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.
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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