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Claparède family. Claparède-Spir family papers: Guide.

MS Ger 129 Houghton Library, Harvard College Library

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Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

© 2005 The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Last updated 2010 March 3

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Location: Harvard Depository
Note: This collection is shelved offsite at the Harvard Depository. See access restrictions below for additional information.
Call No.: MS Ger 129
Creator: Claparède family.
Title: Claparède-Spir family papers,
Date(s): 1867-1940.
Quantity: 1 box (.5 linear ft.)
Language of materials: Collection materials are in French, German, and English.
Abstract: Papers primarily concern philosopher African Spir and include papers of Spir's daughter, Hélène Spir Claparède, and her family, especially her son, Jean-Louis Claparède.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Bonnie B. Salt

Acquisition Information:

Gift of Mme. Hélène Spir Claparède [via Professor William Ernest Hocking]; received: 1939-1940. Recat. from TP 4960.81.

Papers assembled by Hélène Spir Claparède and sent to Harvard philosophy professor William Ernest Hocking as gift to the Harvard University Library. For additional acquisition information, see correspondence between William Ernest Hocking and Hélène Spir Claparède in the papers of William Ernest Hocking item (1192) also at the Houghton Library.

Access Restrictions:

There are no restrictions on physical access to this material.

This collection is not housed at the Houghton Library but is shelved offsite at the Harvard Depository. Retrieval requires advance notice. Readers should check with Houghton Public Services staff to determine what material is offsite and retrieval policies and times.

Preferred Citation for Publication:

Claparède-Spir Family Papers (MS Ger 129). Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Historical Note

African Alexandrovich Spir (1837-1890) [also known as Afrikan Spir] was born in the city of Yelisawetgrad, Ukraine. He left Russia permanently in 1867, studied in Leipzig, Germany when philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a student there (though they never met), and in 1869 moved to Tübingen, then in 1871 to Stuttgart. He married Elizabeth Gatternich in 1872 and they had a daughter Hélène. His most important book, Denken und Wirklichkeit: Versuch einer Erneuerung der kritischen Philosophie = Thought and reality: Attempt at a renewal of critical philosophy, was published in 1873 by his friend and publisher J.G. (Joseph Gabriel) Findel of Leipzig. In 1878 he contracted a lung infection and moved to Lausanne, Switzerland and in 1886 he moved to Geneva where he died of influenza in March of 1890. Spir never held a university appointment and therefore much of his writing remained unknown throughout his life. Some believe his work influenced the German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.

Spir's daughter, Hélène Spir Claparède, is sometimes cited as Hélène Claparède-Spir. Her husband was Swiss psychologist and educator, Edouard Claparède (1873-1940). They had two children, a daughter, Eliane Claparède, and a son, Jean Louis Claparède (1901-1937). Jean Louis Claparède was an active proponent of the international peace movement. He died of a heart attack at age 35.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:
  • I. Correspondence
  • II. Compositions by African Spir
  • III. Compositions by Hélène Spir Claparède
  • IV. Compositions by Jean Louis Claparède
  • V. Family miscellany

Scope and Content

Papers include: compositions by and about African Spir, Hélène Spir Claparède, and Jean Louis Claparède; clippings; diary excerpts; family photographs; obituaries; translations; transcripts; an autobiographical memoir written by Hélène Spir Claparède; and a list of family materials held by at the Université de Genève. Some material in this collection is original and some is typescript transcript copy compiled and annotated by Hélène Spir Claparède.

Correspondence of African Spir and Hélène Spir Claparède include prominent correspondents: J.G. (Joseph Gabriel) Findel, Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, William Ernest Hocking, A. (Auguste) Penjon, and Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy. Topics discussed include African Spir's philosophical ideas, the publishing of his works, his influence on the thought of philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, and philosophy and world peace.

Materials are in German, French, and English.

Container List

  • Series: I. Correspondence
    • (1) Brunschwicg, L. Letters (typescript transcript carbon) to Hélène Spir Claparède, 1898. 1 folder.
    • (2) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Correspondence (typescript transcript) with Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, 1909. 1 folder.

      Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche was Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche's sister. Discusses Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche having given a copy of African Spir's work to her brother, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.

    • (3) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Letter to William Ernest Hocking, 1940 Apr. 22. 1 folder.

      With envelope.

      This letter concerns the sealing of her Réminiscences in item (23) below, and the donation of the family's papers to the Harvard Library.

    • (4) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Letters (typescript transcript) to J. G. (Joseph Gabriel) Findel, 1872-1888. 1 folder.

      Findel, of Leipzig, Germany, was Spir's publisher.

    • (5) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Letters (typescript transcript) to A. (Auguste) Penjon, 1885-1889. 1 folder.

      With Ms annotations and revisions by Hélène Spir Claparède.

    • (6) Tolstoy, Aleksey Konstantinovich, graf, 1817-1875. Letter (photographic facsimile) to Hélène Spir Claparède, 1896 May. 1 folder.
    • (7) Vaihinger, Hans, 1852-1933. Letter (typescript transcript) to Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, 1930 Mar. 8. 1 folder.
  • Series: II. Compositions by African Spir

    Most compositions are probably transcripts compiled by Spir's daughter Hélène Spir Claparède. Many have brief annotations in her hand.

    • (8) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Aus dem Vorwort zu Forschung nach der Gewissheit in der Erkenntniss der Wirklichkeit : Ts transcript carbon, undated. 1 folder.

      From original dated 1868 Dec.

    • (9) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Bemerkungen über den Krieg : Ts transcript, undated. 1 folder.

      Appendix from Recht und unrecht: Eine Erörterung der principien. From original dated 1879.

    • (10) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Denken und Wirklichkeit: Versuch einer Erneuerung der kritischen Philosophie. : Ts transcript carbon fragment, undated. 1 folder.

