HELMUT VON ERFFA PAPERS

The collection contains both published and unpublished writings of Helmut von Erffa as well as correspondence to and from professor von Erffa concerning his research. The von Erffa writings and correspondence date from 1925 to 1972.

Represented in the collection are von Erffa's published writings on the Bauhaus, various topics on Islamic art and architecture, exhibition guides written for art shows and numerous articles about Benjamin West. Professor von Erffa's published articles appeared in the College Art Journal, The Architectural Review, Ars Islamica, American Journal of Archaeology, The Journal of the Rutgers University Library, The Art Quarterly, The American Art Journal and Antiques magazine.

An undated manuscript for a catalogue raisonne of Benjamin West's paintings is also included in the collection. This manuscript was published posthumously as follows:

The Paintings of Benjamin West by Helmut von Erffa and Allen Staley (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986 xii, 606p. Illustrations, catalogue, appendices, index.

In addition, the collection contains typescripts for an unpublished monograph on Benjamin West. The typescripts are undated.

The bulk of the von Erffa correspondence in the collection concerns von Erffa's research on Benjamin West. However, there is one letter to von Erffa from D.H. Lawrence on the subject of German translations of Lawrence's writings. This letter was originally catalogued in Rutgers Special Collections as Ac. 3272 Location: CB (United States Letters.)

The correspondence of Benjamin West and his family, covering the period from 1760 to 1851, makes up a considerable part of the collection. These letters, which cover topics ranging from family matters to the art scene in England and America, the American Revolution and King George Ill may be quickly referenced by turning to the Quick Guide to the "Benjamin West" Letters in the appendix to this finding aid. Letters dated after 1820, the year of Benjamin West's death, are obviously written by others about West and his work.

This collection contains no original letters, however there are numerous photostats of the originals. Photostats were provided by The Pennsylvania Historical Society, The New York Historical Society, Yale University Libraries and The New York Public Library. Although some photostats are unaccompanied by transcripts, most do have transcript copies. The bulk of the letters in the collection appear only as transcripts of the original, some being typed transcripts and others photocopies of letters published in books.

Although there are no original Benjamin West letters in this collection, Rutgers Special Collections does own one such letter. It is an undated draft letter to an unknown recipient discussing the unfinished work by artist Charles Forrest on the west window of the Collegiate Church of St. George in Windsor Castle. This letter is catalogued as Ac. 3117 Location: CC (English Letters).

Following the Benjamin West letters are a number of inventories of Benjamin West paintings and their locations as well as some tentative plans for one man shows of Benjamin West's work.

In addition to the correspondence of Helmut von Erffa, the collection contains two letters written by William Carlos Williams to Mrs. Eleanor von Erffa in 1958.

In addition to the correspondence of Helmut von Erffa, the collection contains two letters written by William Carlos Williams to Mrs. Eleanor von Erffa in 1958.