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Ronald M. Smelser papers, 1919-2008

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Smelser, Ronald M., 1942-
Title
Ronald M. Smelser papers
Dates
1919-2008 (inclusive)
Quantity
96.1 linear feet
Collection Number
Accn2374
Summary
The Ronald M. Smelser papers (1919-2008) contain correspondence, research documents, book drafts, journal articles, conference materials, newsclippings, microfilm and CDs. Professor Smelser, a professor at the University of Utah, is a noted historian of Nazi Germany.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Boxes 71-87 are restricted and unavailable until July 1, 2019.

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English, German
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Historical Note

Ronald M. Smelser (b. 1942) is a Pennslyvania native. He graduated from Juanita College with his B.A. in 1964 and obtained his M.A. in history in 1966 and his Ph.D. in history in 1970 from the University of Wisconsin. Concurrent with his education in the United States, he also attended two German Universities: Phillipps-Universitat-Marburg and Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn. After finishing his doctoral work, he was appointed as an assistant professor at Alma College (Michigan) and was a visiting professor at Iowa State University. He came to the University of Utah in 1974 as an assistant professor and became an associate professor in 1976 and a full professor in 1983. Most of Smelser's work centers on Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Among his books are The Sudeten Problem,Robert Ley: Hitler's Labor Front Leader, and The Myth of the Eastern Front. He has also edited many volumes on Nazi leaders and the Holocaust. In 2001, Smelser was instrumental in bringing the National Holocaust Museum's Nazi Olympics exhibit to the Marriott Library as part of the Cultural Olympiad. He continues to teach at the University of Utah and also teaches classes at the Free University of Berlin during the summer.

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Content Description

The Ronald M. Smelser papers (1919-2008) contain correspondence, research documents, book drafts, journal articles, conference materials, newsclippings, microfilm and cds. The papers begin with Smelser's research projects which are found in boxes 1-18. Boxes 19-35 contain research files and newsclippings. Smelser's articles and correspondence are located in boxes 36-38. Boxes 39-42 include documents relating to the German History academic community. Smelser's activities at the University of Utah, including his yearly participation in " Days of Remembrance," which is a discussion of the Holocaust, can be found in box 43. Boxes 44-47 focus on articles and educational materials pertaining to the Holocaust while boxes 48-50 consist of reviews and academic articles. Smelser's research notes on various subjects are filed in boxes 51-67. Boxes 68-70 house various media articles on German culture and history. Material from the United States Justice Department's Office of Special Investigations (OSI) relating to the civil cases of ex-Nazis living in the United States illegally is stored in boxes 71-87. These boxes have been restricted from public viewing until July 1, 2019. Boxes 89-92 are comprised of a variety of sources related to Smelser's monograph on Robert Ley. Archival documents examining the role which former S.S. concentration camp officers and guards performed during World War II can be accessed in boxes 93-96. Reels 1-12 contain issues of the Stars and Stripes while reels 13-29 include copies of German interwar publications. German and Czech materials regarding interwar relations and other issues can be viewed on reels 30-48. Reel 49 possesses a work on Saint-Simonism. Information discussing Nazi concentration camps and S.S. activities is available on CDs 1-5 while interwar German embassy reports can be seen on CD 6.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Ronald M. Smelser papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Ronald M. Smelser papers, Accn 2374, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Following Citations:Accn 2374.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donated by Ronald Smelser (boxes 1-35) in 2007.

Donated by Ronald Smelser, (boxes 36-87) in 2008.

Donated by Ronald Smelser (boxes 88-96) in 2009.

Processing Note

Processed by Jonathan D. Hepworth in 2008.

Addendum processed by Roger V. Paxton in 2010.

Related Materials

See also the Myth of the Eastern Front records (Accn 2375) which consists of materials Smelser and Davies used in writing the book.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
  • World War, 1939-1945--Germany

Personal Names

  • Smelser, Ronald M.,1942-

Geographical Names

  • Germany--Politics and government--1933-1945

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings
  • Correspondence
  • Drafts (documents)

Finding aid created by Jonathan D. Hepworth
2008 (updated: 2010)

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