Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953

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German architect.

From the description of Design, ca. 1924. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 81952229

Correspondence to Lewis Mumford from architect Eric Mendelsohn and his wife, Louise Mendelsohn. All letterheads and signatures by Mendelsohn in this file spell his first name as "Eric," not "Erich."

From the description of Letters to Lewis Mumford, 1941-1975, n.d. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 122526818

German architect born in Germany in 1887. Mendelsohn lived in London and Jerusalem from 1933-1940, then went to live and practice in America, first in New York, then from 1945-1953 in San Francisco.

From the description of Erich and Luise Mendelsohn papers, 1894-1992. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 79860344

Architect, San Francisco, California.

Born in Allenstein, East Prussia. Studied at Technische Hochschule in Munich. Worked in Germany, England, Israel and the United States. Designed memorial to the 6 million Jews killed during World War II.

From the description of Eric[h] Mendelsohn sketches. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122604552

Architect, San Francisco, California.

Born in Allenstein, East Prussia. Studied at Technische Hochschule in Munich. Worked in Germany, England, Israel and the United States. Designed memorial to the 6 million Jews killed during World War II.

From the description of Erich Mendelsohn drawings, 1955. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122545667

Biographical/Historical Note

1887: Erich Mendelsohn is born on March 21st in the East Prussian town of Allenstein (now Olsztyn, Poland).

1907-1909: Begins his studies in national economics at the University of Munich; in 1909 transfers to the Technical University in Berlin to begin his study of architecture, which he continues in Munich.

1910: Meets his future wife, Luise (Luise) Maas (born 1894), a young cellist.

1911-1914: Passes his final examination in architecture; designs costumes, stage sets, and window displays; begins his relationship with the Expressionist artists Wassily Kandinsky, Franz Marc, Paul Klee, and Hugo Ball, and the astrophysicist Erwin Freundlich. Marries Luise (Maas) Mendelsohn.

1915-1918: Volunteers for the Engineering Corps, serves at the Russian Front. Executes his first sketches for the Einstein Tower. Birth of only child, Esther, on May 4, 1916.

1918-1922: Transferred to the Western Front in 1918. Returns to Berlin and opens his architectural firm; mounts his first public exhibition "Architecture in Steel and Concrete," Paul Cassirer Gallery, Berlin, and executes his "Dune Architecture" series and the Einstein Tower, Potsdam.

1923-1925: Lectures in Amsterdam, makes first trip to Palestine, the United States and Russia, and co-founds the Modern architecture group, the "Ring."

1926-1929: Executes a series of major department stores, designs for competitions, and the Metal Workers' Union Administration Building, Berlin.

1930-1932: Travels to Greece, Spain, England, and France. Executes the Columbus House, Berlin and becomes a member of the Prussian Academy of Arts.

1933-1935: Leaves Germany for Holland, establishes "European Mediterranean Academy," forms a partnership with Serge Chermayeff in England, and executes the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, England, and Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

1936-1940: Executes several projects in Jerusalem, becomes a British citizen and volunteers for the British army.

1941-1945: Immigrates to the United States, lectures extensively, eventually settles in San Francisco and begins work on his book, "Architecture in a Changing World, or a Philosophy of Architecture," and exhibits his work at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

1946-1948: Becomes a US citizen, executes several commissions, and is appointed lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.

1949-1953: Executes architectural commissions in the US and dies in San Francisco on September 15, 1953.

1952: Publication of Il contributo di Mendelsohn alla evoluzione dell'architettura moderna, by Mario Federico Roggero (Milan, 1952).

1954: Retrospective exhibition, "The Palestine Period in Erich Mendelsohn's Work," Milan Triennale.

1956: Publication of Eric Mendelsohn, by Arnold Whittick (2nd ed., London, 1956; 1st ed. published 1940).

1960: International traveling exhibition, "100 Sketches," Venice Biennale, and publication of Eric Mendelsohn, by Wolf von Eckardt (New York, 1960).

1967: Publication of Eric Mendelsohn: letters of an architect, Oskar Beyer, ed., with introduction by Nikolaus Pevsner (London, 1967).

1968: International traveling exhibition organized by the Verein Deutsches Bauzentrum, and Akademie der Künste.

1969: Exhibition, "The Drawing of Eric Mendelsohn," University Art Museum, Berkeley, CA.

1970: Publication of Erich Mendelsohn: opera completa, by Bruno Zevi (Milan, 1970) with biographical notes by Luise Mendelsohn.

1975: Sale of the Erich Mendelsohn collection of drawings and manuscripts to the Kunstbibliothek, Berlin.

1980: Death of Luise Mendelsohn, San Francisco, CA.

From the guide to the Erich and Luise Mendelsohn papers, 1894-1992, (The Getty Research Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. Furniture designed for Rupenhorn. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Erich Mendelsohn drawings Archives of American Art
referencedIn Erich Mendelsohn : vertical file. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. Erich and Luise Mendelsohn papers, 1894-1992. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. Design, ca. 1924. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Fonds Edward Gordon Craig Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des arts du spectacle
referencedIn Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas papers, 1914-1955. Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
referencedIn Walter Gropius papers in the Bauhaus-Archiv, ca. 1919-1937. Houghton Library
referencedIn Schiller, Hans Joachim, 1917-1998. Germany, Palestine, Northern California : political and architectural activities, 1993 / Hans Schiller ; interviews conducted by Malca Chall, Eleanor Glaser, and Suzanne Riess, Regional Oral History Office, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Poelzig, Hans, 1869-1936. Hans Poelzig papers, ca. 1907-1936. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars. Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars records. 1927-1949. New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Guermonprez, Trude, 1910-1976. Trude Guermonprez collection, 1950-1976. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Architecture of Eric Mendelsohn . 1941 : Archives pamphlet file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. [Golden Gate tower] [graphic]. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn The Hadassah Medical Organization Papers in the Hadassah Archives, 1918-2009 Hadassah the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
referencedIn Mendelsohn, Erich : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Harold Stump papers, 1922-1997 Environmental Design Archives
creatorOf Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig, 1886-1969. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe collection, 1929-1969. Aurora University, Phillips Library
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. Eric[h] Mendelsohn sketches. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. [Beth-El Synagogue, Baltimore, Maryland] [graphic] / drawn by Erich Mendelsohn. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Serge Chermayeff architectural records and papers, 1909-1980, 1930s-1970s Columbia University. Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library. Department of Drawings and Archives.
referencedIn InFocusTech (Firm). Einstein Tower, Potsdam, Germany 1921 [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
referencedIn Proskauer, Henry G., 1915-. Research files on architecture, ca. 1940-1970. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Sir William Rothenstein correspondence and other papers, 1887-1957. Houghton Library
creatorOf Badovici, Jean. Letters received, 1924-1951. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Wells Ira Bennett Papers, 1916-1965 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Letters from others to Anthony Bertram, 1920-1971. Houghton Library
referencedIn Victoria Ocampo papers, 1908-1979. Houghton Library
referencedIn Lyonel Feininger papers, 1883-1960. Houghton Library
creatorOf Erich and Luise Mendelsohn papers, 1894-1992 Getty Research Institute
referencedIn The Hadassah Medical Organization Papers in the Hadassah Archives, 1918 - 2009 Hadassah
