Oskar Maria Graf papers,
- Author:
- Graf, Oskar Maria, 1894-1967.
- Call Number:
- MSS GER-002 local
- Abstract:
- The collection contains copies of Oskar Maria Graf's manuscripts accompanied by scholars' critiques of these literary works. A vast amount of correspondence by Graf and his third wife, Gisela is also included. Graf's personal correspondence includes postcards and copies of his letters from his contemporaries such as Thoman Mann, Hermann Hesse, Berthold Brecht, and Heinrich Boll. Reviews by Graf of the literary work of his peers can also be found among these letters. Besides correspondence, there are personal items, mementos, brochures, pamphlets, flyers and exhibition materials. Historical articles and biographical material are also contained in the collection as well as newspaper articles.
- Historical Note:
- Oskar Maria Graf was born on July 22, 1894 in Berg, Bavaria. He was the youngest son of Max Graf, a baker, and Therese Heimrath. In 1906, Graf began an apprenticeship in the family bakery. In 1911, he fled to Munich, where he started writing poems and short stories. In 1914, his poems were published in a Berlin Expressionist periodical, Die Aktion. In 1915, Graf was drafted into the German army, feigned insanity and went on a hunger-strike, and was committed to a mental institution. He was released in 1916 and began work in a factory in Munich a year later, where he wrote reviews for the newspaper and published Wir sind Revolutionare. He married for the first time in 1918. Graf published several novels, including Wir sind Gefangene (Prisoners All), which gained international recognition. After Hitler's rise to power, Nazi authorities ordered a national book burning, but Graf's books were among those recommended to readers. Graf protested by writing his famous Verbrennt Mich (Burn me too) letter, published in the "Viennese Arbeiterzeitung" on May 22, 1933. He went into exile in Austria until 1934, then lived in Czechoslovakia until 1938. In 1938, Graf moved to New York City. While here, he made numerous speeches before German-American Associations, regular contributions to Aufbau, and became president of the German-American Writers' Association. He continued to write novels about life in Germany from Bismarck to Hitler. In 1944, Graf married his second wife, Mirjam Sachs and after her death, he married Gisela Blauner. In 1958, he became an American citizen. Oskar Maria Graf died on June 28, 1967.
- Physical Description:
- 9 cu. ft
- Access Terms:
- Access to the collection is unrestricted.
- Notes:
- Part of the German and Jewish Intellectual E´migre´ Collection. local
- Subjects:
- Authors, German 20th century, German literature 20th century, Exiles' writings, German, Authors, German, Civilization, Exiles' writings, German, German literature, and Politics and government
- Genres/Forms:
- Manuscripts. aat, Correspondence. aat, Critiques. aat, Articles. aat, and Clippings. aat
- Names:
- Graf, Oskar Maria, 1894-1967 and Graf, Oskar Maria, 1894-1967
- Corporate Names:
- First Congress of Socialist Writers, German-American Writers Association, and German Academy for the Arts
- Chronological Terms:
- 1900-1999 fast
- Geographic Terms:
- Germany Politics and government 20th century, Germany Civilization, and Germany
Access
Rare books do not circulate
These materials must be viewed onsite in the Special Collections Reading Room.
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