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Library > Special & Area Studies Collections > General Manuscripts > Finding Aids



A Guide to the Edgar S. Block Papers

Finding aid prepared by Dept. Staff

University of Florida Smathers Libraries - Special and Area Studies Collections
September 2004


Descriptive Summary
Provenance: Block, Edgar S.
Title: Edgar S. Block Papers
Dates: 1919-1966
Extent: 1.5 linear feet. (3 Boxes)
Identification: Ms Group 19

Biographical/Historical Note

Author. Born in Munich, March 19, 1900. Immigrated to the United States in 1941, as a citizen of Switzerland. Born a Jew, he apparently converted to Christianity. Married Florence C. Lioret in 1955. Lived in Tampa, Florida.

Scope and Content

Journals, manuscripts, correspondence, printed material, photographs, and miscellaneous material. Includes two boxes of journals, mostly in German, from the period 1919-1963. Much of the manuscripts and correspondence concerns his unpublished work "The American Muse" and some other writings, including an unpublished manuscript on Gotthold Ephraim Lessing. There are numerous photographs, mostly unidentified.

Access or Use Restrictions

Access

Collection is open for research.

Usage Restrictions

Mr. Block transferred his copyrights to the University of Florida Libraries and appointed the Director of the University of Florida Libraries as his literary executor. Insofar as is known, this action was never rescinded.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Edgar S. Block Papers, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Acquisition Information

Received from Mr. Block. Much of the correspondence is with the Director of the University of Florida Libraries regarding Mr. Block's writings, his papers, and the Bloch-Lioret collection of books that the University of Florida acquired from Block. Correspondence from the libraries' files have been added to the Block Papers.

Contents List

Journals

Approximately 19 items, mostly in German. Some have annotations, describing the contents. Includes some photographs and loose inserts.

Box 1
Journals. 13 items. 1919-1938

Box 2
Journals. 6 items. 1951-1961


Manuscripts


Box 3
"The American Muse (The Rise of American National Culture)" - Plan for book, including contents page, drafts of introduction, preface, and epilogue, and of partial text.
Correspondence between Block and Edward Uhlan and Leslie Carver of Exposition Press 6 July 1962-22 Sept., 1962; copy of contract, 21 August 1962, signed and voided by Block, and Publicity Questionnaire, completed by block. 11 items. 1962
Various manuscripts, primarily on American culture. circa 1951-1961
Various manuscripts in English and German, primarily on American culture. circa 1961-1964
Poems and Drawings - Includes several leaves of German verse, 1941-1942, poem, "At the Grave of Thomas Wolfe," August 1953, and 2 drawings, 1924 and 1954. circa 1924-1954


Printed Pamphlets, Leaflets, etc.

Some of these may have been intended to be included in the text of "The Ameican Muse," and are numbered to show their location within the larger work.

Box 3
Introduction to Muses of America. Tampa, 1951. Signed Edgar S. Block. 1951
Introduction and Epilogue to Muses of America. Tampa. 1951
[I]-III. A Call to Arms for American Decoration. Parts I-III: Report to the American People. New York. 1949-1951
IVa. Draft for a Cultural Decoration. Tampa. 1951
IVb. A Tampa Address in Honor of the City and University of Tampa, Florida. 1951
IVc. Central West Florida's Rising Civilizational Beacon (The Culture of a Hemisphere Emerges). Tampa. 1952
IVd. Miami's Coronation as Cultural Center of the Americas. Tampa. 1952
IVe. Florida's Thirteen Cultural Stars (Pleateau of Occidental Destiny). Tampa. 1953
IVf. Fundamental Cultural Bases of the Americas (A Columbus-Day Address). Tampa. 1953
IVg. A Houston Address (Lecture on the cultural rivalry and harmony among the City-Democracies around the Gulf of Mexico. 1954
IVh. The Hidden Splendor of Texas Cultural Future. A Lecture. Galveston. 1954
V. The America's New Cultural Program (A Preliminary Draft). Tampa. 1953
VI. The Tampans to the Front (A Report to the Citizens of Tampa, Florida). Tampa. 1953
VIIb. Ecce Homo Americanus. Tampa. 1952
VIIa. The Floridian (Folksong). Words and music by E. S. Block. Tampa. 1952
Muses of America; a Legendary-Event Told in Novelette-form. New York, 1951. Author's inscription, May 26, 1961. First and revised editions. 1951, 1961
The Galveston Book of Hours (Study on a Cultural Asset of the Gulf Region). Galveston. 1954
The Savannah-Aurora and Its Place in Western Civilization. 1954
A Cultural Declaration.


