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Felix Weltsch Archive

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Weltsch, Felix, 1884-1964 (Creator of the archive)
  • Archive
Photograph by unknown, ca. 1960.From: Felix Weltsch Archive.

Felix Weltsch (1884-1964) was a Jewish Bohemian librarian, philosopher, writer, editor and publisher. He graduated from Prag University in law and philosophy and obtained a PhD in each. He was a close friend of Max Brod and Franz Kafka, and one of the members of the 'Prague Circle'. He worked as librarian at the university of Prag between 1910 to 1939, and at the same time published the Zionist paper Selbstwehr ('Self-defense'). He managed to leave Prag before the German invasion in 1939. After immigrating to Israel, he began in 1940 to work as librarian at the National and University Libraries.

Reference Code
ARC. Ms. Var. 418
Dates
1862-1980
Consists of
4.8 m..
Languages
mul;
Description
הארכיון כולל חומרים ביוגרפיים, כתבי יד, פרסומים, התכתבות, קטעי עיתונות ותצלומים.;The archive includes biographical materials, manuscripts, publications, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
location
  • The Archives Collection of the National Library of Israel The Archives Collection of the National Library of Israel
Title Felix Weltsch Archive.
Additional Titles כותרת בעברית: ארכיון פליקס ולטש.
Citation Note ARC. Ms. Var. 418, Archives Dept, National Library of Israel, Jerusalem
Host Item Felix Weltsch Archive.
Former Call Number Ms. Var. 418
Level of Description Fonds Record
Biographical summary Felix Weltsch was born in Prag on October 6, 1884, a cousin of Robert Weltsch. Felix Weltsch obtained doctorates in both law and philosophy from Prag university, and in his books concentrated on social philosophy and political ethics. He was a close friend of Franz Kafka and Max Brod and with them member of the Prag Circle. Weltsch was a Zionist from an early age, during his time in Prag he was editor of the Zionist newspaper Selbstwehr. At the same time he worked as librarian at Prag university library. He and Max Brod managed to leave Prag on the last train before the German invasion in 1939, and with his family he moved to Palestine. In 1940 he became librarian at Hebrew university, managing the Jewish National and University Library. Besides Robert Weltsch, Martin Buber, and Hugo Bergmann he was one of the most important Zionist and political thinkers of his time, his writings about the formation of the state, his knowledge of Franz Kafka and his philosophical thoughs were read worldwide. In 1952 he received the Ruppin prize from the city of Haifa for his work on nature, morality and politics which was published in Hebrew. Most of his other writings were in German. Weltsch died on November 9, 1964 in Jerusalem.
Ownership history The archive was permanently deposited by Weltsch's daughter, Ruth Gornstein, in June 1969. Some later addenda were transferred by his grandson Eli Gornstein in 2009.
Language Note The materials are in German, Hebrew, English, French, and Czech.
Credits Felix Weltsch Archive, The National Library of Israel. Digitization and cataloguing of this fonds was funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG / German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC 2176 'Understanding Written Artefacts: Material, Interaction and Transmission in Manuscript Cultures', project no. 390893796. The research is conducted within the scope of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) at Universität Hamburg.
National Library system number 990026456250205171
Links תמונת ארכיון

When using this material, please acknowledge the source of the material as follows:

Felix Weltsch Archive, The National Library of Israel. Digitization and cataloguing of this fonds was funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG / German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy - EXC 2176 'Understanding Written Artefacts: Material, Interaction and Transmission in Manuscript Cultures', project no. 390893796. The research is conducted within the scope of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) at Universität Hamburg.

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