http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf3489n5vz Online items available Inventory of the Theodore Fred Abel papers Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff and Beth Goder Hoover Institution Library and Archives © 2012 434 Galvez Mall Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305-6003 [email protected] URL: http://www.hoover.org/library-and-archives Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 1 Abel papers Title: Theodore Fred Abel papers Date (inclusive): 1930-1988 Collection Number: 50000 Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives Language of Material: English and German Physical Description: 30 manuscript boxes(12.5 Linear Feet) Abstract: Diaries, other writings, and printed matter related to sociological theory and world politics. Also includes autobiographical sketches (biograms) by members of the Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei relating to their reasons for becoming national socialists, collected by Theodore Abel as research material for his book Why Hitler Came into Power (1938). Digital copies of select records also available at https://digitalcollections.hoover.org. Hoover Institution Library & Archives Access Closed. Microfilm use only; materials must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Publication Rights For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. Acquisition Information Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1950, with increments in March 1986 and most likely 1990. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Theodore Fred Abel papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives. Alternate Forms Available Digital copies of select records also available at https://digitalcollections.hoover.org. Biographical Note 1896 Born, Lodz, Poland 1918-1920 Served in the Polish Army 1920 Liaison officer, American Young Men's Christian Association 1920-1923 Studied at University of Warsaw and University of Poznan 1923 Immigrated to United States 1925-1929 Taught at the University of Illinois 1929 Ph.D., Columbia University 1929-1951 Sociology professor, Columbia University 1933 Author, Protestant Home Missions to Catholic Immigrants 1934 Collected autobiographies of followers of Adolf Hitler 1938 Author, Why Hitler Came to Power circa Served on Herbert Hoover's Commission for Polish Relief 1939-1941 1951-1967 Professor and chairman, Department of Sociology at Hunter College, City University of New York 1957-1958 President, Eastern Sociological Society 1967- Taught at University of Notre Dame, University of Waterloo (Canada), and University of New Mexico 1969 Received merit award from the Eastern Sociological Society 1970 Author, The Foundation of Sociological Theory 1988 Died Source: "Abel, Theodore." Robert Bierstedt. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Volume 18. Edited by David L. Sills. Scope and Content of Collection The Theodore Abel papers contain diaries, other writings, and printed matter related to sociological theory and world politics. The collection also includes autobiographical sketches (biograms) by members of the Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei, relating to their reasons for becoming national socialists, collected by Abel as research material for his book Why Hitler Came into Power: An Answer Based on the Original Life Stories of Six Hundred of His Followers (1938). Abel collected the autobiographies of hundreds of followers of Adolf Hitler in 1934 as source material to improve upon the understanding of the Hitler movement. While visiting Germany in the summer of 1933, Abel was struck by the willingness Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 2 Abel papers of many Germans to discuss their political experiences. To follow up on this, in June 1934 he announced a prize contest designed to induce Hitler's followers to submit their life stories. He posted this announcement at all local headquarters of the Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei and in the party press: "400 Marks in Prizes For the Best Personal Life History of an Adherent of the Hitler Movement Any person, regardless of sex or age, who was a member of the National Socialist party before January 1, 1933, or who was in sympathy with the movement, may participate in this contest. Contestants are to give accurate and detailed descriptions of their personal lives, particularly after the World War. Special attention should be given to accounts of family life, education, economic conditions, membership in associations, participation in the Hitler movement, and important experiences, thoughts, and feelings about events and ideas of the post-war period. The prizes will be awarded to authors who have submitted the most detailed and trustworthy accounts. Style, spelling, or dramatic story value will not be considered. Completeness and frankness are the sole criteria, so that even the simplest and most undramatic story will receive full consideration. The prizes will be awarded as follows: First prize . 125 marks Second prize . 50 marks Third prize . 25 marks Five prizes . 20 marks each Ten prizes . 10 marks each The prize money is deposited in the German Bank. The contest is organized under the tutelage of the sociology department of Columbia University, whose members will be the final judges. The purpose of the contest is the collection of material on the history of National Socialism, so that the American public may be informed about it on the basis of factual, personal documents. The contestants whose contributions are published in part or in full will receive an additional honorarium of two marks per printed page. Manuscripts will not be returned and must be submitted on or before September 1934." Abel received 683 manuscripts, the content of which he felt justified the project and the personal expense of paying for the prizes. Of these 683 manuscripts, 48 were written by women and were not considered by Abel for the study published as Why Hitler Came into Power (he planned a separate article about the women's histories). Also excluded from study for the book were a score of biographies of one or two pages that contained very little information. The autobiographies, called biograms in this finding aid, contain data on age, occupation, socioeconomic class, education, employment, membership in various associations, place of residence, marital status, military service in World War I, participation in military activities after World War I, first contacts with the National Socialist movement, the main reason for joining the movement, expressions of anti-Semitism, etc. Abel's assessment of the reliability and objectivity of the biograms is included in the introduction to his book, which is also the source of this scope and content note. The incremental materials consist of diaries, speeches and writings, course materials, and printed matter. Two of Abel's later diaries can be found in this file, as well as diary transcriptions. The file includes Abel's speeches and writings on sociology, including writings on Verstehen and various book reviews. The course materials include extensive handwritten notes by Abel on topics such as Max Weber and social theory. Subjects and Indexing Terms Sociology National socialism Germany -- Politics and government World politics -- 20th century Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei Other Finding Aids Machine-readable versions of the majority of the biograms are also available via Harvard Dataverse . Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 3 Abel papers Nazi Biograms Nazi Biograms Scope and Contents note Autobiographical sketches collected by Theodore Abel in 1934 from people who self-identified as members of the Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei before January 1, 1933, or who were in sympathy with the movement. Typically, each autobiography contains information on the writer's occupation, socioeconomic class, education, employment, membership in various associations, place of residence, marital status, military service in World War I, participation in military activities after World War I, first contacts with the National Socialist movement, the main reason for joining the movement, expressions of anti-Semitism, etc. Abel used these autobiographies to write a book, Why Hitler Came into Power: An Answer Based on the Original Life Stories of Six Hundred of His Followers (1938). For the names of respondents, see List of Individuals (men and women) and List of Women. Originals reel 1 #1-60 Scope and Contents note Box 1 reels 1A-2 #61-136 (#89 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 2 reels 2-3 #137-198 (#160 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 3 reels 3-4 #199-263 (#204 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 4 reels 4-5 #264-357 (#326, 336-339 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 5 reels 5-6 #358-465 (#368 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 6 reel 6 #466-569 (#480 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 7 reel 7 #570-593 (#580 missing) Scope and Contents note Box 8 Photocopies Scope and Contents note This is an incomplete set of copies, estimated to include about 90 percent of the originals in boxes 1-8 Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 4 Abel papers Nazi Biograms reel 7 #1-172 Scope and Contents note Box 9 #173-302 Scope and Contents note Box 10 #303-465 Scope and Contents note Box 11 #466-593 Scope and Contents note Box 12 List of Individuals Scope and Contents note For microfilm reel numbers, see Nazi Biograms series. For a list of just women respondents, see List of Women.