Guide to the Papers of Josef Wagner (1909-1947), 1915-1975
 
AR 5135

Series I: Personal, 1915-1947.

Arrangement:

No arrangment

Scope and Content:

This series contains Josef Wagner's resumes and biographical information as well as obituaries for both Josef Wagner and his wife Lessie Sachs, published in the German-Jewish newspaper Aufbau in New York. Also included are three drawings from Josef Wagner's childhood.

Series II: Correspondence, 1927-1975.

Arrangement:

This series is divided into two subseries.

Scope and Content:

The majority of this series consists of letters Josef Wagner wrote to his life-long friend Alwine Pröls. Also included are letters other members of Josef Wagner's family wrote to Alwine as well as miscellaneous letters to and from other people.

Subseries 1: Josef Wagner to Alwine Pröls,  undated, 1928-1946.

Scope and Content:

Josef Wagner and Alwine Pröls stayed in touch through their letters for many years. The first letters were written in 1928, before his marriage to Lessie Sachs. They continued to keep in touch after his immigration to the United States until shortly before his death in 1947. In his letters, Josef Wagner talks about his achievements in music and describes nearly everything, which happened in his family life. In 1933, he wrote in detail about the personal and professional consequences of the Nazi laws, which forbade him to perform in public. Letters written between 1934 and 1937 shed light on his attempts to continue to perform, both in private concerts and abroad. There is also a lot of information about his immigration to the United States and his first performances there. Alwine Pröls seems to be his closest confidant throughout his life.

Subseries 2: Others,  undated, 1927-1975.

Scope and Content:

This subseries contains letters written by Josef Wagner's mother Charlotte and his daughter Dorothy to his friend Alwine Pröls. Dorothy's letters date from 1950 through 1975. It seems that she wanted to keep up the contact after her father's death.

In addition, this series contains a few letters written by Gertrude Weidner and Erna Weihreich to their friend Alwine Pröls, as well as a few letters from Alwine to Gertrud Weidner and Dorothy Plaut.

Also included is a letter, which Josef Wagner wrote to the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes in 1933, explaining the problems he experienced because of his Jewish background.

Series III: Musical Career, 1927-1956.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically

Scope and Content:

This series contains items, which are related to Josef Wagner's musical career both in Germany and in the United States. Included are concert programs, reviews, announcements, and press releases, which document his achievements as a pianist and chronicle his performances in large cities throughout Germany. Sheet music and compositions written by Josef Wagner can also be found in this series.

Series IV: Photographs, 1929-1968.

Scope and Content:

The bulk of photographs in this subseries consist of professional shots, which show Josef Wagner at his piano. There are also a few photos from German landscapes and negatives, which show Josef Wagner and his friend Alwine Pröls.

Series V: Miscellaneous, 1928-1978.

Scope and Content:

This subseries includes miscellaneous notes, poems and letter fragments, which could not be further identified. There are also several clippings about the music teacher Karl Pöllmann.