Copyrights


Box 3
17 Certificates of Registration for works by Edgar S. Block. 1949-1954


Miscellaneous


Box 3
Clippings, music scores, report.


Photographs


Box 3
Approximately 65 images (5 envelopes), including photos of Block from about 1920-1960, his mother and other family members, fiance Fredy Guldimann, street scenes possibly from Merano, Italy. Most photographs are unidentified.


Correspondence



European Letters, 1919-1951.

Block's correspondence before emigrating to America. Several of the letters are addressed to him in Merano, Italy. All are in German, except the English letter from Naomi Jacob.

Box 3
From ?, AN (Picture post card) to EB. 1919 August 19
From [Block, Edgar?], AL to [Mable Lohengrin? This attribution is found in an inventory of the correspondence, but the basis is unknown.]. 1921 May 20
From Block, Edgar, to Herr Follig. 1925 Jan. 6
From Kupper, Fran, ANS to EB. 1926 February 7
From von Schax, ALS to EB?. 1926 November 15
From Max, Vitter, ALS to EB. 1927 March 2
From ?, AN (Picture post card) to Justus Bloch. 1929 September
From Huber, Hans, ALS to EB. 1932 December 27
From Block, Edgar, ALS to Fraulein Friedl. 1937 October 29


Letters, 1952-1962.

