Edgerton mss., 1938-1959
Papers of Edgerton, William B.; Graf, Oskar Maria at the Lilly Library,
Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
Electronic finding aid encoded by Indiana University
Libraries.
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly
Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly
Creator
Edgerton, William B. (William Benbow), 1914-2004
Graf, Oskar
Maria, 1894-1967
TitleEdgerton mss., 1938-1959
Collection No.
LMC 1309
Extent
1 box (66 items)
Language
Materials are in German.
Abstract
The Edgerton mss., 1938-1959, consist
primarily of correspondence between Indiana University Professor of Slavic Languages and
Literature, William B. Edgerton, 1914-2004, and German novelist, Oskar Maria Graf,
1894-1967.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
William B. Edgerton, 1914-2004, was an Indiana University Professor of Slavic Language and
Literature.
Oskar Maria Graf, 1894-1967, was a German novelist. On May 12, 1933, Graf famously wrote an open letter of
protest to the Nazi regime with the demand "Verbrennt mich!" ("Burn me!")
after discovering that only one of his books had been condemned by the Nazi party.
Edgerton and Graf met during the summer of 1938, on a small Dutch vessel traveling from
Europe to the United States. Professor Edgerton was returning home after a year teaching
in France, while Graf, who knew no English, was fleeing from the Nazi regime. Edgerton
was among the few American passengers who was fluent in German, and he and Graf had
long, literary conversations virtually every day of the ten-day voyage.
Scope and Content Note
The Edgerton mss., 1938-1959, consists primarily of correspondence between Indiana
University Professor of Slavic Languages and Literature, William B. Edgerton, 1914-2004,
and German novelist, Oskar Maria Graf, 1894-1967. Professor Edgertan and Graf met while
traveling from Europe to the United States. On the voyage, Professor Edgertan and Graf
had long, literary conversations virtually every day of the ten-day voyage. Their
correspondence, in many ways, continues those conversations and, with the exception of a
short letter from Graf's wife, August 30, 1941, all is in German.
Also present in the collection are two clippings of reviews of Graf's novel
The Life of My Mother (New York: Howell, Soskin & Co.,
1940); a copy of Professor Edgerton's letter to
Time
Magazine criticizing their review; a correspondence exchange between Edgerton and two
journals, the
Modern Language Journal and
The German Quarterly, concerning a short article he had
written about Graf in late 1941 (it was turned down by both); and a short note dated
June 28, 1943 to Professor Edgerton from a young woman whom Graf had told to get in
touch with him. A typed copy of a poem
"Ein Deutscher Dichter
im Exil"
by Max Hermann-Niesse, a photograph of Graf with his wife Mirjam, a
printed copy of Graf's
"Ode an New York,"
and two
advertisements for books by Graf complete the collection.
Collection size: 66 items
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Gift: 1996
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however, patrons
from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in advance of their
visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the curator.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Edgerton mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Edgerton mss.
1 box
(66 items)
