American Studies in Europe, Volume 1: Their History and Present Organization [Reprint 2016 ed.] 9781512818710

Table of contents :
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.THE GENERAL BACKGROUND
II. THE UNITED KINGDOM
III. FRANCE
IV. GERMANY

Citation preview

AMERICAN IN

STUDIES

EUROPE I

Publications of T H E

A M E R I C A N

I N S T I T U T E

U N I V E R S I T Y OF O S L O

In cooperation with the D E P A R T M E N T OF AMERICAN

CIVILIZATION

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences U N I V E R S I T Y OF PENNSYLVANIA

AMERICAN STUDIES IN EUROPE THEIR HISTORY AND PRESENT ORGANIZATION

VOL. I

S I G M U N D SKARD Professor of Literature, especially American, University of Oslo

U N I V E R S I T Y OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

© 1938 by the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Published in Great Britain, India, and Pakistan by the Oxford University Press London, Bombay, and Karachi Published in Norway by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number: 57-11986

This publication was largely subsidized by Norges Almenvitenskapelige Forskningsrid, the University of Oslo, and the Norwegian Ministry of Church and Education

Printed in Norway by A.S J O H N GRIEGS BOKTRYKKERI, BERGEN

TO A L L WHO

COLLABORATED

IN T H I S

BOOK

PREFACE In 1946 the Parliament of Norway established a chair of "Literature, especially American" at the University of Oslo. T h e introduction of the new subject into the university curricula provoked some discussion. In order to obtain an idea of the ways in which American studies were organized elsewhere, the author of this book collected some information in 1951 about their organization in a few of the countries of Western Europe. These tentative samplings made it clear that interest in the study of American Civilization in the widest sense was much more general than was commonly known. Since the recent war discussion had been going on in almost every European country about the definition and scope, character and purpose of the new subject; and the problems were the same everywhere. But there was little coordination. Schools, universities and individuals were often ignorant of the work that was being done in other countries, in their own country, and even in neighbouring institutions or faculties, and forged ahead on their own with a pioneering pride which was the supreme sign of their isolation. This book originated as an effort to serve this immediate need for contact and cooperation. But the complexity of the subject soon made it clear that even for practical purposes the present could only be understood by tracing its development in the past. American Studies could be isolated neither from their national backgrounds nor from the general forces that have moulded the American impact on Europe; and almost everywhere the tradition of the subjects proved to go farther back and to contain more both of variation and of consistency than had hitherto been realized. What began as an administrative report, has thus ended as an attempt to write the History of American Studies in Europe from the American Revolution to the present day as one part of the interrelations between the Old World and the New.

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Preface

"Europe" is, in the following pages, understood in its traditional geographical sense. T h e Soviet Union is included; so are Turkey and Israel because of their ties with European tradition. T h e University of Algiers is regarded as a part of the metropolitan university system of France, but no attention is paid to the many Commonwealth and colonial connections of British learned institutions. East Germany is discussed together with the other states in the present Soviet-dominated zone. T h e term "American" Studies in this book means the study of the Civilization, past and present, of the United States of America, principally the study of those aspects that are fundamental to all national civilizations: human and cultural geography, political, economic, social, religious, and intellectual developments, laws and institutions, language, literature, and the arts. Particular importance is attributed to literature. Less attention is paid to the study of North America before 1776, and none at all to the study of the ethnology, archeology, and cultural anthropology of the native American tribes. "Studies" is taken to mean the systematic attempt to know and understand these various aspects of American life as parts of an American Culture. T h e r e are other kinds of "American Studies" which may in quantity have meant even more to Europe, viz. the adoption of American methods and procedures in technology, medicine, economics, sociology, political science, psychology, philosophy, and many other branches of learning. But even if these efforts may often involve American material, they do not aim at the understanding of American Civilization as such. They are therefore not included in this book, with the exception of borderline cases. T h e survey is concerned with American Studies in secondary schools (public and grammar schools, gymnasiums, lycées, etc.) and at universities and other similar institutions of higher learning and research. American Studies are also carried on today in many other kinds of schools and institutions, and by way of other mass media; these receive no attention in this book except when they throw light upon the real subject. T h e survey is primarily concerned with the institutional organization of the studies, — plans, regulations and requirements, teaching, and examination practice. Pertinent documents are quoted extensively, and some are reprinted in full in the Appendices. W i t h regard to the secondary schools, a sampling is made of typical textbooks in the most important

