Series 8 - Fritz Graebner Collection, 1909-1980

Scope and content:

The Graebner series is of interest to researchers in the history of anthropology and ethnology, and specifically those concerned with the cultural-historical approach to ethnology which Graebner spearheaded. Graebner was Leser's mentor and perhaps the greatest influence on his academic career and scholarly interests; Leser remained loyal to Graebner's anthropological methodology even after it had fallen out of favor in academic circles.

Graebner was born in 1877 in Berlin. He received his Ph.D. in history at the University of Berlin in 1901; his dissertation was on a topic in medieval history. He went on to become a research assistant on the staff of the Royal Museum of Ethnology in Berlin, where he classified South Seas materials. In 1907, he became an assistant at the Raustenstrauch-Joest Museum. During this time, he, along with Bernhard Ankermann, developed the method of Kulturkreis, which examined the geographical diffusion of clusters of cultural traits. This development represented a break from the biological-evolutionary concepts which dominated anthropology at the time. Graebner thus remained true to his historical training and became one of the principal exponents of the cultural-historical approach to ethnology. Although this methodological approach was later abandoned by ethnologists, Graebner did exert lasting influence on ethnology in central and northern Europe, particularly on the Vienna school of Kulturkreislebre. In the later years of his life, he became the director of the Raustenstrauch-Joest Museum; he was forced to resign this position due to illness in 1928. In 1934, he returned to Berlin, where he died.

The series contains important published and unpublished manuscripts, photographs, and some correspondence (1920--1937) of both Graebner and his wife Paula. It also contains materials related to the articles written by Joseph Henninger and Paul Leser in honor of the 100th anniversary of Graebner's birth in 1977. Above all, the series helps illuminate the importance of Fritz Graebner, the man and the ethnologist, in the life and work of his student Paul Leser.The Graebner series is divided into two subseries and arranged alphabetically within the subseries. The series is divided into materials by Graebner and materials about Graebner. Materials by Graebner include: correspondence, photographs/negatives, book reviews, offprints, notebooks, and published and unpublished manuscripts. Materials about Graebner include: correspondence between Leser and Henninger, notes for Leser's writings on Graebner, newspaper articles by Leser about Graebner, and writings by both Leser and Henninger.

Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically within two series.

Physical facet:
75 file folders

Contents

Using these materials

Access:
The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
Collection restrictions:
Access to this record group is unrestricted.
Collection terms of access:
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

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