Papers of Dr Bernard and Mrs Irene Steinitz, 1899-1964

The personal and family papers of Bernard and Irene Steinitz give an exceptionally good insight into a life that would, in another context, have been comparatively untroubled. The collection consists primarily of correspondence in German between Dr and Mrs Steinitz and a wide range of friends, family and associates. Dr Steinitz' interests, writings and beliefs are very well documented in his diaries, which are complete from the 1890s, and correspondence, which begins during the First World War. There is also a section of drafts and typescripts for Dr Steinitz' publications.

Bernard Steinitz, third son of Dr Gustav Steinitz, was born in Bielitz in 1888. Then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bielitz is now in Poland. Steinitz attended a local school and went on to the University of Vienna. He graduated with a D.Phil. in 1912.

Dr Steinitz became a teacher of History and Philosophy at a Viennese High School but, on the outbreak of war in 1914, joined the army and served on the Eastern front. In 1915 he was captured by the Russians in Galicia and spent the next five years in Prisoner of War camps in Russia.

When the war ended Dr Steinitz returned to teaching in Vienna. However, following Anschluss in 1938, Dr Steinitz was placed on the school's retired list. The family were defined as non-Aryan, and Dr Steinitz' religious and political convictions were hostile to the Nazi party. Consequently, the family moved to Switzerland in 1939 and from there to Britain.

During the war years Dr Steinitz taught at Repton School, Derbyshire while contributing articles to The TimesThe Times Educational Supplement and the German service of the B.B.C. These years saw the dispersal of his family and the death, at Auschwitz in 1942, of his eldest brother Heinrich, a prominent Social Democrat lawyer in Vienna.

After the war Dr Steinitz lectured in German prisoner of war camps. His interest in social history and philanthropy led to the publication in 1950 of Helden der Menschlichkeita study of social philosophy through the lives of great philanthropists. This was followed in 1956 by his biography of Dr Albert Shweitzer for the Austrian UNESCO commission. Dr Steinitz died in 1959.

Irene Steinitz was a talented pianist and taught for a number of years at Howell's School, Denbigh, retiring through ill health in 1958.

Correspondence is arranged by correspondent and listed chronologically.

ACCESS: The majority of the material is accessible to all registered readers. Some series are currently restricted.

REPROGRAPHIC: Photocopies and photographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on copyright status and the condition of the documents.

NOTE: Copyright on all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.

• In the reading room of The University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections: Typescript Catalogue, 79 pp
• At the National Register of Archives, London: Typescript Catalogue, 79 pp

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this can be difficult and the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person wishing to publish.

LANGUAGE: English, German

The collection was acquired by The University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections in September 1974.