Prejace

9

subjects, particularly for the period after 1945. T h e education of girls and women, when organized separately, has been omitted for the sake of simplification. Higher learning forms the core of the book. An attempt has been made to follow the development of academic American Studies, their inclusion in curricula and syllabuses, the establishment of chairs or teaching positions, the n u m b e r and subjects of courses, the names of the teachers, and the general trend of their work, at the universities of all the countries of Western Europe. T h i s historical analysis leads u p to a survey of the situation in each institution today. A similar picture, albeit more sketchy, is presented of American Studies in the Mediterranean countries and in Eastern Europe. As a background, an outline is given in each chapter of the research in American Civilization d u r i n g the various periods. These references are offered as examples and without pretension; the internal history of American scholarship in the nations of Europe lies beyond the scope of the book. As far as possible, a preliminary survey has been made of available library resources in each country and institution. Attention is only paid to collections which are of importance to the study of American Civilization in the narrower sense outlined above. T h u s , the holdings of a library in "American periodicals" has reference only to general and literary American reviews, not to professional journals, for instance, in Medicine or Physics. In order to facilitate the establishment of contacts, the book is furnished with a list of European scholars who are now active in teaching or research in American Civilization, at the universities or outside them. T h i s list is open to criticism; it is of necessity incomplete, and often arbitrary in its selection. But is was felt that in this case the perfect might be the enemy of the useful. Even within these limits the task has proved to be beset with difficulties. T h e educational systems of Europe have always been remarkable in their variety, not only from nation to nation, b u t often from institution to institution, with complications that sometimes baffle even the natives. These varying conditions have been subject to continuous change during the last 180 years, often as part of political and social convulsions. T h e outline that is given of this historical background is bound to suffer from all the defects of generalization.

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Prejace

T h e source material for the investigation itself was not easily accessible. Research into archives could not be undertaken; and even the printed sources, — government decrees, plans and regulations, school journals and university gazettes, professional periodicals, books and pamphlets, — were often hard to get at. Few libraries keep complete files of the more ephemeral sources, even for their own country. In some regions, material has perished by fire and bombing; in others, the authorities are not eager to make their publications available to foreigners. For some institution» the material had to be pieced together from the holdings of librariei in several countries. For the universities, the main source of information has been the lecture catalogues. It has proved possible to compile tolerably complete lists of American courses at the most important universities of Western Europe since the beginning of the 19th century, at a few of them even from the late 18th century. These lists are printed in the book in the service of future research. But the material is in many ways unsatisfactory. T h e information given in the catalogues is often patchy, or does not correspond to the actual teaching; for some types of courses the subjects are not indicated at all. In the abstracts that have been made, only the subjects of the courses could be listed, and not the number of teaching hours involved. Several countries and periods could not be covered completely; and many details have certainly been overlooked during the stultifying perusal of thousands of catalogues. Naturally, only those courses could be listed that were explicitly devoted to American subjects, wholly or in part. But such courses never represented more than a section of the academic teaching on American subjects. In all faculties the most weighty discussion of American Civilization was frequently offered in general courses and seminars; as a rule, such contributions cannot be ascertained. This difficulty will occur in the investigation of any specific university study; it does not reduce the value of the specialized courses as indicators of the organization of American teaching and of its relative importance. Nevertheless this shortcoming is serious and must be borne constantly in mind. T h e investigator soon discovers that even if all the printed material in existence could be collected, it might still give a misleading picture. T h e gap between regulations and actual practice, between claim and achievement, is always wide in a new field,

