Christopher Jeffrey Collection
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence (originals and transcriptions) of Edgar Jaffe and Else von Richthofen Jaffe, accompanied by an inventory of letters with annotations and comments by Guenther Roth.
Else von Richthofen/Jaffé and Marianne Weber corresponded for many years, as did Edgar Jaffé and his coeditor Max Weber on editorial matters and legal advice during and before the couple's separation. The first extant item in the present collection is the draft of a letter in which Else asked Marianne Weber and indirectly Max Weber for help in her personal and professional quandaries (spring of 1900).
The correspondence between Else and Edgar also covers the birth and early years of the four children, of whom Friedel and Hans had to emigrate after 1933 (Peter, Else's son from Otto Gross died in 1915, Marianne Jaffé/von Eckardt did not manage to emigrate, but survived.) The bulk of the Jeffrey collection deals with the correspondence between Else and her emigrated sons during and after the Nazi period.
Also included are photocopies from the diary of the sociologist Hans von Eckardt (1890-1957), which largely fills in the void left by the interruption of the transatlantic correspondence of Else Jaffé-von Richthofen und her two emigrated sons, Friedel Jaffé/Jeffrey and Hans Jaffé between 1942 and 1946.
Dates
- 1899-1955
Creator
- Jeffrey, Christopher (Person)
- Roth, Guenther (Person)
Language of Materials
This collection is in German with some English.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Use Restrictions
The copyright of the transcriptions and explanatory essays remain with Guenther Roth.
Biographical Note
C. Jeffrey is a descendent of the Edgar Jaffé and Else von Richthofen/Jaffé family who were very close to Max Weber and are a classic example of the German Jewish and non-Jewish society during the Kaiserreich and the Weimar Republic.
Extent
1.75 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Abstract
Correspondence (originals and transcriptions) of Edgar Jaffe and Else von Richthofen Jaffe, accompanied by an inventory of letters with annotations and comments by Guenther Roth. Also included are photocopies from the diary of the sociologist Hans von Eckardt.
Microfilm
Collection is available on 3 reels of microfilm (MF 1001).
- Reel 1: Folders 1-20
- Reel 2: Folders 21-26
- Reel 3: Folders 27-33
Separated Material
Audio CD removed to the LBI A/V Collection.
Note
Transcripts and summary translations have been produced by the Max Weber specialist, Guenther Roth (Columbia University). The transcription is almost complete, with the exception of a few mundane paragraphs (weather reports, shopping items, etc.).
- Archival materials
- Bavaria (Germany)
- Biographical sources
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Eckhardt, H. von (Hans)
- Germany -- History -- 1933-1945
- Interfaith marriage
- Jaffé, Edgar, 1866-1921
- Jaffé-Richthofen, Else, 1874-1973
- Manners and customs
- Munich (Germany)
- Political persecution -- Germany -- History -- 20th century
- Roth, Guenther
- United States -- Emigration and immigration
- Weber, Max, 1864-1920
- World War, 1939-1945
- Title
- Guide to the Christopher Jeffrey Collection, 1899-1955 AR 25348 / MF 1001
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by LBI Staff
- Date
- © 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
Revision Statements
- November 2010:: Added links to digital objects in Container List.
- May 2016:: dao links added by Emily Andresini.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository