GB 0369 LOE - Loewenson Collection

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0369 LOE

Title

Loewenson Collection

Date(s)

  • 1631-1963 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

11 boxes, 1 outsize envelope, 1 roll

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Lev Sergeevich Loewenson (1885-1968) was born in Moscow of German Jewish parentage. He studied at the Universities of Moscow, St Petersburg and Berlin. When World War One broke out he was in Berlin and was conscripted into the German Army because of his father's German nationality. Loewenson served as a medical orderly and Russian interpreter before being taken prisoner by the Romanian Army. After the war and his release he decided not to return to Russia because of the revolution. He instead settled in Berlin where he taught history, first at a grammar school and later at Berlin University. The coming to power of the Nazis forced Loewenson to leave Germany for England in 1933, where he made his living teaching Russian and was often known as Leo rather than Lev Loewenson. In 1940 he was briefly imprisoned in an internment camp as a German citizen. SSEES, where Loewenson had previously given a series of public lectures on Russian history obtained his release in order that he could work as first a library assistant and from 1942, acting librarian. He also taught Russian at SSEES summer schools and gave some classes in Russian history. During World War Two Loewenson collected material for a Russian-English military dictionary, much of this material is contained in this collection. It was hoped that this dictionary would be published by the War Office but in the end it was decided that such a work was no longer needed. He remained at SSEES until his retirement in 1956. He wrote many bibliographical and historical articles including revising many articles dealing with Russian history in "Encyclopaedia Britannica". Some of the material in this collection relates to Loewenson's research on these topics including copies of manuscripts (the originals are held at the British Museum Library and Bodleian Library, Oxford).

Archival history

GB 0369 LOE 1631-1963 Collection (Fonds) 11 boxes, 1 outsize envelope, 1 roll Loewenson , Lev Sergeevitch , 1885-1968 , Russian scholar

Lev Sergeevich Loewenson (1885-1968) was born in Moscow of German Jewish parentage. He studied at the Universities of Moscow, St Petersburg and Berlin. When World War One broke out he was in Berlin and was conscripted into the German Army because of his father's German nationality. Loewenson served as a medical orderly and Russian interpreter before being taken prisoner by the Romanian Army. After the war and his release he decided not to return to Russia because of the revolution. He instead settled in Berlin where he taught history, first at a grammar school and later at Berlin University. The coming to power of the Nazis forced Loewenson to leave Germany for England in 1933, where he made his living teaching Russian and was often known as Leo rather than Lev Loewenson. In 1940 he was briefly imprisoned in an internment camp as a German citizen. SSEES, where Loewenson had previously given a series of public lectures on Russian history obtained his release in order that he could work as first a library assistant and from 1942, acting librarian. He also taught Russian at SSEES summer schools and gave some classes in Russian history. During World War Two Loewenson collected material for a Russian-English military dictionary, much of this material is contained in this collection. It was hoped that this dictionary would be published by the War Office but in the end it was decided that such a work was no longer needed. He remained at SSEES until his retirement in 1956. He wrote many bibliographical and historical articles including revising many articles dealing with Russian history in "Encyclopaedia Britannica". Some of the material in this collection relates to Loewenson's research on these topics including copies of manuscripts (the originals are held at the British Museum Library and Bodleian Library, Oxford).

Papers of Lev Sergeevich Loewenson, comprising:
card index for Lowenson's Russian-English military dictionary, 1940-1945; papers on Loewenson's studies of Russia and Eastern Europe, including photocopies of manuscripts on Russia from the Bodleian Library, Oxford and the British Museum Library, card indexes and bibliographies of works on Russia and the Balkans in particularly those in SSEES and the British Museum Library, papers on lecture given by Loewenson on Russia and a Russian-English military vocabulary, 1648-1968; papers on Loewenson's studies of British history, including photocopies of manuscripts from the Bodleian Library, correspondence on Loewenson's appointment as assistant editor of "Writings on British History, 1901-1933" and annual reports of the Institute of Historical Research and the London Library, 1631-1963

Papers arranged in three classes as described in Scope and Content.

Unrestricted access. Researchers wishing to consult the archives or seeking further information should contact UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) Library, 16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW.

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Librarian.
English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian

Detailed catalogue available on the SSEES website

Revised by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.  Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997  Revised Dec 2002 Bodleian Library British Museum Eastern Europe English history European cultures European history Indo-european languages Institute of Historical Research Loewenson , Lev Sergeevitch , 1885-1968 , librarian and Russian scholar National cultures National history Russia Russian Russian history School of Slavonic and East European Studies Slavic languages USSR Crimea

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Lev Sergeevich Loewenson, comprising:
card index for Lowenson's Russian-English military dictionary, 1940-1945; papers on Loewenson's studies of Russia and Eastern Europe, including photocopies of manuscripts on Russia from the Bodleian Library, Oxford and the British Museum Library, card indexes and bibliographies of works on Russia and the Balkans in particularly those in SSEES and the British Museum Library, papers on lecture given by Loewenson on Russia and a Russian-English military vocabulary, 1648-1968; papers on Loewenson's studies of British history, including photocopies of manuscripts from the Bodleian Library, correspondence on Loewenson's appointment as assistant editor of "Writings on British History, 1901-1933" and annual reports of the Institute of Historical Research and the London Library, 1631-1963

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Papers arranged in three classes as described in Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access. Researchers wishing to consult the archives or seeking further information should contact UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) Library, 16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Librarian.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Detailed catalogue available on the SSEES website

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

School of Slavonic and East European Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description ISAD(G), 2nd edition 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area