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and no less so when that field has the friendly backing of a great foreign power. American Studies were always the focus of conflicting interests, and are still controversial. T h e student of the subject is often entangled in susceptibilities, national, professional, and even personal, which make it hard to distinguish between fiction and fact. Since the plan of the book grew during the collection of material, the completion of it has been much delayed; the manuscript was written over a period of almost four years. This delay has in some respects proved fortunate; the years from 1953 to 1957 were important to the growth of American Studies. But its slow production has made the book uneven; especially in the first chapters, it has not always been possible to bring the details up to date. T h a t all these difficulties have to some extent, at least, been overcome, is due to an extraordinary willingness to cooperate on the part of authorities, institutions, and individuals in many parts of Europe. T h e basic material was culled in the Education Department of the University Library in Oslo. This material was supplemented by extensive information obtained by correspondence with the Ministries of Education of virtually every government in Western Europe. It was checked and added to by means of a questionnaire on teaching and examination practice, sometimes also on library facilities, which was circulated to practically all universities in the region, addressed either to the Registrar or, more usually, to one leading scholar in each of the following subjects: English, History, Geography, Political Science and Law, Economics, Philosophy, and Education. In all, such questionnaires were circulated to about 600 scholars at about 160 universities, and were answered by more than 350, with about the same percentage of reply from nation to nation. In addition to answering these questionnaires many of the scholars elaborated on special points in continued correspondence; quite a number of them wrote broad analyses of special problems. These letters and statements are not infrequently quoted in the text, as a rule anonymously, since they were not formally submitted for publication. For obvious reasons questionnaires were not circulated to scholars in the countries of Eastern Europe. All information given about those parts of the world is based on publicly accessible printed material, which was sometimes provided by the respective Embassies. In addition, during the years from 1953 to 1956, the author was

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Prejace

himself able to visit almost fifty universities in twelve European countries. H e attended three national and two international conferences on American Studies and made extensive minutes of their proceedings. H e was able to work in a n u m b e r of libraries, to supplement his printed material, and in many cases also to sample the American holdings. Above all he could discuss and check the material he had collected by personal interviews with more than 200 officials, teachers, and scholars in Ministries, schools, and universities. When the manuscript had been drafted, the chapters together with the list of scholars were again circulated in stencilled form to almost 600 informants. More than 260 of them were kind enough to add their- critical remarks and last-minute supplements, or even to subject the relevant sections to a thorough revision. All these contributions are listed in the Acknowledgements below. No exhaustive account can however be given of the spirit of helpfulness and active friendship in which this assistance was extended. T h e author can only express his deep-felt gratitude for this generous cooperation, for patience, confidence, and willingness to voice an opinion. T h e personal views expressed in the book are, however, those of the author, and are often at variance with those of his informants. T h e book could not have been written without free access to the stacks and the unfailing patience of the staffs in a number of great research libraries, above all the University Library in Oslo, the University Libraries in Göttingen and Lund, the Bodleian Library in Oxford and the University Library of the Sorbonne. T h e author owes a special debt of gratitude to Mrs. Joan Tindale Blindheim, M. A. (University of Oslo), Professor Paul Christophersen (University of Oslo), Professor R. B. Davis (University of Tennessee), Mr. Jaimes D. Edmondston (The British Council, Oslo), Professor Leonard Lutwack (University of Maryland), Professor John O. McCormick (Freie Universität, Berlin), Rev. Jörgen Shaw (Princeton, N. J.) and Mrs. Alma G. Wolfe (Sonora, Calif.) who have read parts of the manuscript, worked on the language, and added much valuable advice; Mr. Edmondston has also read the proofs. T h e author has enjoyed cooperation of many kinds from his friends Dr. L. Ähnebrink (University of Uppsala) and Professor Robert E. Spiller (Department of American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania), his father-in-law, Dr. Halvdan Koht,

