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GERMAN AND JEWISH INTELLECTUAL ÉMIGRÉ COLLECTION

Finding Aid for the
Eugen Spiro
PAPERS, 1940-1972
(GER-086)

 

VOLUME: 3 cubic ft.

ACQUISITION: All items in this manuscript collection were transferred to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, in June 1986.

ACCESS: Access to this record group is unrestricted.

COPYRIGHT: The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Biographical Sketch

Chronology of Events

Scope and Content Note

Series Descriptions

Box and Folder List:

• Series 1: Correspondence, 1903-1985
• Series 2: Biographical materials and documents
• Series 3: Writings of Eugen Spiro, 1932-1964 and undated
• Series 4: Newspaper clippings pertaining to Spiro and his artwork; catalogs of exhibits, 1903-1978
• Series 5: Reproductions and photographs of Eugen Spiro’s artwork
• Series 6: Photographs of Eugen Spiro, Spiro family and friends, 1941-1978 and undated
• Series 7: Miscellaneous materials

Eugen Spiro Papers
Biographical Note

Eugen(e) Spiro, portrait and landscape painter, graphic artist and illustrator, is best known for his portraits of European personalities (incl. Thomas Mann, Theodor Heuss, Albert Bassermann, Fritz von Unruh, and his first wife Tilla Durieux), American personalities (incl. Archbishop Edward Cardinal Mooney, Judge M. J. Proskauer and George N. Shuster), and famous musicians (incl. Richard Strauss, Bruno Walter, Arturo Toscanini, Bronislaw Hubermann and Gregor Piatigorsky). Perhaps his most well-known portrait is his 1941 rendering of the émigré physicist Albert Einstein. His paintings hang in many museums worldwide including the National Galerie in Berlin, the Musée Nationale d’Art Moderne in Paris, the Bezelle Museum in Jerusalem and the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Spiro was born in Breslau, Germany, on April 18, 1874, the son of a cantor and one of nine children. He studied art in Breslau under Albrecht Bräuer and later became a master student of Franz von Stuck in Munich. His early portraits of women appeared frequently in, as well as on the covers of, the Jugendstil magazine, Der Jugend. After a brief marriage to the actress Tilla Durieux (1904-1906), Spiro relocated to Paris where he studied the French masters and impressionists, became a Professor at the Académie Moderne, co-founded the Salon d’Automne, and belonged to the circle of artists and writers of the Parisian Café du Dôme.

In 1914, Spiro returned to Berlin where he became Chairman of the Berliner Sezession and a Professor at the Berlin Academy of Arts. He remained in Berlin until Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, when he was forbidden to work because of his Jewish background. He voluntarily resigned from his posts in 1934, secured a visa, and was allowed to immigrate to Paris in 1935. Spiro remained in Paris for the next five years, operating as a freelance artist, painting portraits and giving private lessons, participating in exhibits in Amsterdam and London. Together with other immigrants he founded, became co-director and first chairman of the Union des Artistes libres in Paris.

With the spread of the Hitler’s influence to France in 1940, Spiro was again forced to flee, this time via Spain and Portugal, arriving in the United States in 1941 at the age of 67, a relatively unknown artist in America. Spiro, a well-known artist in Europe, had asked Albert Einstein years earlier to sit for a portrait. At the time, Einstein had replied that he would sit only for unknown artists. After Spiro’s arrival in the U.S. in 1941, he once again approached Einstein to sit for a portrait, this time as a newly arrived émigré and an unknown artist in his newly adopted homeland. This time Einstein agreed and Spiro painted his well-known portrait of the physicist.

Eugen Spiro was married three times: first to actress Tilla Durieux (1904-1906), second to Elisabeth Saenger-Sethe in 1917, with whom he had one son, Peter, and lastly to Lilly Jacoby, whom he met in the French internment camp of Gurs in 1940 and married a year later. The couple settled in New York in 1941. Spiro lived to the age of 98 and died in New York City on September 26, 1972.

Eugen Spiro Papers
Chronology of Events

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Eugen Spiro Papers
Scope and Content Note

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The Eugen Spiro Papers consist of 3 cubic feet of materials, 1903-1985, and include 1 cu. ft. of correspondence of Eugen Spiro and his wife, Lilly. Although there is some correspondence with friends, most of the correspondence relates to Spiro’s artwork, including letters from many of the individuals he sketched (Thomas Mann, Albert Einstein, Theodor Heuss, and numerous prominent musicians). The collection also contains photographs of Spiro’s artwork, either in private ownership or in museums, as well as catalogs of his exhibitions, especially with the Galerie St. Etienne in New York City.

