Table of Contents
- Collection Summary
- Biographical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Subject Headings
- Related Material
- Administrative Information
- Access and Use
- Encoding Information
- Series List
- Container List
Collection Summary
Repository: | Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries |
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Creator: | Eisenstein, Elizabeth L., 1923-2016 |
Title: | Elizabeth L. Eisenstein Papers |
Dates: | 1936-2015 |
Quantity: | 29 cubic feet (81 boxes) |
Abstract: | Includes correspondence, manuscripts and typescripts, research and writing notes, contracts and financial statements, academic administrative papers, syllabi and teaching notes, programs and other conference materials; subject files; and scholarly papers by professional colleagues. Files also hold a wide variety of printed materials related to Eisenstein's scholarly interests. The collection also includes datebooks and a small amount of realia. |
Biographical Note
Elizabeth Lewisohn Eisenstein (1923-2016) was a scholar of early-modern France and the history of printing. Born in New York City, she attended the Lincoln School and Vassar College, from which she graduated in the Class of 1945-44. She earned her Ph.D. in history from Radcliffe College in 1953. From 1959 to 1974 she taught as an adjunct professor at American University in Washington, D. C., where she lived for most her life. In 1974 she joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, serving there as the Alice Freeman Palmer Professor of History until her retirement in 1988. In 1979 she was named a resident consultant to the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress. She also served on the board of governors of the Folger Shakespeare Library and taught in its Folger Institute seminar series. A dedicated and influential scholar, Eisenstein produced numerous monographs, articles, lectures, and book reviews. Her most famous work was The Printing Press as an Agent of Change (1979), a two-volume study that established her as one of the foremost historians of printing in the world. She received several awards and honors for her work, including the 2002 Award for Scholarly Distinction from the American Historical Association and fellowships from the Guggenheim and Rockefeller foundations and the National Endowment for the Humanities. As well as a renowned scholar, Eisenstein was a skilled tennis player who competed internationally in senior tournaments.
TopScope and Content Note
The Elizabeth L. Eisenstein Papers documents the life and career of historian Elizabeth Lewisohn Eisenstein. The materials in the collection encompasses personal and professional correspondence, the latter including letters to and from prominent scholars of the early modern period and book history; manuscripts and typescripts of her writings; research and writing notes; contracts and financial statements pertaining to publication; academic administrative papers; syllabi and teaching notes; programs and other conference materials; subject files; scholarly papers by professional colleagues; maps and other travel materials; and a variety of printed material related to her scholarly interests. The collection also includes date books and a small amount of realia. Of particular interest are the correspondence and other materials relating to Eisenstein's debate with the scholar Adrian Johns over Eisenstein's interpretation of the impact of print technology on Western culture.
TopAccess and Use
Access
This collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.
Restrictions on Use
Permission to quote (publish) from unpublished or previously published material must be obtained as described in the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library. The materials in Series XIV are closed to research due to privacy concerns.
Subject Headings
Names:
- Darnton, Robert
- Davis, Natalie Zemon, 1928-
- Hunt, Lynn, 1945-
- Johns, Adrian
Organizations:
- American University (Washington, D.C.). Department of History
- Folger Shakespeare Library
- Library of Congress. Center for the Book
- University of Michigan. Department of History
Subjects:
- Book industries and trade--France--History
- France--History--Revolution, 1789-1799
- Intellectual life
- Journalism--France--History
- Printing--History--Europe
- Publishers and publishing--France--History
Document Types:
- Appointment books
- Manuscripts (documents)
- Typescripts
VCL Categories:
- History and Historians
Encoding Information
Encoded by Mark Seidl, May-June 2016. Updated by Emma Gronbeck, March 2024.
TopAdministrative Information
Preferred Citation
Elizabeth L. Eisenstein Papers, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.
Processing Information
Processed by Mark Seidl January-May 2018.
Acquisition Information
Bequest of the Eisenstein Family, 2017.
