Frank Altschul Papers, 1884-1986, bulk 1925-1980
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#0022
- Bib ID:
- 4078512 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Altschul, Frank, 1887-1981
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 90 linear feet (214 document boxes 1 oversize box)
- Language(s):
- English , French .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Description
Scope and Content
The collection documents Altschul's personal life and his ventures into publishing, politics, and international affairs. It contains little material directly related to his banking career. The bulk of the files contain correspondence, drafts and discussions of Altschul's writings; administrative files from his positions in various organizations; and pamphlets, articles and brochures on subjects which interested him. It also holds smaller amounts of photographs and memorabilia, as well as writings and notes by his father, Charles Altschul, and other family members and associates.
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Series I: Correspondence, 1884-1986
This series is divided into two subseries, Cataloged Correspondence and General Correspondence.
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Series II: Charles and Camilla Altschul, 1863-1932
This series contains the papers of Frank Altschul's parents, Charles and Camilla Altschul. Though his family was American, Charles was born in England and studied Germany, and he retained a strong interest in European politics and history throughout his life. His papers contain research notes, annotated subject files and correspondence on many topics, including European economics, social issues such as health care and birth control, and research on foreign language publications in the United States. Several files hold correspondence and articles written in response to his writings, including his monograph "The American Revolution in Our School Textbooks" and articles on war debt and war guilt after World War I. The series also holds correspondence between Charles Altschul and his cousin, Dr. Paul Hammerschlag of Vienna. The series contains smaller amounts of information on other members of the Altschul family, such a family tree, a marriage scrapbook for Frank Altschul's uncle and aunt, William and Rosita Altschul, Rosita's diary, and an art history notebook kept by Maria Altschul. Information on Camilla is limited to condolences upon her death in 1952.
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Series III: Writings by Frank Altschul and Others, 1910-1974
This series contains material relating to Frank Altschul's many speeches, letters to editors, editorials, book reviews, essays, and articles. Most files contain a draft or copy of the finished piece, as well as notes and related correspondence and articles. There are also several files concerning the publication of "A Catalogue of the Altschul Collection of George Meredith in the Yale University Library" and biographical articles about Altschul. Files have been divided by document type and further arranged alphabetically by title. The series also holds a small number of speech drafts by Altschul's acquaintances, including Raymond Buell, Arther L. Goodhart, and playwright Clare Boothe Luce, which can be found under the heading "Writings by Others."
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Series IV: Subject and Political Files, 1919-1986
This series is comprised of two subseries, Subject Files and Political Files
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Series V: Printed Materials, 1909-1984
This series contains a collection of article reprints, fliers, brochures, and ephemera relating to Altschul's many interests, particularly social and political issues such as patriotism, Communism, human rights, and education. Some represent the views of individuals, while others were printed by organizations such as the Friends of Democracy and the Foreign Policy Association. Documents are filed alphabetically by author or organization name and occasionally by subject. This series also holds one box of sampled clippings from Altschul's clipping file, representing the type of material he collected from major newspapers.
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Series VI: Photographs, circa, 1920-1960
This series holds photographs of Frank Altschul, his wife Helen, and his parents Charles and Camilla Altschul. It also contains images of Altschul's estate, Overbrook Farm, in Stamford, Connecticut, the Altschul Auditorium at Columbia University, and buildings at the New School for Social Research, which Altschul helped fund.
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Series VII: Memorabilia, 1914-1916
This small series contains Altschul's attorney certificates.
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Series VIII: Organizations, 1908-1980
This series documents Altschul's involvement in social clubs and advocacy groups, including the American Jewish Committee, the Council for Foreign Relations, the National Committee for a Free Europe, and various committees at Yale University, among many others. Files for the Council for Foreign Relations are particularly extensive, containing correspondence, administrative records, budget information, and discussion notes and minutes from the organization's study groups. Files are arranged alphabetically by organization name and further organized by topic or document type.
Arrangement
This collection has been arranged into 9 series.
- Series I: Correspondence, 1884-1986
- Series II: Charles and Camilla Altschul, 1863-1932
- Series III: Writings by Frank Altschul and Others, 1910-1974
- Series IV: Subject and Political Files, 1919-1986
- Series V: Printed Materials, 1909-1984
- Series VI: Photographs, circa, 1920-1960
- Series VII: Memorabilia, 1914-1916
- Series VIII: Organizations, 1908-1980
- Series IX: General, 1921-1975
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Frank Altschul Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Related Archival Materials
Overbrook Press Records, 1929-1978, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University.
Herbert H. Lehman Papers, 1858-1963, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University.
The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction Records, 1914-1999, Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Ownership and Custodial History
Gift of Frank Altschul, 1980.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1980. Accession number--M-37.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Correspondence, manuscripts, documents, memoranda, reports, printed material, photographs Surveyed Julie Miller 05/--/87.
Papers reprocessed Tracy Thai, Barnard 2012 2009.
Finding aid written Carolyn Smith March 2010.
German Poster, box 202, missing as of 4/3/24. kws
Revision Description
2010-08-28 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
2019-12-20 Series IX added (kws)
Biographical sketch
Frank Altschul was born in San Francisco on April 21, 1887 to Charles and Camilla Mandlebaum Altschul. Charles, a partner in the investment firm Lazard Frares, brought his family to New York City in 1901 to work at the company's New York office. Frank Altschul studied at Yale University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908. Following commencement, he traveled for two years, studying banking in London, Paris, Berlin, and Mexico City. During World War I, he served as an Army captain in France and was awarded the Legion of Honor. He married Helen Lehman Goodhart in 1913, and the couple would have four children.
Altschul proved to be a highly successful financier and became a senior partner at Lazard Freres in 1943. In 1948, he became chairman of the board of the General American Investors Corporation, where he remained until his retirement in 1961. During the 1930's, Altschul also served on the governing committee of the New York Stock Exchange and was director of the Chase National Bank.
Altschul applied his skill in running large organizations to a variety of causes, particularly political and advocacy organizations. He served as Director of the English-Speaking Union and vice president of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation and was heavily involved in the Council on Foreign Relations for almost four decades, serving as secretary and later as vice president from 1951 to 1971. Altschul's interest in interntional affairs was also present in his writing. A prolific writer of essays, articles, and book reviews, as well as a book, Let No Wave Engulf Us (1944). He frequently wrote letters to the editors of major newspapers, particularly the New York Times. Altschul was invited to speak before groups ranging from political and business committees to high school classes, and gave talks on psychological warfare, US relations with Israel, and many other subjects.
A self-described bibliophile, Altschul was an avid collector of books and possessed a lifelong fascination with printing. He was the co-founder and first chairman of the Yale Library Associates, which oversees the Yale Library System the Beineke Library. He established an endowment and donated much of his own collection to the Bienecke, including an extensive collection of the works and papers of George Meredith. In 1933, Altschul founded Overbrook Press on his estate in Stamford, Connecticut and began producing a wide variety of books, pamphlets, and ephemera. The press was highly regarded for its craftsmanship and innovative design work, and Overbrook volumes were consistently included in the ''Fifty Books of the Year'' show of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Overbrook Press was dissolved in 1969.
Altschul was a philanthropist and supporter of education and the arts, endowing chairs and fellowships at Yale, Williams College, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the New School for Social Research. He also gave generously to hospitals and charities. His wife Helen shared his interest in education, serving on the board of trustees Barnard College and funding a chair in English.
Frank Altschul died on May 29, 1981.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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