Paul Ehrlich Collection

This collection contains primarily letters and cards written by Nobel-Prize-winning chemist Paul Ehrlich to his nephew Franz Sachs, as well as some handwritten manuscripts by Ehrlich and some manuscripts and other materials about Ehrlich and commemorative events and societies dedicated to his memory.

The first several folders contain Ehrlich's correspondence to Franz Sachs, much of which discusses his scientific research, although much is also of a personal nature. In addition there are some fragmentary manuscript pages in folder 2. A couple of other items of original correspondence to other recipients are in folder 6.

The remaining materials in Series I consist of various honorary and commemorative items, such as a self-published book of eulogies delivered at his burial, a program from a dinner given in his honor, and some clippings. In this series are also Ehrlich's diploma and a family tree.

The second series contains materials originating decades after Ehrlich's passing. The bulk of these materials consists of biographical speeches and manuscripts delivered at memorial events and conferences, often by Ehrlich experts such as Bernhard Witkop and Ernst Bäumler. A good deal of these materials was produced by memorial societies dedicated to Ehrlich's legacy, including the Paul-Ehrlich-Stiftung and the Gesellschaft der Freunde Paul Ehrlichs. In addition to the speeches and manuscripts, there are many conference and event programs, as well as correspondence, mailings, and a limited amount of administrative material related to these memorial societies.