Collection ID: C367
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Frenz, Horst, 1912-1990
Abstract:
Horst Frenz was a professor in the Department of Comparative Literature and English at Indiana University from 1940-1981, and served as chair of the Comparative Literature department from its creation in 1949 until 1977. The collection consists of publications, correspondence, and records relating to Frenz's position at IU as well as his professional interests. There is some correspondence relating to the establishment of the Dept. of Comparative Literature.
Extent:
3.4 cubic feet (3 rc and 1 dc)
Language:
Materials are in English and German .
Preferred citation:

[Item], Horst Frenz papers, Collection C367, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

Born June 29, 1912, in Oberlauringen, Germany, Horst Frenz attended the University of Goettingen, where he received his Ph.D. in English in 1936. Frenz moved to the United States in 1938 to attend the University of Illinois receiving a MA in 1939.

Frenz came to I.U. in 1940 as an instructor in English, was promoted to assistant professor of world literature in 1945, associate professor in 1949, and full professor in 1954. Frenz retired in 1981. In 1949, Frenz helped establish the Comparative Literature program at IU, and he served as the first chairman from 1949 to 1977. In addition to these duties, in 1964 Dr. Frenz was named associate director of the School of Letters. Under the direction of Frenz, the Comparative Literature program was one of the first in the world to incorporate Asian-Western relations and an interdisciplinary approach into the curriculum.

Outside of IU, Frenz served as the president of the American Comparative Literature Association from 1971-1974, and president of the International Comparative Literature Association from 1973-1976. Frenz was the recipient of Fulbright, Ford Foundation and Guggenheim Foundation fellowships, and he served as Editor of the Yearbook of Comparative and General Literature. In addition to authoring Die Entwicklung des Sozialen Dramas in England vor Galsworthy in 1938, Frenz published and co-edited numerous articles in the fields of drama, comparative literature and American literature. Frenz died on November 17, 1990 in Bloomington.

Scope and Content:

The papers of Horst Frenz span the years of 1905-1990 and are organized into four series; Publications and writings, Correspondence, Professional activity and Subject files.

The first series, Publications and writings (1938-1988), comprises the bulk of the collection and contains notes, drafts, and published copies of Frenz's written works. It is arranged chronologically by date of publication, though there are many undated items that have been arranged alphabetically by title or subject at the end of the series. Prominent subjects in these publications include comparative literature and playwrights and authors such as Eugene O'Neill, Thornton Wilder, and Thomas Wolf, and Walt Whitman.

The second series, Correspondence, is arranged alphabetically and contains professional correspondence dated 1935-1990. Much of the correspondence relates to publications, research, professional organizations, and academic discussions of topics related to comparative literature. Individuals and organizations with whom Frenz corresponded repeatedly have been grouped together. Some of the prominent correspondents include Hans Joachim Lang, Gyorgy Vajda, and Istvan Soter, the president of the International Comparative Literature Assocation from 1970-1973. Other letters that represent one time correspondence have been organized by year in the folders titled "General Correspondence."

The third series, Professional activity, contains materials from the years 1938-1990. These materials pertain to many aspects of Frenz's career, such as research, publications, lectures, and organizations in which Frenz was involved. Examples of materials in this series include typed copies of addresses given by Frenz, information on his grant projects, flyers and programs for his lectures, and reviews of his publications.

The Subject files series spans the years 1905-1989 and is arranged alphabetically by folder heading. It contains a variety of materials related to Frenz's activities at Indiana University and his areas of interest. Included in this series are items pertaining to the American Comparative Literature Association and the International Comparative Literature Association, both organizations in which Frenz served as president. There are also many items about Indiana University in general and I.U.'s Comparative Literature department.

Acquisition information:
Accession Information: 7282, 2010/048
Custodial history:

Deposited in the Archives by Mrs. Frenz, December 1984. Additions sent to the Archives in 2010 by Howard Swyers of the Dept. of Comparative Literature.

Processing information:

Processed by Crystal Matjasic.

Arrangement:

Organized into four series: Publications and writings, Correspondence, Professional activity and Subject files.

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required for access.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

The donor(s) of this collection have not transferred their copyrights for the materials to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

The Indiana University Archives respects the intellectual property rights of others and does not claim any copyrights for non-university records, materials in the public domain, or materials for which we do not hold a Deed of Gift. Responsibility for the determination of the copyright status of these materials rests with those persons wishing to reuse the materials. Researchers are responsible for securing permission from copyright owners and any other rights holders for any reuse of these materials that extends beyond fair use or other statutory limitations.

Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Horst Frenz papers, Collection C367, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
812-855-1127
archives@indiana.edu