      With Ms annotations by Hélène Spir Claparède.

      A revision copied from the original dated 1877.

    • (11) Spir, African, 1837-1890. La différence entre la religion chrétienne et la vraie religion : Ts transcript, undated. 1 folder.

      Annotated in French: Copied from a manuscript written by A. Spir.

    • (12) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Pensées inédites de Spir : Ts, Ts carbon, undated. 1 folder.

      Excerpts probably compiled by Hélène Spir Claparède.

    • (13) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Preface: [L'humanité moderne a atteint à bien des égards une civilisation [first line] : Ts, undated. 1 folder.
    • (14) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Qu'est-ce que la religion? : Ts transcript, 1894. 1 folder.

      Annotated in French: Copied 1894 Sept., by Hélène Spir. Date of original unknown.

    • (15) Spir, African, 1837-1890. L'unite de l'ame et du corps dans la philosophie de Spinoza : Ts carbon, undated. 1 folder.

      Possibly by Spir?

    • (16) Spir, African, 1837-1890. La voie vers la lumière. "Comment remédier au dèsarroi des esprits," ou: "La voie de la vraie philosophie" : Ts carbon, 1889. 1 folder.
    • (17) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Die Wahrheit. Auszüge aus dem Vorwort : Ts transcript, undated. 1 folder.

      From original dated 1867.

    • (18) Spir, African, 1837-1890. Wie kann die Religion gerettet werden? : Ts transcript, undated. 1 folder.

      Also with How can religion by saved? : Ts mimeograph translation, 1895. Annotated: "translated by Hélène Claparède-Spir from German, 1895."

  • Series: III. Compositions by Hélène Spir Claparède
    • (19) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Au nom de la raison : Ts carbon copy, Geneva, 1922 May 24. 1 folder.
    • (20) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Contenu de la cassette no. 1 (ancienne, à deux anses) : déposée à la Bibliothèque de Geneve, Mars 1940 : Ts carbon list, undated. 1 folder.

      List of Claparède-Spir family materials deposited at the library of the Université de Genève.

    • (21) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Friedrich Nietzsche and African Spir : Ts with AMs annotations and revisions, Geneva, undated. 1 folder.
    • (22) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Nietzsche contre la guerre et l'antisémitisme : printed article, 1938. 1 folder.

      Published in L'Essor, 1938 Aug. 19.

    • (23) [Restricted] Claparède, Hélène Spir. Réminiscences : AMs?, 1901 Aug. 13. 1 folder.

      Concerns reminiscences of her life. Envelope is annotated in French: "The notes that follow were written . . . by the mother of the future Jean-Louis, while waiting for her second child who was born on 1901 Aug. 13."

      This item sealed as directed by her letter of April 22, 1940 [see her letter to William Ernest Hocking in item (3) above].

    • (24) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Voix d'outre-tombe : printed article, Geneva, 1940 Mar. 26. 1 folder.

      Written for L'Essor, 1940 Mar 29, for the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of African Spir.

    • (25) Claparède, Hélène Spir. Excerpts from Nietzsche's writings taken from Richard Oehler : Ts carbon notes, 1928. 1 folder.
  • Series: IV. Compositions by Jean Louis Claparède

    Most compositions are probably transcripts compiled by Jean Louis Claparède's mother Hélène Spir Claparède. Many have brief annotations in her hand.

    • (26) Claparède, Jean Louis. Défense militaire ou désarmement : Ts carbon, undated. 1 folder.
    • (27) Claparède, Jean Louis. Dogmes ou principes : Ts transcript, undated. 1 folder.

      Copied from original from Association Chrétienne d'Etudiants, 1921 May 17.

      Annotated in French: copied.

    • (28) Claparède, Jean Louis. Education nouvelle et société nouvelle : Ts transcript, undated. 1 folder.

      Copied from original dated 1921.

    • (29) Claparède, Jean Louis. Miscellaneous transcripts : Ts transcripts, Ts carbon transcripts, undated. 1 folder.

      Includes:

      • Extracts taken from the journals and other writings of Jean Louis Claparède
      • Quelques extraits de lettres concernant la nouvelle édition des "Reflets" de Jean Louis Claparède
      • Questions à résoundre concernant le problème de l'autorité
      • Questions résolues concernant le problème de l'autorité
    • (30) Claparède, Jean Louis. Le mouvement de la jeunesse et le pacifisme : Ts carbon with AMs revisions and additions, undated. 1 folder.
    • (31) Claparède, Jean Louis. Le problème de la paix au point de vue pédagogique : Ts carbon, undated. 1 folder.
  • Series: V. Family miscellany
    • (32) Clippings and printed material on African Spir, various dates. 1 folder.
    • (33) Obituaries for Jean Louis Claparède, 1937. 1 folder.
    • (34) Spir family and Claparède family images, 1903-1937 and undated. 1 folder.

      Includes:

      • 1. Photomechanical print of a pastel of Jean Louis Claparède and Hélène Spir Claparède, ca. 1903.
      • 2. Photograph of Jean Louis Claparède and Hélène Spir Claparède in a room, ca. 1905.
      • 3. Photograph of Jean Louis Claparède and Hélène Spir Claparède in a garden, undated.
      • 4. Photograph of Jean Louis Claparède and Eliane Claparède playing in a garden, undated..
      • 5. Photograph of a drawing of Jean Louis Claparède, ca. 1920.
      • 6. Photomechanical print of a drawing of Jean Louis Claparède and his wife?, 1936.
      • 7. Photograph of Jean Louis Claparède in coffin at his funeral, 1937 Apr. 21.

      Also includes a portrait print of a drawing of African Spir, and envelope from Hélène Spir Claparède sent to William Ernest Hocking that formerly enclosed the photographs.


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