Amherst Center for Russian Culture Scope and Content Note

Emanuel (Eduard) Sztein Collection

 

1920 – 1990’s

                                                                                               

Accession Number:      CRC01-0002

Quantity:                       13 linear feet

Containers:                   26 Archival Boxes

Processed:                    August 2006

By:                               Tanya Chebotarev, Tim Christy

Finding Aid:                  November 2006

Date:                           

Prepared by:                 Tanya Chebotarev, Bella Barmak

Edited by:                     Stanley Rabinowitz

Access:                        In general, there is no restriction to the Emanuel Sztein Collection for research use.  Fragile items may be restricted for preservation reasons.       

Copyright:                    It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the        holders of copyrights.  Requests for permission to publish material from the collection should be directed to the Director of Amherst Center for Russian Culture.

Description of the Collection

 

Biography

Adapted from a description by Olga Sztein

Emanuel Sztein (1934-1999) was an author, writer, publisher, editor, and distinguished book collector.  His interests lay largely in the subject of Russian émigré poetry in the 20^th Century.  Sztein’s collection of books published by the Russian poets in emigration, one of the world’s largest, is now housed in the Netherlands.

Scope and Content Notes

The collection mostly documents Emanuel Sztein’s interest in the Russian émigré community in Shanghai and Harbin from early 1920 until the mid-940’s.  Russian Harbin of the period rivaled Russian Berlin and even Russian Paris as a center of cultural and literary achievements.
 

The collection contains several hundred letters of Sztein’s correspondence with prominent literary figures of the Russian emigration, and a great number of autographs, largely poetry, much of which remains unpublished.  These letters provide a remarkable opportunity to study the beginning and development of Russian émigré literature, particularly in China. A unique photographic part of this collection relates to the Russian theatrical community in China, especially in Harbin and Shanghai.

            In addition to the correspondence with prominent figures from Russian Harbin, like writers and poets Valerii Pereleshin, Larissa Andersen, Maria Vezey, and Victoria Yankovsky,  Sztein’s collection includes letters from Svetlana Allilueva, several volumes of newspaper clippings, biographical sketches, and a rich selection of rare photographs.

            The collection also includes 87 audio tapes. For 5 years Emanuel Sztein broadcasted a biweekly show Dushi prekrasnye poryvy about Russian émigré poets from New York’s Russian radio station WMNB. The tapes are copies of the show and include unique information about Russian poetry in diaspora.

Series Description

The Collection is organized into eight series:

           Series I, PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1967-1998, 3 linear feet, is the most complex series.  It reflects Emanuel Sztein’s interest in collecting and researching material on Russian émigré communities in China and South America.  The series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent and each folder is organized in chronological order.

Series II, WRITINGS, 1969-1999, 1.5 linear feet, consists of Sztein’s articles, drafts, scrapnotes and clippings.  It also includes letters to editors.  This series is divided by type in alphabetical order and then chronologically.

Series III, PROFESSIONAL AND RESEARCH MATERIALS, 1930-1998, 1 linear foot, contains bibliographical and bio-bibliographical materials, clippings, copies of photographs, research materials and related correspondence.  It is organized in alphabetical order by type and then in chronological order.

Series IV, PRINTED MATTER, 1967-1998, 0.5 linear feet, consists of reviews of Emanuel Sztein’s articles and books with related photographs, clippings and fliers.

Series V, PERSONAL MATERIALS, 1951-1999, 1 linear foot, contains Emanuel Sztein’s personal documents, certificates, diplomas, drawings, and personal photographs.

Series VI, THIRD PARTY MATERIALS, 1923-1998, 2 linear feet, is divided into several groups: Correspondence (in alphabetical order and then chronologically); Writings (in alphabetical order and then chronologically);  Photographs and Caricatures (in chronological order).

Series VII, PHOTOGRAPHS, 1920-1999, 3.5 linear feet, consists of photo albums, individual photographs and scrapbooks.  Due to a preservation concern, photographs were removed from several scrapbooks.  Some scrapbooks contain not only photographs but production programs, clippings, notes, drawings, and posters.

Series VIII, AUDIO MATERIALS, 1992-1999, 0.5 linear feet, contains Emanuel Sztein’s  broadcasts of  a biweekly show Dushi prekrasnye poryvy about Russian émigré poets.

History of the Collections

The Collection was purchased from Emanuel Sztein’s widow, Olga Sztein, in February 2001.