Much of this correspondence concerns the Block-Lioret Bequest to the University of Florida. Inventories of books are included.
From Nance, Ellwood C., TLS to EB. 1952, January 3
From Mann, Thomas, TLS to EB. 1952, May 1
From Block, Edgar and Florence, TLS to John Buechler. 1962, May 22 ?
From U.N. Library, Geneva, Form letter to EB. 1952, June 26
From Nance, Ellwood C. (Pres. of U. of Tampa), TC to EB. 1953, March 13
From Fredy [Guldimann] , Picture postcard to EB. 1953, May 6
From Nance, Ellwood C., TLS to E.B. 1953, November 18
From Beoine ?, ALS to EB (St. Gallen). 1953, December 28
From Carleton, William G., TLS to EB. 1954, April 10
From Peterson, J.K., TLS to EB. 1954, April 16
From Block, Edgar, TL to Milo_______. 1954, May 12
From Block, E., TL to ?. 1954, May 20
From Block, E., ALS to Mr. Gaylord. 1954, September 17
From Block, E., TLS to London Times. 1954, October 9
From Block, E., TLS to "Micky". 1954, October 9
From Moorer, Sam H., TLS to EB. 1954, October 28
From Wilgus, A. Curtis, TLS to EB. 1954, November 9
From Collins, LeRoy, TLS to EB (copy). 1955, February 16
From Frieze, Bill, TLS to Stanley West. 1955, April 1
From Runge, DeLyle P., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, April 5
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, April 22
From West, Stanley, TL to EB. 1955, April 25
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, April 29
From West, Stanley, TL to EB. 1955, May 5
From Block, E., ALS to Stanley West. 1955, May 5 [15?]
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, May 8
From Haines, Lewis F. (Director of U of Fla Press) , TLS to EB. 1955, June 9
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955. July 31
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, August 2
From Hardaway, Elliott, TL to EB. 1955, August 20
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, August 20
From West, Stanley, TL to EB (carbon). 1955, September 7
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1955, September 19
From West, Stanley, TL to J. Wayne Reitz (Carbon). 1955, October 20
From West, Stanley, TL to EB (carbon). 1955, October 20
From Reitz, J. Wayne, TLS to EB. 1955, November 1
From Block, E., ALS to Stanley West. 1955, November 25
From Berger, Ernest, TLS (form) to S. West?. 1957, October 25
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1957, October 26
From West, Stanley, TL to EB. 1957, November 13
From Hardaway, Elliott, TL to EB (carbon). 1957, November 19
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1957, November 22
From Hoefner, Dr., Form card to EB. 1959, June 5
From Block, E., TLS to Charles Van Doren (carbon). 1959, July 4
From Block, E., TLS to Dr. Hoefner (carbon). 1959, July 8
From Block, E., TLS to Prof. Eric Voegelin (carbon). 1959, July 9
From Block, Edgar, TC to Herr Dokter. 1937 Nov. 22
From Berg, Eva, 5 ALLS to EB. 1938 March 5 - September 10
From Block, Edgar, ALS to Herr Pfarrer. 1938 July 22
From Jacob, Naomi, TLS to EB. 1938 August 2
From ?, Envelope addressed to EB, with extensive note on envelope. 1938 October 5
From Badertuber(?) J., ALS to EB. 1941 March 31
From Bamnlin(?) Richard, ALS to EB. 1941 June 12
From Mann, Thomas, Pacific Palisades, CA, ALS to EB, New York City. 1942 January 22
From Mann, Thomas, ALS to EB. Photo of Block with mother attached. 1947 September 20
From Block, Netty and Edgar, Lake Placid, NY, TL (carbon) to Herr and Frau Marcus. 1948 July 15
From Metropolitan Museum of Art, Form letter to Anna N. Block, NY. 1949 June 13
From Callisen, Sterling A. (MMA), TLS to EB, with enlarged copy. 1949 October 11
From Dondero, George A., M.C., Royal Oak, Michigan, TLS (enlarged copy) to EB. 1949 November 19
From Schwarz, Tampa, ALS to Netty and Edgar Bloch. 1950 August 28
From Hyman, Mrs. Issac, ALS to EB. 1950 August 28
From Fredy Guldimann. Cf. photographs, 2 ANS (Picture postcards) to EB, Tampa. 1951 August 27
From Jacobs, Celia, ANS (Postcard) to EB. 1951 September 9
From Mann, Thomas, TLS to EB. 1951 November 13
From Block, Edgar, ALS to Herr Pfarrer. no date
From Berf, Leon, A Postcard to ?. no date
From Buber, Martin, Signed, printed card. no date
From [Block, Edgar?], TLS to Minzn and Pepi. 18 October 1936


Letters, 1959-1961.

From Block, Edgar, TC to Herrn Prof. Alfred Senn. 1959, May 29
From Register of Copyrights Library of Congress, TLS to EB. 1959, August 20
From Van Doren, Charles, TLS to EB. 1959, July 14
From Voegelin, Eric, TLS to EB . 1959, July 25
From Henoj , ALS to EB . 1960 November 4
From Broneer, Oscar, TLS to EB. 1961, January 13
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1961, May
From Block, E., TLS to Chief Librarian (UofF). 1961, June 8
From West, Stanley, TL to EB (carbon). 1961, June 26
From Block, E and F, TLS to Stanley West. 1961, June 28
From Steen, Mrs. Virginia, TL to EB (carbon). 1961, July 7
From Block, E., TLS to U of F? (Gern. and trans.). 1961, July 16
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1961, July 16
From Block, E., ALS to Stanley West. 1961, July 20
From Block, E., TLS to Library of Congress (carbon). 1961, July 21
From West, Stanley , TL to EB (carbon). 1961, July 24
From Block, E., TLS to Dr. Muskat (carbon). 1961, August 4
From Block, E., TLS to Messrs. Helen Baum and Associates (carbon) . 1961, August 14
From Block, E., TLS to An die titl. Verwaltung (carbon). 1961, August 18
From Block, E., TLS to the Sierra Club (carbon) . 1961, October 10
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West (carbon). 1961, October 16
From Riedl, Dr., TLS to EB (Germ.). 1961, October 27
From Block, E., TLS to Hon. James J. Sweeney (carbon). 1961, October 28
From Crouch, Bill, TLS to EB. 1961, October 31
From Wichmann, Dr. Siegried, TLS to EB (Germ.). 1961, Nov. 6
From Block, E and F, TLS to Hon. Board of Park Commissioners (carbon). 1961, Nov. 7
From Block, E., TLS to Hon Bill Crouch (carbon). 1961, Nov. 9
From Block, E., TLS to John Buechler . 1961, Nov. 10


Letters, 1961-1963.

