Graphical version

Institute of Modern Languages

Forster, Leonard William (1913-1997)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0367 LWF

Held at: Institute of Modern Languages

Title: Forster, Leonard William (1913-1997)

Date(s): 1933-1986

Level of description: Collection (Fonds)

Extent: 6 boxes

Name of creator(s): Forster | Leonard William | 1913-1997 | Professor of German, University of Cambridge

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Leonard William Forster: Born London 30 Mar 1913; Educated at Marlborough College, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, (BA 1934, MA 1938)) and University of Basle (PhD 1938); English Lektor, University of Leipzig, 1934, University of Konigsberg, 1935-1936, and University of Basle, 1936-1938; Fellow of Selwyn College Cambridge, 1937-1950, 1961-1997; during World War Two worked on codebreaking at Bletchley Park, with rank of Lt Cdr RNVR; Professor of German, University College London, 1950-1961; Schröder Professor of German, University of Cambridge, 1961-1979; President of the International Association for Germanic Studies, 1970-1975; Died Cambridge 18 Apr 1997.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Correspondence and papers of Leonard William Forster, comprising
correspondence and articles by and about Joseph Breitbach, 1956-1986; correspondence with and about Wilhelm Lehmann, 1950-1975; correspondence about Frederick 'Bimbo' Norman, 1969-1973; correspondence with J R R Tolkein, 1960-1961; research notes and correspondence on publication of German Poetry, 1944-1948; correspondence on publication of the Penguin Book of German Verse, 1955-1957, including correspondence with academics on development of the anthology and notes on the poems, correspondence with publishers and editors, and letters of congratulation on publication; correspondence on publication of The History of German Literature (Pengiun Books), 1955-1961; correspondence with Henri Béhar (Association pour l'étude du Mouvement Dada), Antoine Fischer (Saisons d'Alsace) and Aimée Bleikasten on the poetry of Hans Arp, 1966-1972; correspondence and papers on Paul Celan and Immanuel Weissglass, 1969-1984; correspondence and papers on Erich Fried and the Darmstädter Akademia, 1987; correspondence and papers on Günter Grass, 1969-982; correspondence on Oskar Kokoschka, 1961-1988; correspondence with Hans and Ilse von Savigny, 1948-1972.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English and German

System of arrangement:

As described in the scope and content.

Conditions governing access:

Researchers should apply to consult material at least forty-eight hours in advance by letter, facsimile, e-mail or telephone. The Library staff need a name and contact number, a concise and clear idea of the nature of the enquiry and a date and time for consultation.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopies may be made, although this is at the discretion of the Librarian and is dependent on the nature of the material.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Box list

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Bequeathed to IGS by Professor Forster.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: May 2002


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
German | Germanic languages | Indo-european languages
German literature | European literature | National literatures

Personal names
Breitbach | Joseph | b 1903 | German scholar
Celan | Paul | 1920-1970 | German scholar
Forster | Leonard William | 1913-1997 | Professor of German
Fried | Erich | 1921-1988 | German scholar
Grass | Günter | b 1927 | author
Lehmann | Wilhelm | 1882-1968 | German scholar
Norman | Frederick | 1897-1968 | Professor of German
Tolkien | John Ronald Reuel | 1892-1973 | philologist and author x Tolkien | J R R

Corporate names
Association pour l'étude du Mouvement Dada
Darmstädter Akademia

Places
Germany | Western Europe | Europe