http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf3489n5vz No online items Inventory of the Theodore Fred Abel papers, 1930-1988 Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution staff; revised by Beth Goder, 2012; machine-readable finding aid created by Brooke Dykman Dockter Hoover Institution Archives Stanford University Stanford, California 94305-6010 Phone: (650) 723-3563 Fax: (650) 725-3445 Email: [email protected] © 2012 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved. Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 1 Abel papers, 1930-1988 Collection Summary Title: Theodore Fred Abel papers Date (inclusive): 1930-1988 Collection Number: 50000 Creator: Abel, Theodore Fred, 1896-1988. Repository: Hoover Institution Archives Stanford, California 94305-6010 Abstract: Diaries, other writings, and printed matter related to sociological theory and world politics. Also includes autobiographical sketches 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). Language of the materials: The collection is in English, with some materials in German and Polish. Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives Extent: Number of Containers: 30 manuscript boxes (12.5 linear feet) Access Collection is open for research. Publication Rights For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Theodore Fred Abel papers, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives. Acquisition Information Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1950, with increments in March 1986 and most likely 1990. Accruals Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number of boxes listed in this finding aid. Related Collections Theodora Abel Papers, M1045. Archives of the History of American Psychology, University of Akron, Ohio 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 Emigrated 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 1939-1941, Served on Herbert Hoover's Commission for Polish Relief circa 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 Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 2 Abel papers, 1930-1988 The Theodore Abel papers contain diaries, other writings, and printed matter related to sociological theory and world politics. The collection also includes autobiographical sketches 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 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 that were most likely acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1986 and 1990. 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 Nationalsozialistische deutsche Arbeiter-Partei. Germany--Politics and government. National socialism. Sociology. World politics--20th century. Inventory of the Theodore Fred 50000 3 Abel papers, 1930-1988 Nazi biograms Originals Box: 1 #1-60 Box: 2 #61-136 (#89 missing) Box: 3 #137-198 (#160 missing) Box: 4 #199-263 (#204 missing) Box: 5 #264-357 (#326, 336-339 missing) Box: 6 #358-465 (#368 missing) Box: 7 #466-569 (#480 missing) Box: 8 #570-593 (#580 missing) 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 Box: 9 #1-172 Box: 10 #173-302 Box: 11 #303-465 Box: 12 #466-593 List of individuals Scope and Contents note For box numbers, see NAZI BIOGRAM SERIES Number: 1, Hermann Führbach, Birthdate: 1907, Number of pages: 3, typed Number: 2, Fritz Schroner, Birthdate: 1893, World War I service: 1914-19, Number of pages: 2 Number: 3, Wilhelm Schmitz, Birthdate: after 1900, Number of pages: 4 Number: 4, Heinrich Dörnhaus, Birthdate: 1910, Nazi party number: 237971, Number of pages: 3 Number: 5, Heinrich Wilmskötter, Birthdate: 1908, Number of pages: 5 Number: 6, Hermann Kleinfeld, Birthdate: 1896, World War I service: ab 1915, Number of pages: 6 Number: 7, Fritz Hafkesbrink, Birthdate: after 1910, Number of pages: 5 Number: 8, Hugo Doll, Birthdate: unknown, World War I service: yes, Number of pages: 4 Number: 9, Carl Koch, Birthdate: 1877, World War I service: 1914-18, Number of pages: 3 Number: 10, Gustav Kohlenberg, Birthdate: 1907, Number of pages: 8 Number: 11, Ernst Seyffardt, Birthdate: 1888, World War I service: unknown, Nazi party number: i495873, Number of pages: 3 Number: 12, Kurt Löcher, Birthdate: 1898, World War I service: since 1915, Number of pages: 4 Number: 13, F. Lüttgens,