Museum, 1929-1931, undated; Series V. Photographs, ca. 1934, undated; Series VI. Transcribed letters from Max Liebermann, 1897-1934

    Indexing Terms

    Subjects - Names

    Eckstein, Hans, 1898-
    Roerich, Nicholas, 1874-1947
    Scharl, Josef, 1896-1954
    Velde, Henry van de, 1863-1957

    Subjects - Corporate Bodies

    Deutscher Kunstverlag
    Deutscher Werkbund
    Neue Bauen
    Nicholas Roerich Museum (New York, N.Y.)
    Robert and Wilhelm Langewiesche-Brandt Verlag

    Subjects - Topics

    Architectural criticism--Germany
    Architecture, Modern--20th century--Europe
    Art critics--Germany
    Art--Exhibitions techniques--Social aspects
    Design--Germany--History--20th century
    National socialism and art--Germany
    Politics in art
    Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Germany

    Genres and Forms of Material

    Photographic prints--20th century
    Photographs, Original

    Contributors

    Baldessari, Luciano, 1896-
    Brüne, Heinrich, 1869-1945
    Coray, H. (Hans)
    Dexel, Walter, 1890-1973
    Eiermann, Egon, 1904-1970
    Hartlaub, Gustav Friedrich, 1884-1963
    Heuss, Theodor, 1884-1963
    Häring, Hugo, 1882-1958
    Illustrated Weekly, Deutsch-Amerika
    Joedicke, Jürgen
    Kornmann, Egon
    Kōnstantinidēs, Arēs, 1913-
    Lauterbach, Heinrich, 1893-
    Liebermann, Max, 1847-1935
    Meyer, Peter, 1894-1984
    Moritz, Andreas, 1901-1983
    Neutra, Dione
    Neutra, Richard Joseph, 1892-1970
    Posener, Julius
    Scheffler, Karl, 1869-1951
    Schlemmer, Tut
    Schlotter, Eberhard
    Schmidt, Georg, 1896-1965
    Schwimmer, Max, 1895-1960
    Schwippert, Hans, 1899-1973
    Seeger , Mia
    Stadler, Toni, 1888-1982
    Velde, Henry van de, 1863-1957
    Wagenfeld, Wilhelm