Adolph Oko collection of Spinoza materials, 1610-1958, bulk 1914-1958
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#0946
- Bib ID:
- 4079177 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Oko, Adolph S (Adolph Sigmund), 1883-1944; Gebhardt, Carl, 1881-1934
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 14 linear feet (16 manuscript boxes (boxes 1-16), 6 record storage cartons (boxes 17-22))
- Language(s):
- English , German , Dutch; Flemish , Hebrew .
- 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
Summary
Collection consisting of correspondence, handwritten notes, ephemera, photographs, clipping, card files, and bookplates all relating to Spinoza and/or Oko's involvement with Spinoza related activities and acquisitions.
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Series II: Oko Notes on Spinoza, 1770-1934, bulk 1926-1934
Contains Oko handwritten notes on Spinoza, Gebhardt handwritten notes, Societus Spinoza accounts and membership list, Domus Spinoza Foundation contributors, and Spinoza related published writings.
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Series III: Ephemera, 1632-1955, bulk 1932-1955
Contains portraits of Spinoza, photographs of Spinoza statues/busts, bios of artists who created Spinoza works, as well as photographs and postcards depicting Spinoza-related places such as graveyards, the Domus Spinozana, and the Societus Spinoza. Also included are portraits of various men in science, government, philosophy etc. The series includes a bust of Spinoza as well as a death mask.
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Series VI: Card Files, 1955-1958
Sets of catalog cards (some incomplete) of Oko's and Gebhardt's Spinoza research. The card file sets include the following card sets: Gebhardt's personal library organized alphabetically; Oko's personal library organized by subject and duplicates organized by shelf; two copies of The Spinoza Bibliography, organized alphabetically and by topic respectively.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in six series.
- Series I: Correspondence, 1914-1942
- Series II: Oko Notes on Spinoza, 1770-1934, bulk 1926-1934
- Series III: Ephemera, 1632-1955, bulk 1932-1955
- Series IV: Photographs and Images, 1610-1937
- Series V: Clippings, 1901-1943
- Series VI: Card Files, 1955-1958
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); Adolph Oko collection of Spinoza materials; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Related Materials
The Spinoza bibliography / compiled by Adolph S. Oko (Boston : G.K. Hall, 1964.) https://clio.columbia.edu/catalog/2036205
Adolph S. Oko Papers, Manuscript Collection No. 14, American Jewish Archives https://collections.americanjewisharchives.org/ms/ms0014/ms0014.html
Baruch Spinoza Book Collection. This collection of 3,933 volumes is formed from the union of the Spinoza collections of Adolph S. Oko and Carl Gebhardt, and contains material by and about Baruch Spinoza. Purchased and presented to the University by Dr. Simon L. Millner, Mrs. T.W. Lamont, Corliss Lamont, and Mr. E.A. Zabriskie, 1947. Books can be found by searching SPINOZA under Call Number in CLIO.
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 Simon Milner, Mrs Thomas Lamont, Corliss Lamont, and Christian Zabriskie, 1947. Donation of 1 envelope with 7 negatives and 7 positives, 3 copies of articles, 2 copies of expertise, 3 photographs, 1 x-ray negative by Mr. Richard Roaner (1955). Donation of 11 framed pictures of Spinoza and Spinoza scholars, death mask; by Mrs. Annette Oko (1971)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--Oko, Mrs. Adolph S. via Simon Milner, Mrs. Thomas Lamont, Corliss Lamont, and Christian Zabriskie. Method of acquisition--Purchase, Gift; Date of acquisition--1947. Accession number--M-47.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/1989.
This collection was processed by Yoav Varadi, Columbia GS 2020, Marianna Najman-Franks, Barnard 2022, Jem Hanan, Barnard 2027. Finding aid written by Jem Hanan in November 2023.
Revision Description
2023-11-30 Collection title changed to Adolph Oko collection of Spinoza materials; PDF replaced; full finding aid uploaded. kws
Biographical / Historical
Adolph S. Oko (1883-1944) was a librarian at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio. A Baruch Spinoza aficionado, Oko founded the Societas Spinozana and was a trustee of the Domus Spinoza in The Hague, Holland. Oko's Spinoza scholarship culminated in his Spinoza Bibliography (1964).
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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