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Robert Frederic Metzdorf papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.362

Biographical / Historical note

Robert Frederic Metzdorf (1912-1975), a nationally known bibliographer and appraiser, collector, and scholar, was born on July 2 in Springfield, Mass., to August and Alvina Metzdorf. He attended the University of Rochester, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1933. He received his M.A. in 1935, and was awarded the first PhD in English by the University in 1939.



In 1933, Metzdorf began working in the University of Rochester's Rush Rhees Library as Assistant to the Librarian. He served as Assistant Curator (1937-38) and Curator (1938-48) of the R.B. Adam Collection of Johnsonian Literature, as Curator of Rare Books (1948-49) and as an instructor in the Department of English from 1939 to 1949. Metzdorf held a number of other University posts, including Dormitory Proctor and Adviser and University Bellman. He maintained close ties to the University and his fraternity throughout his life: he was a generous donor of books and manuscripts to the Rare Book Department, founding member of the Friends of the Library, and a member of the board of trustees.



In 1949, following the sale of the R.B. Adam collection to Donald and Mary Hyde, Metzdorf left the University of Rochester for a post at Harvard's Houghton Library as Rare Book Cataloguer. He served there until 1952, when he was named Curator of Manuscripts and Research Associate at Yale University. At Yale he was also Secretary to the Boswell Editorial Committee. He held the newly created position of Yale University archivist from 1958-1961. Metzdorf moved to Parke-Bernet Galleries in New York in 1961, where he was Vice-President in charge of literary properties (1961-62), and Vice-President and Director 1962-64. He resigned on the day that Parke-Bernet was bought by Sotheby's. For the last decade of his life, Metzdorf worked as an independent appraiser of rare books and manuscripts.



Throughout his life, Metzdorf was active with a number of professional organizations, including: the Modern Language Association; Bibliographical Societies of America, London, Oxford, Cambridge, University of Virginia; American Library Association; Society of American Archivists; The Johnsonians; Johnson Society, London; Manuscript Society; Grolier Club and others. He published catalogues, bibliographies and numerous articles on Thackeray, Johnson, Victoriana, rare book and manuscript librarianship, and literary appraisal. Along with the University of Rochester, Princeton, Yale, Harvard and other institutions were the recipients of important donations of rare materials from Mr. Metzdorf.

Scope and Contents

The Robert Frederic Metzdorf papers (1854-1975) consist of the personal and professional papers of the eponymous one-time RBSCP director, largely focusing on his life and work in academia, correspondence with colleagues and family, and his personal and professional writing.



Series I: Family, early life, and legacy (1854-1975), contains materials related to Metzdorf's family history and genealogy, his high school and undergraduate college years, family correspondence predating his own life, brief professional highlights, and his legacy bequest to the University of Rochester. There are a number of materials in German, largely official documents and family letters from Metzdorf's ancestors, and also correspondence responding to Metzdorf's requests for genealogical records. Formats include letters, photographs, commonplace notebooks, writeups and notes of various kinds, marriage certificates, land deeds, military records, immigration and naturalization papers, wills, newspaper clippings, engravings, bookplates, stationary, and more.



Series II: Correspondence (1920s-1974) contains correspondence from various colleagues, professional contacts, family members, and more. Notable are the large volume of letters between Metzdorf and several of his Theta Chi brothers who served in various branches of the military during World War II. Receipts for Metzdorf's many book and manuscript purchases may also be found in the correspondence folders.



Series III: College and professional writing, and teaching notes (1930s-1970s) and Series IV: Writing (1929-1954) both contain academic materials from Metzdorf's time as a University of Rochester undergrad, grad student, and finally doctoral student, his years teaching English at UR and Harvard, and speeches and articles he wrote for various other audiences. Bound volumes of some of his personal and professional writings, including his theses and dissertations, are included, as is an amount of mimeographed material from a poetry club to which he belonged as a grad student.



Series V: Appraisal materials, forms the second half of the collection: it consists of 14 boxes of materials from his work as an appraiser of old and rare manuscripts.

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Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1800-1975

Language of Materials

English

Extent

26 box(es)

Access

The Robert Frederic Metzdorf Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books, Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the estate of Robert F. Metzdorf, 1975.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Robert Frederic Metzdorf Papers, D.362, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series:

Series I: Family, early life, and legacy (1854-1975)

Series II: Correspondence (1920s-1974)

Series III: College and professional writing, and teaching notes (1930s-1970s)

Series IV: Writing (1929-1954)

Series V: Appraisal materials



Materials within the series are arranged in loose chronological order, but follow original/existing order when possible. Correspondence in particular is arranged chronologically, but ranges of letters from specific correspondents may be grouped together. There may be additional correspondence to/from these individuals in the general folders, all of which are arranged chronologically.

Title
Robert Frederic Metzdorf papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA