Plaut, Paul: Correspondence

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 1556 WL 647
Held at	: Wiener Library   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.wienerlibrary.co.uk/ ›
Full title	: Plaut, Paul: Correspondence
Date(s)	: 1897-1932
Level of description	: collection
Extent	: 2 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Plaut | Paul | fl 1929 | German psychiatrist and child delinquency expert

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

In 1929 Dr Paul Plaut, a psychiatrist and child delinquency expert in Berlin, published a book, Die Psychologie der produktiven Persönlichkeit. In preparation he sent questionnaires to about 400 prominent scientists and artists in Germany and Austria asking for their views and experiences.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Responses to a questionnaire by Paul Plaut, designed as research for Die Psychologie der produktiven Persönlichkeit, from prominent scientists and artists in Germany and Austria on their views about science and creativity. There are some interesting responses from outside the German speaking countries (Miguel de Unamuno, John Galsworthy), but the bulk of the contributions represent the views of German-speaking academics and artists. Responses to the scientific questionnaire include Albert Einstein, Fritz Haber and Erwin Finlay Freundlich as well as lay figures such as Gustav Radbrüch and Wilhelm Hellpach. Communications from writers range from letters by Heinrich and Franziska Mann to a postcard from Elsa Laska-Schüler. Architects write about their work and new ideas (Erich Mendelsohn) and some of the painters give insights into their creative development, notably Wassily Kandinsky, Otto Dix and Max Pechstein.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
German

System of arrangement:

The responses are arranged alphabetically by correspondent into folders, 647/1-25. A few of the responses which are not related to Plaut's book have been subsumed into the main alphabetical series. At folder 647/26 there are some unidentified letters. At folder 647/ 27 is a hand written list of correspondents. At folder 647/28 are some unidentified patients' letters. At folder 647/29 are 3 much older letters by Theodor Fontane, Wilhelm Raabe and F. Skarbina.

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.

Finding aids:

Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Mrs Claire Allan, Mar 1988

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Compiled by Sarah Drewery.

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

Date(s) of descriptions:
Mar 2008