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Pujace

and his wife, dosent Ase Gruda Skard (both of the University of Oslo). T h e United States Information Service all over Europe has assisted the work in countless ways with the greatest readiness to serve; so have a number of Norwegian and United States Embassies. A particular debt is due to Dr. Norman Nordstrand and Mr. William Auman (the United States Embassy in Oslo). A grant from the Rockefeller Foundation (Dr. Edward F. D'Arms) made much of the travelling possible; the University of Oslo gave the author leave of absence on several occasions, and additional travel grants. T h e Salzburg Seminar in American Studies and its personnel (Dr. R. O. Mead) placed their resources at the service of the investigation. Lecture invitations from the Universities of Amsterdam, Arhus, Cologne, Groningen and Lund and from the SwissAmerican Society for Cultural Relations in four Swiss cities (Professor Max Silberschmidt, Zurich) facilitated the necessary research. So did the faithful hospitality of Paris friends, René Arditti and his late wife, Genevieve. T h e publication of the book was made possible by contributions from the Norwegian Ministry of Church and Education, from the University of Oslo (Fondation Universitas, Wedel Jarlsbergs Fond), and above all from the Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities (Norges Almenvitenskapelige Forskningsràd). In spite of this manifold support the author is only too aware of the shortcomings of his work. T h e book is a pioneering job and is weighed down by documentation. It tells the same story in many versions, and the gratitude of future scholars may not quite compensate for the tedium of living readers. In spite of its bulk the book is often sketchy; much desirable information could not be obtained in spite of serious effort. T h e exertions of many scholars will still be needed in order to create a full picture of the history of American Studies in Europe. T h e importance of these studies may, however, emerge even from this first attempt, — their proud traditions, and their close relation to the forces that have moulded the modern world. T h e author hopes that his work may further the growth of these studies, and in so doing serve that international cooperation to which the book by its origin is a living testimony. Oslo, August 1957.

s i g m u n d

s

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A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S Below are listed institutions and persons that have in some way or other contributed material to this book. Several of the informants may have been promoted, or have moved to other institutions, since their names were entered on the list. Attention is called to the fact, that the author has the sole responsibility for the opinions expressed in the text; some of his informants have strongly emphasized their disagreement. GENERAL RESEARCH

LIBRARIES

Biblioteca Nazionale; Library of the Ministero della Pubblica Tstruzione; and the H. Nelson Gay Memorial Library, Rome. Bibliothèque Nationale, and the Musée Pédagogique, Paris. T h e Bodleian Library, Oxford. T h e British Museum, London. Det kongelige Bibliotek, Copenhagen. Kungliga Biblioteket, Stockholm. Bibliothèque Royale, Brussels. Koninklijke Bibliotheek, T h e Hague. Niedersächsische Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, Göttingen. Schleswig-Holsteinische Landesbibliothek, Kiel. Institute for the Study of the History and Culture of the U. S. S. R., Munich. Westdeutsche Bibliothek, Marburg a. L. Stadt- und Hochschulbibliothek, Berne. Zentralbibliothek, Zürich. T h e University Libraries of Basle, Berlin (Freie Universität), Copenhagen, Freiburç- i. S., Geneva, Ghent, Heidelberg, Innsbruck, Kiel, Lausanne, Leipzig, Liège, London (University, University College, Institute of Slavonic Studies, Institute of Education), Lund, Marburg a. L., Munich, Münster, Naples, Neuchâtel, Newcastle, Oslo, Sorbonne, Tiibingen, Uppsala and Vienna. AUSTRIA Bundesministerium für Unterricht, Vienna. T h e Salzburg Seminar in American Studies (Messrs. G. W. Adams, H. P. Gleason, R. O. Mead), Salzburg. Graz. Universität: Professors K. Eder, H. Koziol, J . Mokre, K. Radakovic, F. Weinhandl; Dozent F. Stanzel; Dr. B. Kautsky. Technische Hochschule: the Rektor. Innsbruck. Universität: Geographisches Institut (H. Paschinger). Professors H. Bayer, K. Brunner, H. Kramer, R. Strohal; Dozent H. H. Kühnelt. Vienna. Universität: Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science. Philosophisches Institut (K. Wucherer). Seminar für englische und amerikanische Sprache und Literatur (Assistants P. Grande and Trude Jackson). Professors H. Benedikt, H. Bobek, L. von Hibler (+), R. Meister. Hochschule für Welthandel: the Rektor; Professor L. G. Scheidt. Technische Hochschule: the Rektor. BELGIUM Ministère de l'Instruction Publique. U. S. Educational Foundation (Mrs. D. M. Deflandre), Brussels. Belgian American Educational Foundation (Mr. E. Clark Stillman), New York. Brussels. Université Libre: Le Recteur. Professors A. Baiwir, Sylvain de Coster, Pierre Gourou, Jean Lameere, Suzanne Tassier (t); Dr. Françoise Dony. Ghent. Rijksuniversiteit: Professors R. L. M. Derolez and M. E. Dumont; Lecturer J.-A. Goris. Liège. Université: Le Doyen de la Faculté de Philosophie et de Lettres.

