http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms009272 Karl Abraham Papers A Finding Aid to the Papers in the Sigmund Freud Collection in the Library of Congress Prepared by Allan TeichroewRevised and expanded by Margaret McAleer Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2010

Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm79049015

Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2010 Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Karl Abraham Papers 1908-1925 MSS49015 Abraham, Karl, 1877-1925 50 items 1 container .2 linear feet Collection material in German and English Manuscript Division Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Psychoanalyst. Correspondence, circular letters, drafts of statements, a book inscription, and a program documenting Abraham’s role in the founding of psychoanalysis, particularly in his native Germany. Selected Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

 People Abraham, Karl, 1877-1925. Andreas-Salomé, Lou, 1861-1937--Correspondence. Bleuler, Eugen, 1857-1939--Correspondence. Deuticke, Franz--Correspondence. Fliess, Wilhelm, 1858-1928--Correspondence. Hall, G. Stanley (Granville Stanley), 1844-1924--Correspondence. Jones, Ernest, 1879-1958--Correspondence. Jung, C. G. (Carl Gustav), 1875-1961--Correspondence. Rank, Otto, 1884-1939--Correspondence. Reik, Theodor, 1888-1969--Correspondence. Organizations International Psycho-Analytical Association. Subjects Psychoanalysis--Germany. Psychoanalysis. Occupations Psychoanalysts. Administrative Information Provenance

The papers of Karl Abraham, psychoanalyst, were given to the Library of Congress by his son Grant Allan between 1972 and 1974. Additional material was given by the Sigmund Freud Archives between 1984 and 1987. A letter from Hanns Sachs to Abraham was transferred from the Sigmund Freud Papers in 1986.

 Processing History

The papers of Karl Abraham were arranged and described in 1983. Additional material received between 1984 and 1987 was incorporated into the collection in 2001. Abraham’s correspondence with Sigmund Freud was transferred to the Sigmund Freud Papers in this division during reprocessing in 2001. The finding aid was further revised when restricted items opened for research use in 2010.

Transfers

Photographs have been transferred to the Library's Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of these papers.

 Related Material

Karl Abraham’s correspondence with Sigmund Freud, consisting of hundreds of letters written between 1907 and 1925, is located in the Sigmund Freud Papers in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress.

Copyright Status

The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Karl Abraham is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).

 Access and Restrictions

The papers of Karl Abraham are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.

 Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Karl Abraham Papers, Sigmund Freud Collection, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Biographical Note Date Event 1877, May 3 Born, Bremen, Germany 1901 M.D., University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany 1901-1904 Assistant, Berlin Municipal Asylum, Berlin, Germany 1904-1907 Assistant to Eugen Bleuler, Burghölzli Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland 1907 Met Sigmund Freud Established a psychoanalytic practice, Berlin, Germany 1909 Published Traum und Mythus, eine Studie zur Völkerpsychologie. Leipzig: F. Deuticke 1910 Founding member of the International Psycho-Analytic Association Founder and first president of the Berlin Psychoanalytic Society, Berlin, Germany 1912 Founding member of the “Committee,” a group composed of Freud’s closest associates who consulted regularly on issues relating to Freud and the psychoanalytic movement 1914-1918 Wartime military service as a surgeon in Berlin, Germany, and later as chief physician of a hospital psychiatric unit in Allenstein, Germany 1924 Elected president, International Psycho-Analytic Association Published Verusch einer Entwicklungsgeschichte der Libido auf Grund der Psychoanalyse seelischer Störungen. Leipzig: Internationaler Psychoanalytischer Verlag 1925, Dec. 25 Died, Berlin, Germany Scope and Content Note

The papers of Karl Abraham (1877-1925) span the years 1908-1925 and document Abraham’s role in the founding of psychoanalysis, particularly in his native Germany. The papers consist largely of letters from psychoanalysts and others associated with the movement, including Lou Andreas-Salomé, Eugen Bleuler, Franz Deuticke, Wilhelm Fliess, G. Stanley Hall, Ernest Jones, C. G. Jung, Otto Rank, and Theodor Reik. Two letters from Abraham to Max Eitingon written in 1908 are included as well. Also featured in the collection are circular letters from the International Psycho-Analytical Association during Abraham’s presidency from 1924 to 1925 and statements concerning psychoanalytic training drafted during the 1920s. An addition to the papers in 2001 consists of two letters written by Abraham, a letter from Hanns Sachs to Abraham, and a letter from Nelly Wolffheim to Abraham’s widow, Hedwig Abraham. Miscellaneous items include a photocopy of a book inscription by Sigmund Freud and a photocopy of a program from the opening of Abraham’s psychoanalytic outpatient clinic in Berlin in 1920.

 Arrangement of the Papers

This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material.

 http://lccn.loc.gov/mm79049015 Container List Container Contents 1 Correspondence, 1908-1924, undated (2 folders) 1 International Psycho-Analytical Association, circular letters, 1924-1925 1 Statements on psychoanalytic training, undated 1 Additions 1 2001 addition 1 Correspondence, 1912, 1923-1924, undated 1 Miscellany, 1920, undated 1 2010 addition 1 Correspondence, 1918