creatorOf Bartning, Otto, 1883-1959. Architectural photographs, ca. 1910-1966. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Bennett, Wells Ira, 1888-. Wells I. Bennett papers, 1916-1965. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Dresdner, Albert, 1866-1934. Letters received, 1904-1927. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Wilhelm Reinhold Valentiner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Reilly, C. H. (Charles Herbert), Sir, 1874-1948. Correspondence regarding Erich Mendelsohn, 1933. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Chermayeff, Serge, 1900-1996. Serge Chermayeff architectural records and papers, 1909-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Park Synagogue, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Park Synagogue records, 1888-1995 (1922-1992). Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. Elise Stern Haas papers, 1914-1955. Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum, Rabbi Morris Goldstein Library
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Cohen, Armond E., 1909-. Armond E. Cohen papers, 1925-1989. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Mendelsohn, Erich, 1887-1953. Letters to Lewis Mumford, 1941-1975, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Moshe Safdie interviews Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Badovici, Jean. person
associatedWith Bennett, Wells Ira, 1888- person
correspondedWith Bertram, Anthony, 1897- person
associatedWith Beyer, Oskar, b. 1882. person
associatedWith Chermayeff, Serge, 1900-1996. person
correspondedWith Cohen, Armond E., 1909- person
associatedWith Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966) person
associatedWith Dresdner, Albert, 1866-1934. person
associatedWith Eckardt, Wolf von, 1918-1995. person
associatedWith Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars corporateBody
associatedWith Feininger, Lyonel, 1871-1956. person
associatedWith Gropius, Walter, 1883-1969. person
associatedWith Guermonprez, Trude, 1910-1976. person
correspondedWith Haas, Elise S., 1893-1990. person
associatedWith Hahn, Marianne. person
associatedWith Hunter, Richard person
associatedWith Hunter, Richard. person
associatedWith Kandinsky, Wassily, 1866-1944. person
associatedWith Le Corbusier, 1887-1965. person
associatedWith Lissitzky, El, 1890-1941. person
associatedWith Maas, Rosa, 1858-1941. person
associatedWith Meier, Günter. person
associatedWith Mendelsohn, Esther person
associatedWith Mendelsohn, Esther. person
associatedWith Mendelsohn, Luise, 1894-1980. person
associatedWith Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig, 1886-1969. person
associatedWith Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Neutra, Richard Joseph, 1892-1970. person
correspondedWith Ocampo, Victoria, 1891- person
associatedWith Oud, J. J. P. (Jacobus Johannes Pieter), 1890-1963. person
associatedWith Park Synagogue, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. corporateBody
associatedWith Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1902-1983. person
associatedWith Pevsner, Nikolaus, Sir, 1902- person
associatedWith Picasso, Pablo, 1881-1973. person
associatedWith Poelzig, Hans, 1869-1936. person
associatedWith Ponti, Gio, 1891- person
associatedWith Ponti, Gio, 1891-1979. person
associatedWith Posener, Julius. person
associatedWith Proskauer, Henry G., 1915- person
associatedWith Reilly, C. H. (Charles Herbert), Sir, 1874-1948. person
associatedWith Roggero, Mario Federico. person
correspondedWith Rothenstein, William, Sir, 1872-1945 person
associatedWith Safdie, Moshe, 1938- person
associatedWith Schiller, Hans Joachim, 1917-1998. person
associatedWith Stump, Harold, 1905-1996 person
associatedWith Trocmé family. person
associatedWith Trocmé family family
associatedWith Valentiner, Wilhelm Reinhold, 1880-1958. person
associatedWith Velde, Henry van de, 1863-1957. person
associatedWith Wagner, Otto, 1841-1918. person
associatedWith Whittick, Arnold, 1898-1986. person
associatedWith Wijdeveld, H. Th., 1885-1987. person
associatedWith Worringer, Wilhelm, 1881-1965. person
associatedWith Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959. person
associatedWith Zevi, Bruno, 1918-2000. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Europe
Presidio of San Francisco (Calif.)
Asia
Presidio of San Francisco (San Francisco, Calif.)
Soviet Union
Germany
Maryland--Baltimore
United States
Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, Calif.)
Soviet Union
United States
California--San Francisco
Europe
California--San Francisco
Germany
Asia
Subject
Architect-designed furniture
Architects
Architectural criticism
Architecture
Architecture, Modern
Architecture, Modern
Expressionism (Art)
Furniture design
Futurism (Art)
Interiors
Neo-impressionism (Art)
Synagogues
Occupation
Architects
Activity

Person

Birth 1887-03-21

Death 1953-09-15

German

Information

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SNAC ID: 61121707