Eugen Spiro Papers
Series Description

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Series 1: Correspondence, 1903-1913, 1941-1985. 120 file folders, arranged alphabetically.

The series is arranged in three sub-series: general correspondence of Eugen Spiro, 1903-1913 and 1941-1972; correspondence with owners and subjects of Spiro paintings; and correspondence of Lilly Spiro, primarily dating from the years after Eugen’s death, 1972-1985. Among the noteworthy correspondents are: Tilla Durieux, Albert Einstein, George Grosz, Theodor Heuss, Otto Loewi, Thomas Mann, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Albert Schweitzer and Gottfried Reinhard Treviranus.

Series 2: Biographical materials and documents. 4 file folders.

This series consists primarily of texts prepared by Eugen Spiro, including versions of curriculum vitae, short biographies, and lists of paintings for exhibits.

Series 3: Writings of Eugen Spiro, 1932-1964 and undated. 8 file folders, arranged chronologically.

This series consists of typescripts of essays as well as several early stories by Spiro.

Series 4: Newspaper clippings pertaining to Spiro and his artwork; catalogs of exhibits, 1903-1978. 16 file folders, arranged chronologically.

This series consists of articles in newspapers and magazines about Spiro, reviews of exhibits of his work, as well as catalogs of exhibits.

Series 5: Reproductions and photographs of Eugen Spiro’s artwork, 1905-1979. 8 file folders, arranged chronologically.

This series contains printed reproductions of Spiro’s paintings in magazines and newspapers, as well as copies of early magazine covers illustrated by Spiro. In addition, the series contains photographs (mostly dated) of Spiro’s portraits, landscape paintings and sketches of prominent musicians. Additional photographs of Spiro’s artwork are located in the correspondence files of their owners (Series 1).

Series 6: Photographs of Eugen Spiro, Spiro family and friends, 1941-1978 and undated. 20 file folders, arranged chronologically.

This series consists primarily of snapshot photographs of Eugen and Lilly Spiro, their friends and family members, including vacation photos and candid photos of Spiro’s summer teaching classes.

Series 7: Miscellaneous materials. 8 file folders.

This series contains copies of original Spiro holiday cards, memorabilia, and materials concerning subjects of interest.

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 1: Correspondence, 1903-1913, 1941-1985.

Box 1

Folders 1-82: General correspondence of Eugen Spiro (after 1972, with Lilly Spiro).

