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Herman J. Deutsch Papers, 1897-1980

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Deutsch, Herman J.
Title
Herman J. Deutsch Papers
Dates
1897-1980 (inclusive)
Quantity
107 containers., (38 linear feet of shelf space.)
Collection Number
Cage 590
Summary
Personal and professional correspondence; research materials related to Deutsch's publications and professional activities; teaching materials; and printed items, including his publications. The research materials cover many topics in Pacific Northwest history. The work of Deutsch's students is also represented.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Herman Julius Karl Deutsch was born May 29, 1897 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Deutsch earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, receiving his Ph.D. in 1926. He taught at the University of Montana from 1922 to 1926, when he moved to Washington State University; he was a member of the WSU history faculty until his retirement in 1962. After retiring, he taught at the University of Washington and also traveled to Vienna, Austria as a Fulbright lecturer. Deutsch married Lenna A. Baird in 1930. She later edited Mercer's Belles, a book about Asa Mercer's "emigration experiment" as told through the writings of journalist Roger Conant. The Deutsches had one child, a daughter, Lenna. Deutsch died in 1979 in Pullman, at the age of 82.

Deutsch was well-known for his expertise in Pacific Northwest history, and published extensively in this area. He was an active participant in community, state, and professional affairs, serving on many committees, boards, and commissions. He was involved with the Washington State Historical Society, and served on the editorial board of the Pacific Northwest Quarterly. He received formal honors for his scholarly contributions, including an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History in 1978, and a Robert Gray Medal for distinguished contributions to Washington State history.

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Content Description

Personal and professional correspondence; research materials related to Deutsch's publications and professional activities; teaching materials; and printed items, including his publications. The research materials cover many topics in Pacific Northwest history. The work of Deutsch's students is also represented.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 590, Herman J. Deutsch Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Six separate accessions of material have been merged into one collection, and have been arranged in two major series: 1. Personal papers, and 2. Professional papers. The professional papers comprise the bulk of the collection.

The personal papers consist of correspondence, arranged alphabetically, and assorted miscellaneous items, mostly biographical information, also arranged alphabetically.

In general, the original arrangement of the papers has been retained. In some instances, correspondence with individuals may be filed in different correspondence groupings (for example, both personal and professional). Some files included a substantial quantity of promotional mass-mailing material; this was removed during processing.

The professional papers include Deutsch's research files, and are particularly rich in information about Pacific Northwest history. This series also includes Deutsch's professional correspondence. The correspondence sub-series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent name or subject. The remaining professional material is grouped by major subject, including Deutsch's Fulbright program in Austria; materials related to his committee service, conferences, and associations; research files related to his writing; teaching materials; research files organized by topic; student projects; and a large quantity of index cards related to his research.

Many of the items in Series 2.13, Card Files, were received in unlabeled bundles. Dividers have been incorporated into the card boxes to indicate breaks between these groups of cards, with labels where Deutsch provided descriptive information.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Herman J. Deutsch were donated to the WSU Libraries between 1978 and 1991 in six separate accessions.

Separated Materials

In addition to Deutsch's papers, Washington State University also acquired his extensive library in 1978.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Personal Names

  • Deutsch, Herman J.--Archives (creator)

Geographical Names

  • Northwest, Pacific--History
  • Washington (State)--History--Archives

Occupations

  • Historians--United States
  • Historians--Washington (State)

Finding aid prepared by Nan Macy and Cheryl Gunselman.
2012

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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