From Block, E., TLS to Dr. Wichmann (carbon). 1961, November 12
From Block, E., TLS to John Buechler. 1961, November 28
From Block, E., TLS to Dr. Riedl (Germ.). 1961, November 29
From Block, E., TLS to Dr. Riedl (carbon). 1961, December 1
From Block, E. and F., TLS to Henry Rosenwald (carbon). 1961, December 12
From Block, E., ALS to Stanley West. Accompanied by fragmentary draft of "Muses of America.". 1962, January 5
From West, Stanley, TL to EB. 1962, January 25
From Block, E. and F., TLS to Stanley West. 1962, January 30
From West, Stanley, TL to EB (carbon). 1962, May 22
From Block, E., TLS to Edward Uhlan (carbon). 1962, May 23
From Block, Edgar, TLS to John Buechler. 1962, May 25
From Block, Edgar, TLS to Stanley West and J. Buechler. 1962, August 2
From Block, E.S., to Christ and Welt. 1962, September 22
From Block, E.S., TL to Chamber of Commerce, Aspen, Colorado. 1962, September 22
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1962, September 22
From Block, Edgar, TL to Stanley West. 1962, September 22
From Block, Edgar, TL to Christ and Welt. 1962, September 25
From Block, Mr. and Mrs., TLS to Hon. Robert Craig. 1962, October 19
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1963, March 7
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1963, March 8
From Block, E., TL to Stanley West. 1963, March 9
From Block, E., TLS to Stanley West. 1963, March 22


Letters, 1958-1965.

From Currtin, K., TLS to Herr Block. 1958, August 25
From Keasing, Felix M., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1959, January 12
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Bill L. Crouch. 1961, November 9
From Held, Jutta, TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1961, September 18
From Crutcher, Edwin, TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1961, September 18
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to S.L. West. 1961, July 6
From Uhlan, Edward, TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1962, July 30
From Mins, D., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1962, January 23
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Thomas H. Hamilton. 1963, December 20
From West, Stanley L., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1963, November 20
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Faber du Faur, Yale University Library. 1963, November 5
From West, Stanley L., to Mr. and Mrs. Edgar S. Block. 1963, November 2
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Robert O. Dougan, Huntington Library. 1963, November 1
From Dr. Middendorf, TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1963, October 30
From Block, Edgar S., TL to Robert O. Dougen. 1963, October 24
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Humanistic Institute of Aspen, Colorado. 1963, October 16
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to German Counsul, California, Ernest Lioret. 1963, October 16
From von Favre du Faur, Curt, Yale University Library, TL copy to Edgar S. Block. 1963, October 15
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Hedi, Fred, Walter, Mama Zipper. 1963, October 14
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Goethe-Institute, Munich, Germany, The Speck Collection. 1963, October 11
From Block, Edgar S., TL to Yale University. 1963, October 8
From Dover, W.B., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1963, September 18
From Block, Edgar S., ALS to WB Dover. 1963, September 17
From Dover, W.B., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1963, September 16
From West, S.L., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1963, September 16
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to WB Dover. 1963, September 14
From Block, Edgar S., ALS to Mrs. J. Kennedy. 1963, September 13
From Block, Edgar S., AL to Dr. Wilgus. 1963, July 20
From West, Stanley L., TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1963, July 9
From Block, Edgar S., TL to SL West. 1963, June 5
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to TH Hamilton. 1964, November 2
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Mary H. Johnson. 1964, October 29
From Block, Florence and Edgar, TLS to S.L. West (Ms. included of "Lessing's Die Erziehung Des Menshenegeschlechts"). 1964, October 26
From A and C Black Ltd., TL to Edgar S. Block. 1964, October 2
From Uhlan, Edward, TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1964, June 1
From Block, Edgar S. and Florence, TLS to Martin Buber. 1964, April 14
From Block, Edgar S., TLS copy to Charles A. Moore. 1964, March 31
From Block, Edgar S. and Florence, TLS to Otto Dengener. 1964, March 28
From Block, Edgar S., TLS copy to Martin Buber. 1964, March 21
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Martin Buber. 1964, March 8
From Hildegard and Richard, ALS to Edgar S. Block. 1964, February 14
From Block, Edgar S., TLS copy to Charles A. Moore. 1964?, February 4
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Handelskammer. 1964?, January 28
From Nickerson, Thomas, U of Hawaii Press, TLS to Edgar S. Block. 1964, January 14
From Block, Edgar S., TLS copy to S. Fischer. 1965, April 26
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to Ernst August. 1965, April 15
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to A. Toynbee. 1965, January 12
From Toynbee, A., ALS to Edgar S. Block. 1965, January 4
From Block, Edgar S., TLS to A. Toynbee. 1965, January 2


