120% S. Race #1
Urbana, IL 61801
Pebruary 6, 1973
Professor Hans Stasdinger
45 Sutton Place S.
New York, New York
Dear Dr. Stardinger:
I am currently in the process of preparing a doctoral
dissertation on Karl Mannheim's attempts to establish a
Sociology of Culture. In this regard I have recently
come across G. Lukacs review of your "Individuum und
Gemeinschaft in der Kultur-organization des Vereins:
Schriftenzur Soziologie der Kultur," which appeared in
the Archiv fur Sozialwissenschaft und Sozialpolitik,
Bd. 39 (1914-1915) along with a reply by Alfred Weber.
Since I have not been able to locate a copy of your
volume, I am anxious to learn from you something about
the intellectual issues, currents and scholars who pro-
vided the stimuli and climate for your work and for A.
Weber's work in this area. While I recognize that I may
be asking some involved and time-consuming questions,
even the faintest of recollections may help to guide my
further research. It would also be helpful if you could
tell me something about the nature and extent of your
Stay in Heidelberg as well as with Alfred Weber.
Thank you in advance for your kind attention to
my dilemmas.
Sincerely,
L. Charles Cooper
Graduate Student
Department of Sociology
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL 61801
U.S.A.
Alt
Mr. Le Charles Cooper
120 1/2 S. Race, 1
Urbana, IL 61801
February 14, 1973
Dear Mr. Cooper,
After my return to New York I found in my mail pile
your good letter of February 6. I am very thankful to
you that you found the review of George Lukecs of my
book in the Archiv fiir Soziealwissenschaft und Sozial-
politik with my answer by my teacher Aifred Weber.
If I get time enough I shall read again review and
reply. Thanks for your study, but all this has in my
Opinion little connection with your particular work,
namely the doctorel dissertetion on Karl Mannheim,
With the intend to reestablish a Sociology of Culture.
I knew Karl Mannheim and in my sociological thinking
I was influenced by his work in Germeny and in London.
In this respect you would do well if you could
communicate with one of the closest friends of Karl
Mannheim, Prof. Dr. Adolf Lowe, 1125 Grand Concourse,
Apts 319, NeYs, N«¥. 10452. Lowe and I work in the
graduate faculty of the News School for many years
together, We were closest friends since 1919 and so
I know about the relation of Lowe and Mennhein.
Lowe was instrumental with regard to the translation
and publication of Mannheim's book. He has presently
very little time since he is working on large
theoretical studies concerning economical investment.
Thus he will only respond to you and be of great help
if you after you have read the work of Karl Mannheim
post to him specific questions which you cannot answer
by yourself and which sre essential to the thesis.
I personally was interested in my student time in the
type of the Socialist van (according to: Mex Weber's
typology). You find therefore in my book "Individuum
und Gemeinschaft" that ay main interest was-in the
question of the Axes teres? and the future , ype of
ae oa
is De
worker, which type of man is needed for the Socialist
Movement, These were the problems of our time. I add
here a xerox copy of s letter to my friend Robert
Heilbroner which contains our thinking at this time
in Heidelberg sociological terminology, Please send
this copy back to me since I have no other available.
You are engaged in a great and importent enterprise.
I am sorry thet I have to refer you for your dilemmas
about Mennheim to my friend A, Lowe, If I can be
otherwise of help let me know.
All best wishes
sincerely,
Heng Staudinger’
-(ddetated but not corrected)
28th March, 1973
Mr. L. Charles Cooper
1201 S. Race #4 1
eo Illinois 61801 f 4 off
Dear Mr. Cooper,
I could not reply to your letter of 26th February
earlier since I was not here, and my answer today can only
be very short as I am on my way to Washington.
To your question No. 1: I believe I met Karl Mannheim
in Emil Lederer's house in Heidelberg.My relation to Karl
Mannheim came through Lederer who was, as you have seen it,
the editor of the Archiv ftir Sozialwissenschaften and a
friend of Karl Mannheim. I was very often in contact with
Mannheim in Frankfurt and in London. Dr. Adolph Liéwe was
certainly much closer to him than I and met him very often
in Frankfurt and in London, since Adolph Léwe was in England
up to 1938. I lived in Mannheim's home when I was in England
on my way to America. Mannheim influenced very strongly
the German refugee scholars whether they were sociologists
or economists. As an example, I mention Hans Neisser's
"On theSociology of Knowledge, an essay", published by
James H, Heinemann, Inc., New York, 1965. Here you find
very clearly the influence of Mannheim upon the economists
and historians. Neisser was both. In case you shouldnot
get this book in your library, write to the publisher or me,
I will then send it to you. I repeat: I think you should read
this book.in order to see the influence as well as the
critical attitude which we had towards Mannheim. ~~”
Yours sincerely,
(Hans Staudinger)
- dictated, but not signed -
120% S.Race #1
Urbana, Illinois 61801
February 26, !973
Dr. Hans Staudinger
45 Sutton Place South
New York, N.Y. 10022
Dear Dr. Staudinger;
Thank you for your prompt reply {Feb.14) to my
inquiries concerning the situation surrounding G.Lukacs'
review of your book. Please find enclosed the copy of
your letter to Dr.Heilbroner -it has been most informative.
In addition, I wish to thank you for your reference
and advice concerning contact with Dr. Lowe. In regard to
Dr. Lowe, who has indicated to me that he first met Karl
Mannheim in Heidelberg in 1926, I would like to ask you
the following two questions;
1) Did you know of or meet Karl Mannheim prior to
this time(1926) in Heidelberg or elsewhere?
2) Did you have direct contact with Mannheim in
Frankfurt or London, or was the influence you
spoke of in your earlier letter only via Dr.Lowe?
Thank you again for your time and kind assistance.
Sincerely,
St. Cpt (oopey
L.Charles Cooper
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