[sigchairs] Bertalannfy's personal library and letters for sale {Rob McElroy 2004/04/03}
Posted by:
daviding (---.sympatico.ca)
Date: April 29, 2004 04:08PM
Dear Elohim,
As you have been made aware through Tom Mandell, I have recently discovered the personal library of
Dr. Ludwig von Bertalanffy, which I am planning on selling. I read through your interesting website
on Bertalanffy a couple weeks ago when I first began my research. As you know, Bertalanffy is known
as the Father of Systems
Theory and was a Nobel prize nominee in 1972. Unfortunately, he
had a
heart attack in Buffalo in June of 1972 and died before being able to complete the required
submissions to the Nobel committee.
There are six banana boxes full of books, pamphlets, and papers from Bertalanffy's personal
library. Together they probably weigh upwards of 300 pounds. Bertalanffy taught at the University
at Buffalo (in Buffalo, NY) in
their Center for Theoretical Biology department from 1969 until his
death in 1972. I believe the books were purchased from his estate in the 1980's, and have sat in
storage with the previous owner -- undisturbed, ever since.
I opened up all the boxes yesterday and sorted out the books and pamphlets -- and to my surprise, I
found a detailed type-written
bibliography of everything Bertalanffy wrote throughout his
career
(including posthumous publications). It was probably prepared by his wife Maria after Ludwig's
death, but may have been started by Ludwig while he was alive. I would venture to say that the six
boxes contain just about everything he ever published, plus scores of books by other authors. I
would personally like to see the
entire collection stay together, and be sold to an
institution
where it could be appreciated
and researched as a whole, instead of it being split up, with
the
books being sold off
individually. Sometimes, many insights can be gleaned from examining a
great
thinker's library.
Some of the early articles are probably undocumented (there are over 200
of
them). Only a historian/researcher would know for sure.
Now for the incredible news.
Also contained in the boxes, were approximately 400 personal
letters
(all organized and indexed -- again, probably by his wife) which Bertalanffy either sent or received
throughout his 49-year career
(1923-1972). The letters all relate to his professional career
and
are primarily correspondences
with other scientists, doctors, institutions, etc. (no personal
family
letters -- only professional). There are original carbon copies of the letters he wrote, along with
original letters and responses he
received. The very detailed index -- lists the subject of each
letter, plus it is cross-referenced by author. Many of the letters are in German, so I can't read
them. This is an incredible find for historians of systems theory. There are also many books (20+)
inscribed to Bertalanffy from other noted scientists and authors of the period.
There are way too many items for me to type up an inventory, but I have arranged the books on
shelves and taken digital pictures of them. That way you can get an idea of what is there.
I have not yet set an asking price for the collection, but I am open to offers that are commensurate
with the collection's one-of-a-kind status. There is enough information here for someone to write a
new book about Bertalanffy -- and I hope someone will.
Please email me if you have an interest in purchasing the collection or if you want me to send you
the photos. I am contacting several other interested people and institutions in America, Canada,
and Europe.
Please feel free to forward my email to anyone else you think may have an interest.
Regards,
Rob McElroy
Post Edited (04-29-04 20:09)