Eleonora von Mendelssohn papers

Collection

Identifier: 11-MWalB02694

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection mainly encompasses papers and photographs relating to the actress Eleonora von Mendelssohn. Her papers and photographs were given to her close friend Leo Lerman, who in turn donated them to Brandeis University in 1952. Personal items include a drawing of her brother, an invitation to a wedding, her marriage certificate to her third husband Rudolf Forster, and details of her finances. Photographs include professionally taken acting portraits and also personal photographs. There are a number of photographs of other individuals; those which are identified were known as close friends to Mendelssohn, including her godmother Eleonora Duse. Many photographs are unidentified, and the majority of items are undated. The types of materials range from typed letters, handwritten letters, artwork, and photographs. The materials in this collection are largely undated, with those dated being created between 1919 and 1972, with the majority being circa 1920s-1940s.

Dates

Creation: 1919-1972
Creation: Majority of material found in 1920-1940, undated

Creator

Mendelssohn, Eleonora von (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Access to the collection is in accordance with the policies of the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University. Please contact the department for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests to reproduce or publish material from the collection should be directed to the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet

1 manuscript box, 1 clamshell box. other_unmapped

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged in two series: 1. Personal Ephemera, 1922-1948, undated.; 2. Photographs, 1920s-1950s, undated. For more information about each series, please consult the series descriptions in the box and folder listing. Two folders containing miscellaneous items that did not fit into the collection were discovered while processing this material. One folder contained a US Treasury Department citation to Victor Young (December 23, 1941) and a photograph of Eddy Duchin, which was signed to Victor Young. The other folder contained a note about the collection, which was dated 7/21/72 and two library book plates. The collection note and the book plates were put in the Mendelssohn papers’ administrative file. The citation and photograph were added to the Victor Young collection on December 21, 2012. The citation was added to the Awards and Memorabilia series as Item 4 [oversized]. The Duchin photograph was added to the Photographs series as Folder 42 in Box 3.