Letters, 1961-1966.

From Block, E.S., TLS to S. West. 1961, October 16
From West, S.L., TL to E.S. Block. 1961, November 14
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1961, December 15
From Block, E.S., TLS to E. Uhlan. 1962, April 17
From Block, E.S., TLS to E. Uhlan. 1962, May 16
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1962, May 18
From West, S.L., TLS to E.S. Block. 1962, May 22
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1962, August 28
From West, S.L., TL to E.S. Block. 1962, November 6
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1963, February 28
From West, S.L., TL to S.L. West. 1963, March 25
From Block, E.S., TL to A. Heckscher. 1963, March 29
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1963, April 28
From West, Stanley, TL to E.S. Block. 1963, May 16
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.West. 1963, May 30
From West, S.L., TLS to E.S. Block. 1963, June 7
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1963, June11
From West, S.L., TL to E.S. Block. 1963, June13
From Block, E.S., ALS to S.West. 1963, August 6
From Block, E.S., ALS to S.L. West. 1963, August 21
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1963, September 10
From West, S.L., TL to E.S. Block. 1963, September 16
From Huntington Library, TLS to S.L. West. 1963, September 10
From West, S.L., TL to M.I. Fry (Huntington Library). 1963, September 16
From Block, E.S., ALS to S.L. West. 1963, September 18
From Block, E.S., ALS to S.L. West. 1963, September 27
From Block, E.S., TL to Curator, W.A. Speck Collection. 1963, October 8
From Von Favre du Faure, Curt, TL to E.S. Block. 1963, October 15
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1963, October 14
From West, S.L., TL to E.S. Block. 1963, November 2
From West, S.L., TL to E. Stroven. 1963, November 20
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1963, November 17
From West, S.L., TL to E.S. Block. 1963, November 20
From Block, E.S., TL to Verwaltung der Stadt Braunschweig. 1964, February 12
From Buber, Martin, TL to E.S. Block. 1964, March 29
From Block, E.S., TLS to M. Buber. 1964, March 21
From Block, E.S., ALS to S.L. West. 1964, April 12
From Pere, B., TLS to E.S. Block. 1964, April 17
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1964, May 7
From West, S.L., TLS to E.S. Block. 1964, May 14
From Block, E.S., TLS to Stanford University Pr. 1964, September 18
From Block, E.S., TLS to S.L. West. 1964, November 28
From West, S.L., TLS to E.S. Block. 1964, December 10
From Block, F., TLS to S.L. West. 1965, October 23
From West, S.L., TL to F. Block. 1965?, October 27
From West, S.L., TL to F. Block. 1965, December 8
From Reitz, J.W., TL to F. Block. 1966, January 10


Selected Subjects and Access Points
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog:
Subject Terms:
Humanism -- United States -- 20th century.

For further information, please contact: Special Collections Access Services.

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