1. Adler, Karl, 1960-1962.
2. Alexander, Eugen, 1943.
3. Amt für Kunst Zehlendorf, 1963.
4. Artist Publishing Co Ltd., 1961.
5. Artist Research Project, The City College, 1955.
6. Artists Equity Association (AEA), 1954.
7. Berlin Museum (Irmgard Wirth), 1969-1985.
8. Bertram, Else, 1965.
9. The Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, 1959.
10. Bezirksamt Tiergarten zu Berlin, 1965.
11. Brüning, Heinrich, 1945 (photocopy).
12. Bülow-Galerie, Berlin, 1965.
13. The Busoni Society, 1965.
14. Colm, Gerhard, 1944.
15. Columbia Artists Management, Inc., 1953.
16. Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc. / Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, 1966-1984.
17. Corinth, Thomas, 1969, 1979.
18. Deutsche Generalkonsul, 1964-1980.
19. Deutsche Museen (German museums, general), 1963-1969.
20. Deutsches Museum, München, 1955-1957.
21. Dodd, Mead & Company, 1952.
22. Durieux, Tilla, 1954, 1956 (photocopies).
23. Einstein, Albert, 1941-1942 (photocopies).
24. Entschädigungsamt Berlin, 1966-1985.
25. Fürst, Gerhard, 1955-1960.
26. Galerie St. Etienne, 1964, 1979.
27. George, Manfred (Aufbau), 1953.
28. Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nürnberg, 1966-1969.
29. Gesundheit, Betty Rosenthal, 1960.
30. Goethe House, New York, 1971.
31. Grosz, George, 1943 (photocopy).
32. Heuss, Theodor, 1954-1963.
33. Higgins, Mary B., 1953.
34. Hoffmann, Eva, 1967.
35. Holde, Artur, 1950.
36. Horkheimer, Max, 1943 (photocopy).
37. Hubermann, Bronislaw, n.d.
38. Hutschnecker, Arnold, 1955-1961, 1979.
39. The Jewish Museum, Hebrew Union College, 1954-1955.
40. Knudson, Hans, 1955.
41. Kunsthalle Bremen (Günter Busch), 1960, 1962.
42. Lucks, Kai, 1971.
43. Mann, Golo, 1971 (photocopy).
44. Mann, Thomas, 1941, 1950 (photocopies), 1951; photos.
45. Max Beckmann Gesellschaft, 1967.
46. Mayer, Hans-Otto, 1970.
47. The Metropolitan Opera Guild, 1951.
48. Meyer, Hermann, 1967-1968.
49. Mitropoulos, Dimitri, 1951.
50. Musician lithographs (general), 1946-1971.
51. Musikhaus Au Concert, 1967-1968.
52. Picard, Jacob, 1964.
53. Radio Corporation of America (R.C.A.), 1950, 1953.
54. Redslob, Edwin, 1965, n.d.
55. Reinhardt, Max, 1933 (photocopy).
56. Rembrandt Verlag, Berlin, 1970-1971.
57. Revenaugh, Daniel, 1965.
58. Sachs, Charlotte Cramer, 1951.
59. Scheyer, Ernst, 1959-1978.
60. Schiller Nationalmuseum, Marbach, 1968-1969.
61. Seaman, Julian, 1944.
62. Shuster, George N., 1945, 1960.
63. Spencker, Joachim (Carl Hanser Verlag), 1970.
64. Spiro, Peter, 1969, 1985.
65. Süddeutscher Verlag (Ludwig Kusche), 1964-1965.
66. Swarzenski, George, 1942.
67. Treviranus, G. R., 1945, 1957-1958.
68. Unruh, Fritz von, 1960.
69. U.S. Treasury Department (re: War Bonds campaign), 1943.
70. Weltsch, Robert, 1963-1964.
71. Wilhelm-Lehmbruck-Museum der Stadt Duisburg, 1964-1969.
72. Zaudmer, Ursula, 1949.
73. Zucker, Paul, 1943.
74. Early letters, 1903-1913 (photocopies).
75. Miscellaneous letters, 1946-1970.
76. 75th birthday, 1949.
77. 80th birthday, 1954.
78. 85th birthday, 1959.
79. 90th birthday, A-K, 1964.
80. 90th birthday, L-Z, 1964.
81. 90th birthday, ORT, 1964.
82. 95th birthday, 1969.

Folders 83-105: Correspondence with owners and subjects of paintings, 1943-1985.

