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Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
Ernst Herzfeld Papers
Summary
- Collection ID:
- FSA.A.06
- Creators:
-
Herzfeld, Ernst, 1879-1948
- Dates:
-
1903-1947
- Languages:
-
Collection is inEnglish,Arabic,German,Hebrew, andPersian.
- Physical Description:
-
150 Linear feetcirca 30,000 items
- Repository:
An outstanding scholar in the field of Iranian studies, Ernst Herzfeld (1879--1948) explored all phases of Near Eastern culture from the prehistoric period to Islamic times. This collection documents Herzfeld's excavations at Samarra, Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Aleppo and includes correspondence; field notebooks; drawings; sketchbooks; inventories of objects; "squeeze" copies of architectural details; and photographs.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Papers (1899--1962) of German born archaeologist Ernst Emil Herzfeld (1879--1948), a preeminent scholar of Near Eastern and Iranian studies. The collection measures 150 linear feet (circa 30,000 items) and documents Herzfeld's work as a pioneer in the field and sheds light on his excavations at Samarra, Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Aleppo. Formats include correspondence; field notebooks; drawings; sketchbooks; inventories of objects; "squeeze" copies of architectural details; and photographs.
Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is organized into seven series.
- Series 1: Travel journals
- Series 2: Sketchbooks
- Series 3: Notebooks
- Series 4: Photographic files 1-42
- Series 5: Drawings and maps
- Series 6: Squeezes
- Series 7: Samarra Expedition
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
The Ernst Herzfeld Papers document the career of Ernst Herzfeld (1879--1948), a German architect, archaeologist, and historian of Islamic and Pre-Islamic studies. After training as an architect he studied archaeology under Delitzch from 1903 to 1906 at the excavations at Assur in Mesopotamia. A student of Latin, Greek, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Hebrew, Herzfeld received a doctorate in Humanistic Studies at universities in Munich and Berlin in 1907. His work with Friedrich Sarre to survey the monuments of the Tigris-Euphrates valleys resulted in landmark studies in architectural history, published in 1911 and 1920.
In 1920 Herzfeld was appointed to the chair of Historical Geography in Berlin and began his excavation at Samarra. Herzfeld's work there led to a six-volume publication. He published widely throughout his life on the sources of Islamic architecture and ornament, including the Royal Palace at Persepolis.
From 1934 until the end of his life Herzfeld spent his time producing many books and articles, lecturing, and working at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (1936--1945.) Many of his works continue to be published post-humously.
1879 July 23
Born in Celle, Germany.
1897
Received diploma from Joachimsthaler Gymnasium, Berlin.
1897-circa 1898
Fulfilled military service.
circa 1899
Studied architecture at the Technical University and Assyriology, art history, and philosophy at the Friedrich-Wilhems Universität in Berlin.
1903
Passed exam in structural engineering.
1903-1905
Assistant to Walter Andrae (1875-1956) in Assur.
1905-1906
Traveled throughout Iran and Iraq.
1907
Excavation in Cilicia.
Passed oral exam in February.
Awarded doctorate in Humanistic Studies by Friedrich-Wilhems Universtät zu Berlin. After receiving Ph.D. traveled extensively in Syria and Iraq with Friedrich Sarre, director of the Islamic Museum in Berlin.
1910
Herzfeld and Sarre jointly publish, Iranische Felsreliefs (Berlin, 1910).
1911-1913
Field Director under direction of Sarre during expedition to Samarra.
circa 1914
Drafted into service in France and Poland during World War I. Sent to Iraq where he functioned as a surveyor.
1916
Father died.
1917
Appointed associate professor for Historical Geography and Art History of the Ancient Orient at Berlin.
Along with Friedrich Sarre and others, founded the German-Persian Society to increase cultural and economic exchange between Germany and Persia.
1920
Appointed world's first full professor of Near Eastern Archeology. Begins excavation at Samarra.
1922
Mother died.
1923-1934
In Persia, where he completed many excavations and studies.
1928
Excavation at Pasargadae.
1931-1934
Appointed director of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and moved to Persepolis.
1934
As grandson of Jews, Nazi legislation expelling state employees of Jewish descent forced Herzfeld to retire as a professor employed by the state.
Moved to London.
1936
Delivered Lowell Lectures.
Moved to Boston. Lectured on Iranian history and appointed a member of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study.
1944
Retired from Princeton University.
1948 January 20
Died.
Administration
Author
Joseph M. Upton and Colleen Hennessey
Custodial History
It was his friend and colleague, Richard Ettinghausen, then curator of Near Eastern art at the Freer Gallery of Art, who encouraged Ernst Herzfeld to donate his papers to the Smithsonian Institution. Since the original gift in 1946, there have been a number of significant additions. Herzfeld's sister, Charlotte Bradford, arranged for several donations to be made from the estate in 1950 and 1951, and, at her request, papers left by Herzfeld in Cairo were given to the Freer Gallery by Prof. Murad Kamil of Fuad I University in 1952. After extensive investigation, Herzfeld's final edited manuscript of "The Persian Empire", thought to have been lost, was discovered and given to the Freer Gallery in 1965 by the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo. An old friend, the numismatist George C. Miles, added substantially to the papers in 1960 and 1970.
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfiche available at the Freer Gallery of Art Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Ernst Herzfeld donated his papers to the Freer Gallery of Art in 1946.
Processing Information
The guide to the Ernst Herzfeld Papers was prepared by Joseph M. Upton in 1974. Partially unprocessed. Processing completed by Colleen Hennessey and Xavier Courouble.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
Ernst Herzfeld Papers. FSA.A.06. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Ernst Herzfeld, 1946.
More Information
Bibliography
Bibliography
Ann C. Gunter and Stefan R. Hauser, 2004: "Ernst Herzfeld and the development of Near Eastern Studies, 1900-1950. Boston, Massasuchetts: Brill."
Keywords
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
National Museum of Asian Art Archives
Washington, D.C. 20013
Business Number: 202-633-0533
AVRreference@si.edu
