Willy Tonn Collection

Willy Tonn was born Jan 28, 1902 in Berlin. After graduating from the "Askanisches Gymnasium" in Berlin in 1920, he studied at Friedrich Wilhelm University Berlin. In his first year he studied Philosophy and Medicin but already in his second year he shifted his interest to languages: Chinese, Manchu, Vedic, Sanscrit, Pracrit, Pali, Tibetian. In 1924 he made his Ph. D. (Seminary for Oriental languages). In 1939 he emigrated to Shanghai (Hangchou) where he worked as a professor for literature at the Tung Te University and a lector for "Shanghai Jewish Club" until 1943. 1943 he started to teach Chinese Linguistics and Comparative Philology at Tsinan State- University, Shanghai. He also worked as lector for the "Society of Friends" (Quakers). He was director of the "Asia Seminar", "American Seminary" and "Israeli Seminary". 1949 Tonn emigrated to Israel where he worked for the Museum Bezalel, Jerusalem (1949), Museum Tel Aviv (1950, 1953), Museum Wilfr. Israel, Hazorea (1952). During his career he wrote many articles, which were published in magazines and newspapers. Sometimes he used the pseudonym Wolf Torno. 1951 Tonn published the book: Lao Tse. Tao Te King (Zuerich). He died in a Swiss sanatorium on Nov 15, 1957.

In 1902 Georg Tonn owned "D. Franz Steiner & Co." (founded 1889), which was a firm dealing with chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetical specialties. Some of their products were "Orientalische Kraftpillen" and "Orpuvil". The company had depots in Berlin, Vienna, Budapest, Teplitz, Amsterdam, Kopenhagen, Zuerich, Saloniki, Johannesburg and Semarang. The firm was inherited by Dora Tonn (nee Dienemann) and Willy Tonn worked there as "Geschaeftsfuehrer" from 1924 until 1938.