Julius Walter Levi Collection
Scope and Content Note
This collection documents primarily the literary work of Julius Walter Levi in Series II. His writings are often characterized by autobiographical traits. Other recurrent topics are current affairs, politics, humanity and other philosophic themes. The bulk of the collection is comprised of manuscripts, typed and/or handwritten, but included are also drafts, notes, musical compositions and a rather small amount of newspaper clippings. Series I contains material on Julius Walter Levi himself. It is comprised of biographical information, documentation on his genealogy, his military service and his time as a ship's doctor.
The collection is completed by material collected by Julius Walter Levi. It consists mainly of books, but clippings are also included.
Dates
- Creation: 1846-1992
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1920-1980
Creator
- Levi, Julius Walter, 1891-1992 (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in German, English, Russian, Czech, Serbo-Croatian and other languages.
Access Restrictions
Open to researchers.
Access Information
Collection is digitized. Follow the links in the Container List to access the digitized materials.
Collection is microfilmed - MF 822.
Readers may access the collection by visiting the Lillian Goldman Reading Room at the Center for Jewish History. We recommend reserving the collection in advance; please visit the LBI Online Catalog and click on the "Request" button.
Use Restrictions
There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:
Leo Baeck Institute, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011
email: lbaeck@lbi.cjh.org
Biographical Note
Julius Walter Levi was born in Munich in 1891 as the son of the banker Ludwig (Louis) Levi. He studied medicine in Munich, Freiburg im Breisgau, and Berlin. During the First World War he served as a military physician, stationed in Libau, Kurland (today Liepaja in Latvia). There he met Sinaida Julievna Baskina whom he married in 1919. After two further years of medical training he worked at a health resort in Bad Toelz. In 1937, he immigrated with his wife and their fourteen-year-old daughter Marianne to New York. After receiving an U.S. medical license, he opened his own practice. From 1945 to 1949 he worked for the ‘International Refugee Organization’ as a ship’s physician on voyages from Germany and Italy to the USA, South America and Australia. He continued practicing in New York until his retirement in 1983. In 1982 he had published an anthology of poetry called Sinnenfreude – Gedichte eines Weltbuergers. He died in 1992 at the age of 101.
Extent
4.5 Linear Feet
Abstract
This collection centers on the literary work of the physician Julius Walter Levi. He was born in Munich in 1891. In 1937 he immigrated with his family to New York, where he opened his own practice. In addition to his medical career, Julius Walter Levi wrote prolifically poetry and novels as well as plays, essays and short stories. Another section of the collection contains the drafts and the actual manuscript of his memoirs.
Arrangement
This collection is comprised of three series.
- Series I: Personal, 1846-1992
- Series II: Works, undated, 1905-1991
- Subseries 1: Compositions, undated, 1905-1908
- Subseries 2: Novels, undated, 1951-1984
- Subseries 3: Plays, undated, 1984
- Subseries 4: Poetry, undated, 1914-1988
- Subseries 5: Short Stories and Essays, undated, 1927-1932
- Subseries 6: Various Writings, undated, 1920s-1991
- Series III: Collected Material, 1916-1986
Microfilm
The collection is on twelve reels of microfilm (MF 822):
- Reel 1: 1/1 - 1/18
- Reel 2: 1/19 - 1/26
- Reel 3: 1/27 - 2/5
- Reel 4: 2/6 - 2/14
- Reel 5: 2/15 - 2/19
- Reel 6: 2/20 - 3/4
- Reel 7: 3/5 - 3/16
- Reel 8: 3/17 - 3/29
- Reel 9: 4/1 - 4/27
- Reel 10: 4/28 - 4/48
- Reel 11: 4/49 - 5/8
- Reel 12: 5/9 - 5/21
Separated Material
A CD with an interview of Julius Walter Levi has been moved to the audio-visual collection. Erwin Mosbach, his son-in-law, conducted the interview in 1987. The main topics are Levi’s childhood in Munich and the genealogy of the Levi family. Several books were removed to the LBI library.
Processing Information
Two addenda comprised primarily of material concerning the genealogy of the Levi family have been incorporated into the collection. In order to arrange the collection into series and subseries, the arrangement of the earlier inventory lists has been revised. In some cases, folders have been divided into two to ensure an easier access. Where possible, superfluous copies have been discarded.
Subject
- Levi, Julius Walter, 1891-1992 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Julius Walter Levi (1891-1992) 1846-1992 AR 7255 / MF 822
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by LBI Staff and Anne-Kathrin Distler
- Date
- © 2007
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is in English.
- Edition statement
- This version was derived from JuliusWalterLevi.xml
Revision Statements
- 2010-12-17: : encoding of linking to digital objects from finding aid was changed from <extref> to <dao> through dao_conv.xsl
- June 2008:: Microfilm inventory added.
Repository Details
Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository
