Scope and Content Note
The papers of Theodor Reik (1888-1969) span the years 1905-1994, with the bulk of the material dating from 1939 to 1969. The collection documents Reik's contributions to psychoanalytic theory and practice as a lay analyst and researcher, and as one of Sigmund Freud's first students. The papers date largely after Reik's immigration to the United States in 1938, but also include material from his earlier years in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands. Much of the collection focuses on Reik's prolific writing for both professional and popular audiences. Many of these works explore the psychological differences between men and women and were published as gender relations were being transformed in the postwar years. Included are partial drafts of many of Reik's books, reprints and copies of his published articles, notes, and research files, as well as correspondence, publishing contracts, royalty statements, certificates, interviews, photographs, and news clippings. The collection is in English and German, with English predominating after 1938. It is arranged in four series: Personal and Family Papers, Gustav Mahler, Writings File, and Oversize.
The Personal and Family Papers series contains material from Reik's personal files as well as those of his son Arthur Reik who served as his father's literary agent and later as the literary executor for his estate. The series represents a small portion of what must have once comprised Reik's personal files, but nevertheless provides insights into his career and the reception of his work, particularly in the United States. Highlights of the series include correspondence from colleagues, publishers, and readers of Reik's books; royalty statements; book reviews and publicity materials about his books; oral history interview transcripts; and newspaper articles about him. Also included are certificates, 1908-1912, from Reik's studies at the University of Vienna.
The Gustav Mahler series is the most intact portion of the collection and consists of Reik's research and writings on the composer's life and work. Included are concert programs, journal articles, booklets, and news clippings about Mahler and performances of his works, some dating from the 1920s and 1930s, as well as Reik's research notes and drafts of his writings. Among these writings are an article on Sigmund Freud's analysis of the composer and a file of handwritten draft manuscripts in German that eventually became The Haunting Melody: Psychoanalytic Experiences in Life and Music (1953), Reik's book on Mahler that explores the nature of musical associations.
The Writings File is the largest series in the collection and includes drafts of some of Reik's books, articles, introductions, and speeches; printed copies of his journal, newspaper, and magazine articles; three notebooks; and a large volume of notes. Reik wrote in English and German, switching largely to English after 1938. Copies of Reik's published articles and commentary span his publishing career from 1911 to 1968. The series' book files, however, date largely after his immigration to the United States and focus in particular on his writings on Judaism and gender relations. The surviving book drafts and notes suggest several ways Reik emulated his mentor Sigmund Freud's approach to writing. Reik, like Freud, preferred to compose on large sheets of paper. Many of Reik's writings, therefore, are stored in the Oversize series. Also like Freud, Reik showed an apparent disregard for his drafts and notes after a work was published. Reik's writing files arrived at the Library minimally organized and described and in poor physical condition. Yet most of the bundles of otherwise unidentified drafts and notes seemed to have distinct focuses, making it possible to associate them with specific writing projects. Even so, many of the books in the collection are only partially documented, at times with no more than several pages or a single chapter. Exceptions are Reik's books Jewish Wit and Pagan Rites in Judaism which have more complete drafts and The Many Faces of Sex, The Need to Be Loved, and Part IV in Of Love and Lust on the emotional differences of men and women. Files for these latter three books consist of randomly organized notes and partial drafts rather than complete manuscripts. The large volume of notes stored in the book files and in separately organized note files capture the unfolding of Reik's thought process. According to Reik, he would record his thoughts, insights, and observations in note form, often in the evenings after a full day of seeing patients. The first drafts of his books grew out of these notes. Also included in the series are writings by others. Some of these article-length works explore Reik's contributions to psychoanalysis. Also included are writings by two women who, at one time, may have been Reik's analysands.