Scope and Contents
The Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson Papers consist of correspondence, articles, speeches, and topical files, which document the professional career of Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson. The papers highlight his work as chief of the Slavic and Central European Division of the Library of Congress and specialist in Russian affairs. Yakobson's writings on the history of Russia and the evolution of the Soviet state comprise over half the papers.
The papers, which were transferred to the Manuscripts and Archives Department in 1985 from the Sterling Memorial Library Slavic and East European Collection, are arranged in three series: I. CORRESPONDENCE, 1920-1973; II. SUBJECT FILES, 1910-1979; and III. WRITINGS, 1943-1968.
The papers, which were transferred to the Manuscripts and Archives Department in 1985 from the Sterling Memorial Library Slavic and East European Collection, are arranged in three series: I. CORRESPONDENCE, 1920-1973; II. SUBJECT FILES, 1910-1979; and III. WRITINGS, 1943-1968.
The bulk of the material dates from 1940 to 1969 and is in English. There are some writings and other documents also in Russian and German.
Series I contains Yakobson's correspondence with friends, and other Russian scholars. Correspondence with George Vernadsky and Dimitri Fedotoff White dates from Yakobson's first years in the United States. Exchanges with Harold Lasswell concern Yakobson's article, "May Day Slogans in Soviet Russia," in Language of Politics.
Series II, SUBJECT FILES, contains numerous descriptive lists and bibliographies relating to Russian collections. Materials filed under "Library of Congress" relate to the Slavic Collection which Yakobson helped develop at the Library of Congress. The series also includes personal memorabilia of Yakobson and writings, photographs, and documents of other family members.
Series III, WRITINGS, is composed of drafts, notes, background material, and printed copies for Yakobson's articles, speeches, and lectures. The writings reflect Yakobson's interests in Russian history, politics, and government, particularly Russian nationalism, the evolution of the Soviet state, and the Jewish population. Files for Yakobson's studies of May Day slogans (folders 34-35), his article "Russia and Africa" (folders 54-58), and his paper "Unpublished Letters of I. Turgenev" (folders 77-79) are particularly voluminous. Lectures (folders 44-47) and speeches (folders 69-74) are arranged in chronological order.
Series I contains Yakobson's correspondence with friends, and other Russian scholars. Correspondence with George Vernadsky and Dimitri Fedotoff White dates from Yakobson's first years in the United States. Exchanges with Harold Lasswell concern Yakobson's article, "May Day Slogans in Soviet Russia," in Language of Politics.
Series II, SUBJECT FILES, contains numerous descriptive lists and bibliographies relating to Russian collections. Materials filed under "Library of Congress" relate to the Slavic Collection which Yakobson helped develop at the Library of Congress. The series also includes personal memorabilia of Yakobson and writings, photographs, and documents of other family members.
Series III, WRITINGS, is composed of drafts, notes, background material, and printed copies for Yakobson's articles, speeches, and lectures. The writings reflect Yakobson's interests in Russian history, politics, and government, particularly Russian nationalism, the evolution of the Soviet state, and the Jewish population. Files for Yakobson's studies of May Day slogans (folders 34-35), his article "Russia and Africa" (folders 54-58), and his paper "Unpublished Letters of I. Turgenev" (folders 77-79) are particularly voluminous. Lectures (folders 44-47) and speeches (folders 69-74) are arranged in chronological order.
Dates
- 1910-1979
- Majority of material found within 1940 - 1969
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred from the Slavic and East European Collection, Sterling Memorial Library, 1985.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged in three series: I. CORRESPONDENCE, 1920-1973. II. SUBJECT FILES, 1910-1979. III. WRITINGS, 1943-1968.
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The papers consist of correspondence, writings, and topical files which document the professional career of Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson. The papers highlight his work in the Slavic Divison of the Library of Congress. Yakobson's writings on the history of Russia and the evolution of the Soviet state comprise over half the papers.
Biographical / Historical
Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson was born in Moscow on May 9, 1901. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Berlin and became a librarian and lecturer in Russian history at the University of London in 1926. In 1941 Yakobson began working at the Library of Congress. He became chief of the Slavic and Central European division in 1951 and served as senior specialist in Russian affairs until 1971. Yakobson died in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 1979.
- Fedotoff White, D. (Dimitri), 1889-1950
- Historians
- Jews -- Soviet Union
- Lasswell, Harold D. (Harold Dwight), 1902-1978
- Librarians
- Library of Congress. Slavic and Central European Division
- Nationalism -- Soviet Union
- Propaganda, Communist -- Soviet Union
- Soviet Union -- History
- Soviet Union -- Politics and government
- Vernadsky, George, 1887-1973
- Yakobson, Sergius, 1901-1979
- Title
- Guide to the Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- compiled by Diane E. Kaplan and Laurie R. Cohen
- Date
- June 1987
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu
Location
Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511