Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1827-1997, predominant 1924-1997 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
5.7 m of textual and graphic records (35 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Hermann Boeschenstein, Professor of German at the University of Toronto, was born in Stein am Rhein, Switzerland on May 1, 1900. He attended the University of Zurich and pursued studies as well in Munich, Berlin, Kiel, Konigsberg and Rostock. At the University of Rostock he completed his doctorate with a thesis on the philosophy of J.P. Crousaz in 1924. The next two years were spent largely travelling including visiting Canada and travelling to the West coast. He returned to Switzerland in May 1928 and married his long time sweetheart, Elisabeth Schoch. By August, 1928, they set out for Toronto. He worked at the Banting Institute and University Library, and enrolled for philosophical studies with George Sidney Brett. While at the University he met Prof. G. H. Needler of the University College German Department who recognized Boeschenstein's potential and appointed him to the Department of German in 1930.
During the second world war, Prof. Boeschenstein was on leave from the University to serve as the Director for Canada of the War Prisoners' Aid of the Y.M.C.A. One of his duties was to supply German prisoners of war in Canada with up-to-date reading material. On return to his duties at the University he was made a full professor in 1948.
In 1956 Prof. Boeschenstein succeeded Barker Fairley as Head of the Department of German. He remained as head of the department until 1967. He continued his academic activities, taking on Visiting professorships at Zurich (1950), University College, London, England (1956), University of Chicago (1963, 1965), New York State University at Buffalo (1968), University of Waterloo (1968-1969), as well as others. He was editorial advisor for the "University of Toronto Quarterly" and also the Canadian-Australian periodical for German Studies, "Seminar". In June 1968 he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario. During his career he was the author of nine books and more than 40 articles including a two volume history of German literature 1770-1830 titled "Deutsche Gefuhlskultur".
He retired in 1970. He died at his home in Toronto on September 21, 1982.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Personal papers of Hermann Boeschenstein, professor of German at the University of Toronto, documenting his academic activities, family and outside activities, especially those within the German-Canadian community. Includes: correspondence; notes; manuscripts of books; addresses; radio talks; and other published and unpublished literary works, photographs and publications. His external activities are documented in records relating to his involvement with the War Prisoners' Aid of the Young Men's Christian Association (during the Second World War); German Prisoner-of-War associations; the Canadian Society for German Relief; the German-Canadian Club; and the Trans-Canada Alliance of German Canadians.
See accession-level description for further details.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Finding aids for accessions B1983-0030, B1984-0014, B1993-0009, and B2001-0036, linked below.
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Accession
Accession
Accession
Accession
Accession
Accession
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Dates of creation revision deletion
Added to AtoM by E. Sommers, Jan. 2017