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Title: Eric Voegelin papers
Date (inclusive): 1901-1997
Collection Number: 75070
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
134 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box, 7 card file boxes, 5 envelopes
(60.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, memoranda, conference proceedings, and printed matter relating to the philosophy
of history, the philosophy of science, various other aspects of philosophy, and to political science and other social sciences,
especially as considered from a philosophical perspective. Also available on microfilm.
Creator:
Voegelin, Eric, 1901-1985
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
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.
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1975, with increments to the collection acquired between 1975 and
2012.
[Identification of item], Eric Voegelin papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
The collection is also available on microfilm.
| 1901 January 3 | Born, Cologne, Germany |
| 1910 | Family relocated to Vienna, Austria |
| 1922 | Dr. rerum politicarum, University of Vienna |
| 1924-1927 | Fellow, Rockefeller Foundation |
| 1928 | Author, Uber die Form des amerikanischen Geistes |
| 1928 | Habilitation, University of Vienna |
| 1929-1936 | Privatdozent, University of Vienna |
| 1932 | Married Lissy Onken (1906-) |
| 1933 | Author, Rasse und Staat and Die Rassenidee in der Geistesgeschichte von Ray bis Carus |
| 1936 | Author, Der autoritäre Staat |
| 1936-1938 | Adjunct professor ("Extraordinarius") of political science, University of Vienna |
| 1938 | Immigrated to the United States |
| Author, <title render="italic">Die politischen Religionen</title> | |
| 1938-1939 | Tutor and instructor, Harvard University |
| 1939 | Instructor, Bennington College, Vermont |
| 1939-1942 | Professor, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa |
| 1942-1959 | Professor, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge |
| 1944 | Naturalized |
| 1952 | Author, The New Science of Politics |
| 1956 | Author, Order and History, Vol.I: Israel and Revelation |
| 1957 | Author, Order and History, Vol.II: The World of the Polis and Vol.III: Plato and Aristotle |
| 1958-1969 | Professor, University of Munich, West Germany Founded the Institut für Politische Wissenschaft [renamed Geschwister-Scholl-Institut für Politische Wissenschaft (Universität München) in 1968] |
| 1959 | Author, Wissenschaft, Politik und Gnosis |
| 1966 | Author, Anamnesis. Zur Theorie der Geschichte und Politik |
| 1969-1974 | Henry Salvatori Distinguished Scholar, Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace |
| 1974 | Author, Order and History, Vol.IV: The Ecumenic Age |
| 1974-1985 | Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution |
| 1975 | Author, From Enlightenment to Revolution |
| 1985 January 19 | Died, Stanford, California |
| 1987 | Author, Order and History, Vol.V: In Search of Order (published posthumously) |
Scope and Content of Collection
The papers document the career and life of Eric Voegelin, a German-American philosopher and political scientist. The collection
includes correspondence, speeches and writings, reports, memoranda, conference proceedings, photographs, and printed matter
related to the philosophy of history and the philosophy of science. The material is arranged in two similar groups, with incremental
materials dating from 1901 to 1996.
Eric Voegelin was born in Germany in 1901. He moved with his family to Austria in 1910, going through the habilitation and
privatdozent processes at the University of Vienna, where he became a professor. When Nazi forces annexed Austria in 1938,
Voegelin fled to Switzerland, and then immigrated to the United States, where he was naturalized in 1944. The
Biographical File provides documentation on Voegelin's life, including materials related to his move to the United States, anniversary tributes
and memorials, and honorary degrees.
Voegelin was a prolific author, publishing works in German and English.
Speeches and Writings include drafts, correspondence, and notes for such works as the multi-volume
Order and History and
History of Political Ideas, which was published after Voegelin's death.
Voegelin taught at several universities in the United States and abroad, including the University of Vienna, Harvard University,
Bennington College, the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, and the University of Munich.
Course Material contains Voegelin's lecture materials, syllabi, and reading lists for courses that he taught.
While in Munich, Voegelin founded the Institut für Politische Wissenschaft, which was later renamed the Geschwister-Scholl-Institut
für Politische Wissenschaft (Universität München). The
Office File includes documents related to this institution, such as correspondence, reports, and minutes.
In 1932, Voegelin married Lissy Onken, also known as Luise Betty Voegelin. The
Lissy Voegelin File contains correspondence (some of which concerns Voegelin and his writing) and appointment books.
The
Photographs and Postcards in the collection have a focus on artifacts, with images from sites and cultures around that world. One folder of artifact
photographs bears the name of Marie König, who has been cited as an influence on Voegelin in the area of Stone Age symbolism
(Cooper). Negatives in the collection contain scenic views of Yellowstone National Park, Niagara Falls, Stanford University,
Vienna, and various cities in the United States.
The majority of the incremental materials in the collection are described in an inventory of the estate of Lissy Voegelin.
Inventory numbers within the container list refer to the original numbers given to materials in this inventory, which can
be found with the Eric Voegelin finding aid in the Hoover Archives reading room.
Source: Cooper, Barry. "Voegelin and his Contemporaries." Voegelin View. Accessed through: http://voegelinview.com/all-Current-Articles/voegelin-and-his-contemporaries-pt-1.html
Barry Cooper, Jodi Bruhn and John von Heyking interviews, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
International Conference on the Work of Eric Voegelin conference papers, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Philosophy
Political science
International relations
History -- Philosophy
Science -- Philosophy
Social sciences -- Philosophy
Philosophers