Special Collections and Archives

The Bettmann Collection

at Florida Atlantic University's
S.E. Wimberly Library

A Finding Aid

Collection Summary
Selected Search Terms
Names
Subjects
Occupations
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Description of Series

Container List

Collection Summary

Creator: Bettmann, Otto L(udwig), 1903-1998
Title: Papers of Otto Bettmann
Extent: 3 14-inch clamshell boxes.
Repository: Special Collections/Archives, Florida Atlantic University
Abstract: Correspondence, newspaper & magazine articles, biographical sketches, press releases, books, pamphlets, photos, tributes, audio & videorecordings, and miscellaneous papers relating primarily to Otto Bettmann and his tenure (1978-1996) at Florida Atlantic University.

Selected Search Terms:

Bettmann, Otto
Florida Atlantic University
S.E. Wimberly Library

Names: xx

Subjects: xx

Occupations:

Rare Books Librarian
Graphic Historian
Teacher
Scholar-in-residence

Administrative Information:

Material pertaining to Dr. Bettmann was being collected and placed in a "Bettmann" file even while Dr. Bettmann was actively working in the Special Collections department of Florida Atlantic University. The bulk of the collection consists mainly of newspaper and magazine notices about or interviews given by Dr. Bettmann from 1936 to 1999 and that invariably treat of his

long career as the founder of the Bettmann Archive
indefatigable pursuit and completion of new projects
musicianship and love of Bach
continued authorship--even at an advanced age
philosophy of life

An ongoing project of collecting and archiving Bettmann materials was started in the 1998-1999 academic year by library & information science student Anthony F. Verdesca, Jr. under the supervison of Zita Cael, head of Florida Atlantic University’s Special Collections and Archives. An "Otto Bettmann Collection" Website was also created as an extension of the archive. It not only presents and explains the collection but it features selected downloadable image, audio and video files, making the collection more accessible to the public.

Biographical Note:

1903, Oct. 15 Born, Leipzig, Germany
1918 Becomes a master piano student of Fraulein Schutze, excelling in Bach
1923 Awarded the Ph.D. from the University of Leipzig and begins work for the music publishing house, C.F. Peters in Leipzig
1932 Awarded diploma in library science from the University of Leipzig and becomes rare book curator at the State Art Library in Berlin
1933 "Relieved" of his post during Nazi purge of Jewish state employees
1935 Arrived in New York City with two steamer trunks of old photographs
1936 Founded The Bettmann Archive in a one-room apartment on West Forty-fourth Street in New York City
1938 Married Anne Gray
1960s The Bettmann Archive becomes "the world’s largest commercial repository of rare illustrations and photographs"
1952-1995 Authored and co-authored thirteen books heavily illustrated with pictures from The Bettmann Archive
1981 Sold The Bettmann Archive and retired to Florida
1988 His wife Anne died after 50 years of marriage
1992 Became Curator of Rare Books and Scholar-in-Residence of Florida Atlantic University’s S.E. Wimberly Library
1995 Returned to his hometown, Leipzig, 60 years after vowing never to return
1997 Organized new archives entitled, "Women in Art"
1998, May 1 Died, Boca Raton, Florida

Scope and Content Note:

Currently, the papers of Otto Bettmann held at Florida Atlantic University’s archives cover the period from 1974 to 1999. The greater part of the collection consists of newspaper and magazine articles collected over the years of Dr. Bettmann’s tenure at the S.E. Wimberly Library.

Several biographical sketches of Dr. Bettmann have been collected from various published sources including two unpublished sketches.

Three copies of articles authored by Dr. Bettmann and published in scholarly journals have been archived. One of these was published in 1930, prior to Dr. Bettmann’s emigration.

Inhouse booklets authored by Dr. Bettmann include Mine Own Walden and Collections of the World’s Great Books in Rare Library Editions.

Various university and publisher press releases and notices covering the period 1976 to 1996 have been collected and consist mainly of announcements of lectures held, recitals given or publications authored by Dr. Bettmann.

A miscellany of photographs, some from the 1960s, marking various special occasions in Dr. Bettmann’s tenure at the S.E. Wimberly Library as well as day-to-day depictions of Dr. Bettmann at work have been preserved.

Three videorecordings that served as promotional vehicles for two of Dr. Bettmann’s publications and The Bettmann Archive are among the collection.

A fairly recent promotional brochure of The Bettmann Archive is among the collection.

Some correspondence has been collected and consists primarily of hand-written and typed letters between Dr. Bettmann and various publishers and which cover the period from 1978 to 1998.

Written tributes to Dr. Bettmann were offered by numerous friends and colleagues at a special celebration of the life of Dr. Bettmann held on June 4, 1998 at FAU's Board of Regents' Room. These tributes were collected and are preserved in the archives.

Description of Series:

Last updated: 28 August 2001 by Anthony Verdesca
URL: http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/betfind1.htm
This page is maintained by: FAU Libraries Web Manager