Overview
Papers of Boris Souvarine, a founder of the French Communist Party and a Bolshevik delegate to the Comintern until expelled in the mid-1920s. He was a leading Sovietologist and anti-communist. Includes correspondence, compositions, source files, and biographical materials.
Dates
- 1915-1984
- Majority of material found within 1940-1984
Language of Materials
Collection materials are in French, Russian, and English.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on physical access to the bulk of this material.
Restriction lifted on MS Fr 375.1 (1) and (2), January 2019.
Restriction lifted on MS Fr 375.1 (1) and (2), January 2019.
Extent
41.6 linear feet (126 boxes)
The papers contain correspondence with colleagues and friends (very little from family), compositions, and source files containing printed matter concerning east-west relations. Generally, the original arrangement of materials has been retained. Consequently there is a large section entitled: Compositions arranged by subject. This section reflects Souvarine's original subject categories but the order within each category has been reorganized in the repository into: letters, compositions, and printed materials. Cross-references have been made to all relevant sections within the larger index. An alphabetical listing of the topical groups assembled in this section can be found at the end of the index in appendix 1.
The bulk of the letters date from 1940 to 1984, with some earlier and later. A large early section pertains to Souvarine's years as a communist and to his time spent as a member of the Comintern (see section IV-B, International correspondence). Much of this material, however, are copies that Souvarine gathered for his own research purposes. There are a very few letters from Boris Souvarine to others and those that do exist are mostly drafts. It should be noted that Souvarine's library (including both books and manuscripts) was pillaged by the Nazis during World War II and consequently scattered over Europe (see section IV-B, Nazi pillage). There is a noteworthy collection of letters and compositions by Simone Weil, as well as materials from countless other important figures of the French and Russian political and cultural scene during the twentieth century.
Over half of the collection can be classified as printed materials which consist of source files of clippings, pamphlets, books and offprints that Souvarine assembled for his own use.
The papers have been annotated by Souvarine's step-daughter, Genevieve (Ginette) de Bidart Merrill. Numerous penciled notes in her handwriting can be found throughout. These notes have mostly not been mentioned in the cataloging. Much of the identification of names could not have been made without her assistance.
The bulk of the letters date from 1940 to 1984, with some earlier and later. A large early section pertains to Souvarine's years as a communist and to his time spent as a member of the Comintern (see section IV-B, International correspondence). Much of this material, however, are copies that Souvarine gathered for his own research purposes. There are a very few letters from Boris Souvarine to others and those that do exist are mostly drafts. It should be noted that Souvarine's library (including both books and manuscripts) was pillaged by the Nazis during World War II and consequently scattered over Europe (see section IV-B, Nazi pillage). There is a noteworthy collection of letters and compositions by Simone Weil, as well as materials from countless other important figures of the French and Russian political and cultural scene during the twentieth century.
Over half of the collection can be classified as printed materials which consist of source files of clippings, pamphlets, books and offprints that Souvarine assembled for his own use.
The papers have been annotated by Souvarine's step-daughter, Genevieve (Ginette) de Bidart Merrill. Numerous penciled notes in her handwriting can be found throughout. These notes have mostly not been mentioned in the cataloging. Much of the identification of names could not have been made without her assistance.
Biographical / Historical
Boris Konstantinovich Souvarine, the self-educated pioneering Sovietologist, was born in Kiev, Russia but brought to France as a small boy. He was the only foreign communist to have been a member of all three leading bodies of the Comintern for three years in succession. His most well known work was the first biography of Joseph Stalin, published in 1935 as Staline, Aperçu Historique Bolchévisme. For the next sixty years he was a leading Sovietologist and anti-communist, founder of L'Institut d'Histoire Sociale (Paris), as well as an author, editor, historian, journalist and publisher.
Arrangement
Arranged into the following six series:
- I. Letters to Boris Souvarine
- II. Letters from Boris Souvarine
- III. Other letters
- IV. Compositions by Boris Souvarine
- V. Compositions by others
- VI. Miscellany
Physical Location
b
Immediate Source of Acquisition
88M-29 and 91M-3. Gift of Genevieve (Ginette) de Bidart Merrill; received: 30 May 1985 and 1991.
Processing Information
Processed by: Bonnie B. Salt
Processing Information
In 2020-2021, as part of a conscious and inclusive re-description effort, entries were updated to include a woman’s full name when identified.
Link to catalog
- Title
- Souvarine, Boris. Boris Souvarine papers, 1915-1984 (MS Fr 375-375.1): Guide.
- Status
- completed
- Author
- Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
- Language of description
- Finding aid is written in English.
- EAD ID
- hou00034
Repository Details
Part of the Houghton Library Repository
Houghton Library is Harvard College's principal repository for rare books and manuscripts, literary and performing arts archives, and more. The library's holdings of primary source material are managed by an expert staff and shared with scholars, students and the public in the reading room.
Contact:
Harvard Yard
Harvard University
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2440
Houghton_Library@harvard.edu
Harvard Yard
Harvard University
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2440
Houghton_Library@harvard.edu