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Gustav Weinberg Collection

 Collection
Identifier: AR 4752

Scope and Content Note

The Gustav Weinberg Collection holds the papers of this scholar and author. The papers of the collection consist of a folder of personal papers including eulogies, curricula vitae, and newspaper clippings as well as correspondence, a photograph of him and official papers. The bulk of the collection consists of his creative work, drafts of a play and his poetry.

Gustav Weinberg's personal papers primarily provide biographical details about him. The first folder holds two curricula vitae written by him (in 1890 and 1894) and one by his daughter after his death. A newspaper clipping that mentions him is included as well as an obituary and a review of his play Saul. Memorials of him include English poems written in his memory. Other papers consist of his request to take the Abitur exam in 1879 and two copies of his birth certificate. A report by Nachum Goldmann on the eulogy of Max Walter, director of the Musterschule where Gustav Weinberg taught, is also present.

The remaining four folders comprise Gustav Weinberg's writing. His play Saul: Trauerspiel in fünf Akten, centers on the life of the Biblical king, while his poetry covers numerous subjects, including frequent reflections on nature or other people. Much of the poetry consists of handwritten drafts, both loose and in notebooks. Most are dated and several contain editing marks or corrections. "Gedichte aus dem Nachlass von Gustav Weinberg" contains typed poems, some of which will be found in his handwritten notebooks; a poem from autumn 1881 mentions his trip to England.

Dates

  • 1874-1979
  • Majority of material found within 1877-1909

Creator

Language of Materials

The collection is in German with a small amount in 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

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<extptr actuate="onload" altrender="Portrait of Gustav Weinberg (1856-1909)" href="http://digital.cjh.org/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=1942972" show="embed" title="Portrait of Gustav Weinberg (1856-1909) photo call number: F 001 AR 4752"/>

Gustav Weinberg was born in Gersfeld, Germany on April 26, 1856, the son of Juda Weinberg, who owned a tannery. Until he was thirteen years old he attended the local Volksschule, then attended the Realschule of Hanau for one year. Although he wanted to study philology, he followed his father's expectations and worked on a volunteer basis for a bank in Frankfurt am Main, then worked in a silk factory as bookkeeper. After realizing his interests did not lie in business he took the Abitur exam (required for matriculating at a German university) in 1879, in spite of not having attended a Gymnasium, and then began his studies at the universities of Berlin, Heidelberg and Strassburg. He also spent time studying in England. On June 26, 1884 he received his doctorate from the University of Heidelberg with his dissertation Das französische Schäferspiel in der ersten Hälfte des siebzehnten Jahrhunderts (The French Pastoral Play in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century), which was later published.

Following a year of working as a tutor for an American household, Gustav Weinberg spent four years teaching at the Realschule der israelitische Gemeinde (Philanthropin) of Frankfurt am Main. He was unable to secure a position at universities due to being Jewish, and after his marriage gave lessons out of his home as well as at trade schools and taught religion at Gymnasiums. Among the schools at which he taught was Frankfurt's Musterschule. Due to his knowledge of languages, he wrote reviews of foreign works, especially those in French and Spanish, for various newspapers. He was also an official interpreter of French and English for German courts.

In addition to teaching, Gustav Weinberg also wrote, both academic works as well as creative ones. In 1905 his Einführung in die englische Handelskorrespondenz zum Gebrauch an Handelshochschulen und Handelsschulen, sowie zum Selbstunterricht (Introduction to English Business Correspondence for Use at Trade Colleges and Schools, as well as for Self-Instruction) appeared, and in 1906 his play Saul: ein Trauerspiel in fünf Akten (Saul: a Tragedy in Five Acts) was published. Other creative works included Lieder eines Narren (A fool’s songs) and Der Halling: Oper in drei Akten (The Halling: Opera in Three Acts). His poetry remained unpublished.

Gustav Weinberg died in 1909 of illness.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection consists of the papers of the author and teacher Gustav Weinberg, especially his creative works, including drafts of a play along with poetry. In addition, the collection contains some of his personal papers, such as curricula vitae, eulogies, newspaper clippings and official papers.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in one series.

Other Finding Aid

A 3-page inventory lists each item in the collection.

Related Material

The LBI Library includes the following five works by Gustav Weinberg:

  1. Das franzoesische Schaeferspiel in der ersten Haelfte des 17 Jahrhunderts (PQ 241 W4)
  2. Die geistige Physiognomie Frankfurts (DD 901 F79 W42)
  3. Einfuehrung in die englische Handelskorrespondenz. Zum Gebrauch an Handelshochschulen und Handelsschulen, sowie zum Selbstrunterricht (HF 5726 W4)
  4. Lieder eines Narren (PT 2647 E496 L5)
  5. Saul; Trauerspiel in 5 Akten (PT 2647 E496 S3 1906 and PT 2647 E496 S3)
Title
Guide to the Papers of Gustav Weinberg (1856-1909) 1874-1979 AR 4752
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Dianne Ritchey and LBI Staff
Date
© 2013
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is in English.
Edition statement
This version was derived from GustavWeinberg.xml

Revision Statements

  • June 2016:: dao links added by Emily Andresini.

Repository Details

Part of the Leo Baeck Institute Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States