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Acknowledgments

Professors A. Clausse, R . Demoulin, Philippe Devaux, X. Janne d'Othée, P. Lambert, Mlle I. J . Simon, O. Tulippe; Visiting Professor W. Van O'Connor (Minnesota). Louvain. Université: Professors L. H. Dupriez, L. Genicot, J . F. Vanderheyden. DENMARK Arhus. Universitetet: Professors Torsten Dahl, J . Humlum and S. Möller Kristensen; Docent G. Albeck. Copenhagen. Universitetet: Filologisk Laboratorium (Dr. H. Andersen). Professors P. Bagge, C. A. Bodeisen, P. Christophersen (Oslo), Sven Henningsen, T h . H. Johnson (Lawrenceville), K. B. Murdock (Harvard), K. Schibsbye; Lektor E. Storgaard. FINLAND Helsinki (Helsingfors). Kauppakorkeakoulu: T h e Rector. Svenska Handelshögskolan: Professor L. Krusius-Ahrenberg. Universitetet: T h e Secretariat. Professors D. Aaron (Smith College), E. Anthoni, H. E. Pipping, O. R. Reuter. Turku (Abo). Akademi: Professor S. Lindman; Docent N. E. Enkvist. Svenska Handelshögskolan: T h e Secretary. Turun Vliopisto: T h e Secretary. FRANCE Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale (M. G. Berger, Directeur Général de l'Enseignement Supérieur; M. G. Roger, Inspecteur Général de l'Instruction Publique). Paris. T h e American Library in Paris (Dr. Ian Forbes Fraser, Director). Centre de Documentation Pédagogique, Paris. Comité France-Amérique. Commission Franco-Américaine d'Échanges Universitaires (Professor Ed. Morot-Sir; M. Morgan Swope). Collège l ibre des Sciences Sociales et Économiques, Paris. École des Hautes Études Sociales, Paris. École Supérieure de Commerce, Paris. Librairie Croville-Morant, Librairie Didier (M. Malblanc), Paris. T h e United States Embassy (Mr. L. S. Morris; Mr. G. T . Moody; the USIS Staff), Paris. M. Johs. Bygstad (Bibliothèque SainteGeneviève); M. S. J . Copans; Mme J. Delsaux (Bibliothèque de la Sorbonne); Professor G. Minllon (Lycée Henri IV), Paris. Aix-Marseilles. Université: Professor M. Clavel. Alger. Université: the Recteur. Professors A. Breton, M. Emerit; Maîtres de conférences J.-J. Denonain. R. Ellrodt. Besançon. Université: Professor F.. Préclin Chargée de conférences Mlle S. Prieur. Bordeaux. Université: Professors I. G. I.oiseau. L. Papv Caen Université the Recteur. Professors A. Journaux, M. Reinhard; Assistante Mlle M. Parent. Clermont-Ferrand. Université: the Recteur. Professors L. Gachon, P. Janelle. Dijon. Université: the Recteur: the Faculté des Lettres. Professors y . Chardonnet, P. Hugueney F L'Huillier; Lecturer M. Jorré; Assistant M. Gonnaud. Grenoble. Université: Professors P. Baratier, J. Jalabert. A. Jobert, R. Mossé, A. Tune, P. Veyret; Assistant J. Guiguet. I.'lle. Université: Les Doyens G. Debeyre, L. [acob: Professors C. Arnavon, P. Pinchemel. Lyon. Université: the Recteur. Professors R. M. Asselineau, A. Gibert, J. Lambert, P. Legouis, M. Le Lannou, L. Villard. Montpellier. Université: Professors E. Becqué, R. Martin. Nancy. Université: the Recteur: the Faculté des Lettres. Professors J . Bourdon, P. Gaudemet, R. Goetz. A. Guilcher, P. Voirin. Paris. Collège de France: Professors M. Giraud and A. Siegfried. École d'Agriculture Tropicale: Professor R. Dumont. Université: Professors R. Besnier, P. Birot, Ch. Cestre, G. Chabot, J . Chapsal (Directeur, Institut d'Études Politiques), René David, A. J . Farmer, L. Landré, M. Le Breton, J. Perret, A. Plassart, P. Renouvin, I. Simon. Poitiers. Université: Professors J . Descroix, F. Léaud, J . Robert, J . Weiller. Rennes. Université: the Recteur. Professors P. Bouzat, H. Contamine, A. Meynier; Assistant J. Soulas. Strasbourg. Université: the Recteur. Professors F. Ponteil, R. Pruvost, M. Simon. Toulouse. Université: Professors F. Carrère, J . Godechot, J . Maury. T H E GERMAN DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC

