William A. Speck collection of Goetheana : original artwork
Collection
Call Number: YCGL MSS 26
Scope and Contents
The Speck Collection of Goetheana: Original Artwork is an artificial collection comprising original artwork that came to Yale from various sources, mostly during the Speck Collection’s early decades. It includes some of the Collection’s best-known holdings, including an anonymous silhouette made of Goethe in 1786 as well as original sketches and engravings by Goethe. Other artists represented include Wilhelm von Kaulbach, Georg Melchior Kraus, Johann Heinrich Lips, and Moritz Retzsch.
Facsimiles of several of the items listed here were included in Goetheana: A centenary portfolio of forty-three facsimiles and reproductions of unique or rare items from the William A Speck Collection of Goetheana, published by the Yale University Press in 1932. These facsimiles are not marked as such and can be difficult to distinguish from the originals. The brochure that accompanied the facsimiles contains sometimes dated commentary on each item. Three of the items were published in the series Facsimiles and Reproductions of Unique or Rare Items from the William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana in Yale University Library (Yale University Press, 1915-32). The existence of facsimiles is indicated in the list of collection contents.
Facsimiles of several of the items listed here were included in Goetheana: A centenary portfolio of forty-three facsimiles and reproductions of unique or rare items from the William A Speck Collection of Goetheana, published by the Yale University Press in 1932. These facsimiles are not marked as such and can be difficult to distinguish from the originals. The brochure that accompanied the facsimiles contains sometimes dated commentary on each item. Three of the items were published in the series Facsimiles and Reproductions of Unique or Rare Items from the William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana in Yale University Library (Yale University Press, 1915-32). The existence of facsimiles is indicated in the list of collection contents.
Dates
- 1785-1916
Creator
- Speck, William A. (William Alfred), 1864-1928 (Collector)
Language of Materials
Chiefly in German; some materials in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana: Original Artwork is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired at various times and from various sources.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by name of artist.
Extent
1 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana: Original Artwork is an artificial collection comprising original artwork that came to Yale from various sources, mostly during the Speck Collection's early decades. It includes some of the Collection's best-known holdings, including an anonymous silhouette made of Goethe in 1786 as well as original sketches and engravings by Goethe. Other artists represented include Wilhelm von Kaulbach, Georg Melchior Kraus, Johann Heinrich Lips, and Moritz Retzsch.
William A. Speck (1864-1928)
William A. Speck, the son of German immigrants, was born in New York City in 1864. A pharmacist by profession, he amassed the largest Goethe collection outside of Germany. In 1913, he and his collection came from Haverstraw, New York to Yale, where he served as curator of the Speck Collection until his death in 1928. For further biographical information on William A. Speck and a general history and description of the Speck Collection, see the finding aid for the William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana: Manuscripts (YCGL MSS 6).
Processing Information
Christa Sammons, Curator of the Yale Collection of German Literature, made a preliminary contents list and wrote the description of the collection in 2009. The material was then rehoused and the list standardized into its current form.
Former call number: Uncat Zg MS 25.
Former call number: Uncat Zg MS 25.
- Anna Amalia, Duchess of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, 1739-1807
- Artists -- Germany
- Authors, German
- Drawings (visual works)
- Engravings (prints)
- Etchings (prints)
- Friedrich, W. (Woldemar), 1846-1910
- German literature -- 18th century
- German literature -- 19th century
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749-1832
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749-1832 -- Portraits
- Gore, Charles, 1729-1807
- Hackert, Philipp, 1737-1807
- Kaulbach, Wilhelm von, 1804-1874
- Kraus, Georg Melchior, 1737-1806
- Lips, Johann Heinrich, 1758-1817
- Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882
- Neureuther, Eugen, 1806-1882
- Preller, Friedrich, 1804-1878
- Retzsch, Moritz, 1779-1857
- Schiller, Friedrich, 1759-1805
- Silhouettes
- Sketches
- Smirke, Robert, 1752-1845
- Speck, William A. (William Alfred), 1864-1928
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the William A. Speck Collection of Goetheana: Original Artwork
- Author
- by Christa Sammons
- Date
- 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.