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Institute of Modern Languages

Placzek/Philipp Papers


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0367 PLA

Held at: Institute of Modern Languages

Title: Placzek/Philipp Papers

Date(s): 1966-2000

Level of description: Collection (Fonds)

Extent: 5 boxes

Name of creator(s): Placzek | Adolf K | 1913-2000 | architectural historian and author
Philipp | Ernst | 1916-1996 | mathematician and author

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Adolf Placzek was born in Vienna, Austria, 1913; initially studied medicine, and switched to architectural history in 1934; left Austria in 1939, and after a brief stay in Britain, moved to New York in 1940; served for 3 years in the US Army, and attended Columbia University's school of Library Service. After graduation he was appointed to the Avery Architectural Library; appointed Avery Librarian, 1960; appointed Professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, 1970; after his retirement in 1980 he edited the four volume Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects. Married (1st, 1948) Jan Struther, author of Mrs Miniver (d 1953) (2nd, 1957) Beverley Robinson.

Ernst Philipp was born in Vienna in 1916, and was a cousin of Adolf Placzek; he was educated at the University of Vienna (PhD, Mathematics, 1938); he, and his two brothers were sent to Dachau in Nov 1938, but released on the strength of their British Immigration visas. His mother and sister died in the holocaust. After moving to London he enlisted in the Labour Corps, and later served in the Parachute Regiment at Arnhem in 1945, he remained in the army after the War, and served in Palestine, 1946-1947; he taught mathematics at St Bees School, Cumbria until his retirement in 1981, and died in 1996, aged 79.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Literary papers of Adolf Placzek and Ernst Philip, 1966-2000, comprising:
Adolf Placzek: typescripts of eight plays, seven short prose works by Adolf Placzek, 1968-1994; typescripts of poems by Adolf Placzek, 1940-1982, some in memory of Jan Struther (d 1954).
Ernst Philipp: typescripts of literary works, 1966-1994;
Miscellaneous papers including obituary of Placzek from The Independent, Apr 2000; correspondence between M C Ives and the Institute of Germanic Studies relating to the Placzek/Philipp papers; typescript of article by Ives Cousins in exile: an anthology [undated].

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: German and English

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:

Presented to IGS by Dr Margaret Ives, 2000.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

IGS holds the papers of several other Austrian and German exiles (Ref GB 0367 Exile Archive).

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 literature | European literature | National literatures

Personal names
Philipp | Ernst | 1916-1996 | mathematician and author
Placzek | Adolf K | 1913-2000 | architectural historian and author

Corporate names

Places