Bundesamt für gesamtdeutsche Fragen, Bonn and Berlin. Deutsches Pädagogisches Zentralinstitut. Berlin. Verband deutscher Studentenschaften (D. Spangenberg). Berlin. Verlag Volk und Wissen, Berlin. Many of the individuals and institutions mentioned below under the German Federal Republic.

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Acknowledgements T H E GERMAN FEDERAL

REPUBLIC

Auswärtiges Amt, Bonn. Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister (Präsident, Dr. E. Löffler, Stuttgart; Oberregierungsrat Dr. W. Seitzer, Bonn). T h e Kultusministerien in Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Hessen, Niedersachsen, Nordrhem-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Schleswig-Holstein, Württemberg-Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern; Senator für Volksbildung, and Wissenschaftliches Landesprüfungsamt, oerlin; Senator für Schulen und Erziehung, Bremen; Schulbehörde der Hansestadt Hamburg. Office of the U. S. High Commissioner for Germany (Miss M. E. English, Professor J . J . Oppenheimer, Mr. George A. Selke, Dr. Fr. H. Tenbruck), Bonn. Hochschule für Internationale Pädagogische Forschung (Professor E. Hylla), Frankfurt. Landesinstitut für Neue Sprachen (Oberschulrat, Dr. A. Bohlen), Münster/W. Pädagogische Arbeitsstelle (Oberschulrat F. Hilker). Wiesbaden. Dr. Ahting (Oldenburg); Dr. Erich Dieterich (Hannover-Munden); Professors H. Frenz (Indiana), Harold Jantz (Johns Hopkins), E. Meynen (Bundesansialt für Landeskunde, Remagen); Dr. R. Mönnig, Stuttgart; Professor M. Roth, Karlsruhe; Dr. H. Schottelius, Hamburg. Aachen. Technische Hochschule: T h e Rektor. Bamberg. Phil.-theol. Hochschule: T h e Rektor. Berlin. Deutsche Hochschule für Politik: T h e Aussenkommission. Freie Universität: Amerika-Institut (Dr. A. Weber). Professors E. W. Barnes, W. G. Becker, E. Fels, E. Fraenkel, H. Herzfeld, W. Hübner, J . O. McCormick, E. Otto, R. Sühnel, W . Wengler. Technische Universität: Professor D. Blackett; Dr. Fr. Geisler. Bonn. Universität: Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science. Professors Fr. Bartz, E. Feldmann, W. Richter, W. F. Schirmer. Braunschweig. Technische Hochschule: T h e Rektor. Cologne. Universität: Amerika-Institut. Seminar für Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte (Dr. F. G. Stahl). Professors L. Beutin, H. Brüning, D. Gerhard, H. Guradze, G. Kegel. R. König. T h . Kraus, W. Kraus (Washington D. C.). H. Paoajewski, T h . Schieder; Privatdozent E. Weigt; Dr. P. G. Buchloh. Erlangen. Universität: T h e Rektor. Amerikanisches Institut (Dr. D. Oberndörfer). Professors Ed. Brenner, A. Ernstberger. H. Helfritz, E. Lichtenstein, G. Weippert; Dr. ). Bliithgen. Frankfurt. Universität: the Rektor. Amerika-Institut (Dr. F. H. Link). Professor T h . Spira; Lektor F. Meinecke. Freiburg i. B. Universität: Professors Ed. Baumgarten. A. Bcr