Series List
Series I. Correspondence, 1958-2015 | |
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This series consists of the bulk of Eisenstein's personal and professional correspondence. Of particular interest is the correspondence with and/or pertaining to prominent scholars such as Robert Darnton, Natalie Zemon Davis, and Lynn Hunt, and Adrian Johns. The series is arranged alphabetically by principal correspondent. |
Series II. Writings, circa 1938-2015 | |
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This series encompasses Eisenstein's writings from her early high school and undergraduate essays to the autobiographical project she undertook late in life. The series is divided into six subseries: Student Papers, Books, Articles, Book Reviews, Lecture, and Memoir. The first, Student Papers, is arranged chronologically. The remaining subseries are arranged alphabetically by title of the work. The materials include manuscript notes, typescripts (many with Eisenstein's annotations), offprints, and reviews of Eisenstein's books. Many files also contain correspondence pertaining to the work. |
Series III. Conference Materials, 1963-2013 | |
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This series consists of materials pertaining to the many conferences Eisenstein attended. The materials included programs, announcements, copies of papers Eisenstein presented or on which she commented, and some correspondence. Arranged alphabetically by title of conference. |
Series IV. Publishing Files, 1980-2013 | |
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Materials in this series include publisher contracts, royalty statements, and some correspondence with publishers. Arranged alphabetically by publisher. |
Series V. Professional Files, 1952 - circa 2015 | |
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This series consists of materials pertaining to Eisenstein's positions in the history departments of American University and the University of Michigan. The materials include departmental memos, meeting agendas, annual reports, and some correspondence with colleagues, department chairs, and other institutional officials. Arranged alphabetically by institution. |
Series VI. Awards and Honors, 1981-2013 | |
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This series consists of awards Eisenstein received for her scholarship, honorary degrees, and others honors. Some files contain correspondence pertaining to the award. Arranged alphabetically by name of award/honor. |
Series VII. Teaching Materials, 1967-2012 | |
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Materials in this series include syllabi, reading lists, and class notes. Some files contain correspondence pertaining to particular courses. Arranged alphabetically by institution. |
Series VIII. Organization/Society Materials, 1965-2008 | |
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This series consists of materials relating to Eisenstein's service with several professional organizations and societies. The materials include memos, meeting agendas, brochures and announcements, and some correspondence pertaining to the business of the organization. Arranged alphabetically by name of organization. |
Series IX. Colleagues' Papers, 1936-2013 | |
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Materials in this series include typescripts of papers sent to Eisenstein for comment (many with her marginal annotations), offprints of articles with authors' inscriptions to Eisenstein, and some correspondence pertaining to the papers. Arranged alphabetically by author of the paper(s). |
Series X. Travel Materials, 1967-2014 | |
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Materials in this series include maps, itineraries, travel documents, tourism literature, and some correspondence pertaining to travel arrangements and related matters. Arranged alphabetically by destination. |
Series XI. Subject Files, 1958-2015 | |
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The files in this series contain materials brought together by Eisenstein and have been retained in their original order. The materials include mainly photocopies and offprints of articles, correspondence, and clippings and other printed materials related to topics of scholarly and personal interest. Arranged alphabetically. |
Series XII. Printed Materials, 1968-2016 | |
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This series consists of photocopies of scholarly articles, newsletters and bulletins, book catalogues, exhibition brochures, magazine and newspaper clippings, and other printed matter. Arranged alphabetically. |
Series XIII. Miscellaneous Materials, 1962-2015 | |
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These materials include hand-written bibliographical references and notes, datebooks, and realia. |
Series XIV. Professional Evaluations (restricted), undated | |
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This series includes the recommendations, teaching and tenure reviews, and other professional evaluations Eisenstein wrote throughout her career. These materials are closed to research due to personal privacy issues. |
Container List
Return to the Table of Contents
Details
Includes correspondence, manuscripts
and typescripts, research and writing notes, contracts and financial statements,
academic administrative papers, syllabi and teaching notes, programs and other
conference materials; subject files; and scholarly papers by professional
colleagues. Files also hold a wide variety of printed materials related to
Eisenstein's scholarly interests. The collection also includes datebooks and a small
amount of realia.