83. A. von Bethmann-Hollweg Antiquitäten, 1981; photo.
84. American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science (Siegfried Ullmann), 1955, 1958, 1963.
American Council for Emigrés in the Professions (ACEP), 1968.
Archives of American Art, 1977.
85. Assmann, Leo Robert, 1962.
Buzalski, Ulrich, 1964; photo.
Carnegie Institute of Technology, Department of Fine Arts, 1948.
86. Consistoire Israelite de Paris (Baron Guy de Rothschild), 1956.
87. Engel, Max, 1955.
Erkens, August, 1964; photo.
Fenton, Betty & Morris, 1970; photos.
88. Firkusny, Rudolf, 1946.
Firle, Tomas, 1969; photo.
89. Fischbeck, Walter, 1969-1971; photo.
Florian Karsch Galerie Nierendorf, n.d.
90. Fraenkel, Ernst, 1955-1956.
Friedlaender, Eugen, 1949.
Grosche, Hildegard, 1965; photo.
Grunfeld, Ernst, 1969.
Guttstadt, Riwa & John, n.d.; photo.
91. Hempe, Fritz, 1959-1960.
Hesse, R., 1958.
Heyden, Gunter, 1972; photo.
Hirschel, Hans, 1964; photos.
92. Hochschild, Mauricio, 1961.
Horowitz, Wanda T., 1943.
Hussarek, F., 1969; photo.
Jacobson, Gunther, 1943.
Jessner, Elsa, 1958.
93. Kaiser, J., 1970.
Kempinski, Melanie, n.d.
Klein, Anni, 1966.
Knittl, Andreas, 1960-1961; photo.
94. Koussevitzky, Serge, 1948.
Kreisler, Fritz, 1945.
Kultusministerium Baden-Württemberg, 1966-1967.
95. Lamm, Curt & Elena, 1960.
Leo Baeck Institute, 1975.
Levy, Erna, 1960; photo.
96. Lewin, Lola, 1969-1973.
97. Loewi, Otto, 1954.
Marsh, Elizabeth, 1953.
Musée National d’Art Moderne, Paris, 1954.
Museum der Stadt Karlsruhe, 1959.
98. Nissen, Rudolph, 1949-1950.
Oppenheimer, Chanan, 1958; photo.
Peerce, Jan, 1944, 1949.
Pinza, Ezio, 1946.
Popper, Kurt S., 1962.
99. Rosenfeld, I., 1961; photo.
Rosenthal, Theo, 1960.
Scherman, Bernadette, 1956.
Schnabel, Artur, 1945.
100. Schonwald-Pringsheim, Isolde, 1964; photos.
Schweitzer, Albert, 1957 (photocopy).
Seelig, Arthur, 1953; photos.
Serkin, Rudolf, 1946.
101. Seydel, Gerhard, 1957-1958, 1970.
102. Siepi, Cesare, 1953.
Skaupy, Walther, 1964; photos.
Sonnenschein, Paul, n.d.; photo.
Stefansson, Vilhjalmur, 1954.
Stolzenberg, Ilse, 1960.
Szell, George, 1952.
103. Tel Aviv Museum, Jerusalem, 1969-1985; photos.
104. Veit, Suse Abramczyk, 1964; photo.
Vincenz, Hubert, 1972.
Walker, Betty, 1970.
Walter, Bruno, 1943.
105. Weber, Alfred, 1968, 1970.
Württemberg, Odo von, 1944.

Folders 106-120: Correspondence of Lilly Spiro, 1969-1985.

106. Abercron, Wilko von (Galerei von Abercron), 1978-1985.
107. Berlinische Galerie, 1983.
108. Deutsches Literaturarchiv, Marbach, 1978.
Galerie Wolfgang Ketterer, 1972.
Grether, Aloys, 1969, 1977-1979.
109. Gruber, Gerd, 1978-1979.
110. Interdisciplinary Science Reviews (Anthony R. Michaelis re: Einstein photos), 1977-1978.
111. Jüdisches Museum, Ost-Berlin (Hermann Simon), 1983.
112. Die Künstlergilde e.V. (Schremmer), 1969-1977.
113. Liebrecht, Vera, 1985.
114. Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, 1970-1971.
Mount Sinai Hospital, 1977.
Nathorff, Hertha, n.d.
115. Ostdeutsche Galerie Regensburg, 1973-1974.
Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern (Wilhelm Weber), 1973.
116. Rauter, Herbert (Consul), 1977-1978.
Schocken, Wolfgang A., 1982-1983.
Sieger, Henry, C.P.A., 1979-1983.
117. Smith, Dawn, 1974.
Smithsonian Institution, 1979.
Starck-Pauly, Ilse, 1985.
118. Stern, Isaac, 1976.
Three Lions Inc., Publishers (Max G. Lowenherz), 1975, 1977.
Universitätsbibliothek Düsseldorf (Thomas Mann Sammlung), 1977, 1980; photos.
119. Condolence letters, 1972.
120. Miscellaneous correspondence.

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 2: Biographical materials and documents

Box 2
Folder

1. Biographical statements, incl. curriculum vitae, lists of portraits painted and exhibited, short biographical statements, lexicon entries.
2. Biographical statements about Spiro by others, incl. Ernst Freund, Max Osborn, Ernst Scheyer, Margarethe Steinberg.
3. Documents, including death certificate, Grosse Verdienstkreuz (1964).
4. Awards – newspaper clippings.

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 3: Writings of Eugen Spiro, 1932-1964 and undated.

Box 2 Continued
Folder

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 4 – Newspaper clippings pertaining to Spiro and his artwork; catalogs of exhibits, 1903-1978

Box 2 Continued
Folder

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 5 – Reproductions and photographs of Eugen Spiro’s artwork, 1905-1979

Box 3
Folder

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 6 – Photographs of Eugen Spiro, Spiro family and friends, 1941-1978 and undated

Box 3, continued
Folder

Eugen Spiro Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 7 – Miscellaneous materials

Box 3, continued
Folder