Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944

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Max Heinrich Hermann Reinhardt Nettlau (1865-1944) was a German anarchist and historian born in Vienna, Austria. Moving to London he met anarchists such as Errico Malatesta and Peter Kropotkin, and also helped to found Freedom Press. Realising that a generation of socialist and anarchist militants from the mid-19th century was passing away and their archives of writings and correspondence being destroyed, he concentrated his efforts on acquiring and rescuing such collections from destruction. He also interviewed veteran militants for posterity. He wrote biographies of many famous anarchists, including Mikhail Bakunin, Élisée Reclus, and Errico Malatesta, as well as a seven volume history of anarchism. His extensive collection or archives was sold to the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam in 1935.

From the guide to the Max Nettlau Papers, undated, (Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives)

Born in Neuwaldegg, Austria 1865, died in Amsterdam 1944; anarchist historian, collector and scholar; studied philology and Celtic (dissertation B̀eiträge zur cymrischen Grammatik', 1887); lived partly in Vienna, partly in London and travelled all over Europe to collect and to save historical documents on anarchism and socialism and for his studies; member of the Socialist League 1885-1890, active in the Torch and Freedom group; wrote historical works on anarchism with invaluable information and theoretical studies; printed by autocopyist his biography of Michail Bakunin, 3 vols. 1896-1900, and published B̀ibliographie de l'anarchie' 1897; lost during the inflation after the First World War the money he had inherited, and lived in poverty in Vienna; continued to collect and to publish e.g. biographies of Errico Malatesta and Elisée Reclus, and a history of anarchism in 7 vols.; sold his immense collection (books, periodicals, archives, documents) to the International Institute of Social History (IISH) in 1935 and lived in Amsterdam after the Ànschluss'.

From the description of Archives c. 1873-1944. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80365963

From the description of Archives. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78520664

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Emma Goldman Papers, Bulk, 1929-1940, 1908-1970, (Bulk 1929-1940) Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Nettlau, Max. Archives c. 1873-1944.
creatorOf Mrachnyĭ, Mark. Letter, 1925 Oct. 17, Berlin, to [Max] Nettlau [n.p.] University of Michigan
creatorOf Mrachnyĭ, Mark. Mark Mrachnyĭ papers, 1922-1940. University of Michigan
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Letter, 1935 Nov. 28, V[ienna] to C. Scheiman [n.p.] University of Michigan
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Anarchistische Propaganda und Industrial Unionism in Australien und New Zealand. National Library of New Zealand
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Letters, to Stephanus Fabijanovic, 1924-1933. University of Michigan
creatorOf Mrachnyĭ, Mark. Papers, 1922-1940. University of Michigan
creatorOf Goldman, Emma, 1869-1940. Collection of papers, 1909-1940. University of Michigan
referencedIn Joseph Ishill papers, 1888-1966. Houghton Library
creatorOf Inglis, Agnes, 1870-1952. Letter, 1931 Mar. 15, Ann Arbor, to Max Nettlau, Vienna. University of Michigan
referencedIn Fritz Mauthner Collection, 1765-1968 Leo Baeck Institute.
creatorOf Cornelisson, Christian, 1864-. Records, 1930-1937. University of Michigan
referencedIn Kelly, Harry May, 1871-1953. Letters, to Agnes Inglis, 1927-1948. University of Michigan
creatorOf Bell, T. H. (Thomas H.), 1867-1942. Articles for publication, 1922-1940. University of Michigan
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Letter, 1931 Apr. 1, Vienna, to [Agnes] Inglis [Ann Arbor] University of Michigan
creatorOf Bakunin, Mikhail Aleksandrovich, 1814-1876. 880-01 Bakunin Mikhail Aleksandrovich (1814-1876). Fond 206, 1835-1909. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Library
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Observations au sujet du conflit italo-éthiopien : que la joie causée par l'amitié franco-italienne ne nous fasse [sic] pas perdre le sens des réalités / [XXX]. Glenn G. Bartle Library
creatorOf Nettlau, Max. Archives.
creatorOf Cornelisson, Christian, 1864-. Probuzhdenie records, 1930-1937. University of Michigan
referencedIn Anarchist letters and pamphlets, 1881-1912 British library of political and economic science
creatorOf Fabijanovic, Stephanus, 1868-1933. Stephanus Fabijanovic papers, 1904-1933. University of Michigan
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Letter, 1935 Feb. 20, Vie[nna] to "Comrade Katz," [n.p.] University of Michigan
creatorOf Max Nettlau Papers, undated Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
referencedIn Inglis, Agnes, 1870-1952. Notes, on the Max Nettlau papers [ca. 1941-1945] University of Michigan
creatorOf Ryner, Han, 1861-1938. Letter from Han Ryner, 1925 Apr. 6. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Nettlau, Max, 1865-1944. Letters, 1925, Vienna, to M[ark] Mratschny. University of Michigan
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bakunin, Mikhail Aleksandrovich, 1814-1876. person
associatedWith Fabijanovic, Stephanus, 1868-1933. person
associatedWith Goldman, Emma, 1869-1940. person
associatedWith Inglis, Agnes, 1870-1952. person
correspondedWith Ishill, Joseph. person
associatedWith Jewish Anarchist Federation. corporateBody
associatedWith Katz, Jacob. person
associatedWith Kelly, Harry May, 1871-1953. person
associatedWith Makhno, Nestor Ivanovich, 1889-1934 person
associatedWith Mauthner, Fritz person
associatedWith Mrachnyĭ, Mark. person
associatedWith Nash, Mary. person
associatedWith Ryner, Han, 1861-1938. person
associatedWith Scheiman, C. T. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Australia
New Zealand
Subject
Anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchy
Labor unions
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1865-04-30

Death 1944-07-23

Austrians

German

Information

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