H. F. Broch de Rothermann papers

The H. F. Broch de Rothermann Papers are composed primarily of correspondence which documents the life and career of the Austrian writer Hermann Broch, the father of Hermann Friedrich Broch de Rothermann. The collection spans the years 1916 to circa 2001, with the bulk of the material falling between 1953 and 1986. Major topics include republication of Hermann Broch's writings, Broch scholarship, and other aspects of the reception history of Broch's works. Also present are materials relating to Broch de Rothermann's work in the United States Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II, writings and drawings by Broch de Rothermann, and other papers relating to him.

Series I, Correspondence, (Boxes 1-8) consists of correspondence between Broch de Rothermann and editors, publishers, scholars, and friends of Hermann Broch, including correspondence with Dániel and Daisy Bródy, Pantheon Books, Rhein-Verlag, and Suhrkamp Verlag. The letters of prominent Broch scholars, such as Manfred Durzak and Paul Michael Lützeler, shed light on the author's current importance as a literary figure. Also present are the letters of Broch de Rothermann's grandparents, uncle, mother, and stepmother (Annemarie Meier-Graefe Broch), as well as those of friends, including Hannah Arendt, Marion Canby, Erich and Alice Loewy Kahler, Edith Levy, Edith Ludovyk-Gyömröi, Robert Pick, Jean Starr Untermeyer, and Hermann J. Weigand.

Series II, Addition (Boxes 9-11), is divided into three subseries. Correspondence, circa 1970s-circa 2001, consists mainly of letters between Broch de Rothermann and correspondents also represented in Series I, including Annemarie Meier-Graefe Broch, Franziska von Rothermann Broch (accompanied by photographs and identification documents), other Broch family members, Alice Loewy Kahler, Edith Ludovyk-Gyömröi, Paul Michael Lützeler, and Suhrkamp Verlag. Also present are some additional correspondents and unidentified letters.

United States Office of Strategic Services, circa 1944-circa 1946, consists of papers relating to Broch de Rothermann’s work in the OSS Morale Operations Branch during World War II. Papers include reports on the development and effectiveness of propaganda, American support for resistance in areas occupied by Germany, American occupation of Italy and Germany, and interrogation of German soldiers and other prisoners by the American army; samples of military and civilian propaganda in German, Italian, French, Russian, and other languages; correspondence and documents about Broch de Rothermann’s service, discharge, and return to the United States after the war; and a photograph of unidentified soldiers, possibly including Broch de Rothermann. Propaganda samples include drawings made by artist Saul Steinberg.

Other Papers, most undated, include drafts of a short story, a screenplay, and other writings by Broch de Rothermann; drawings by Broch de Rothermann and Gregor von Rezzori; and videocassette and audiocassette interviews with Broch de Rothermann.