Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson Papers

The Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson Papers consist of correspondence, articles, speeches, and topical files, which document the professional career of Sergius Ossipovich Yakobson. The papers highlight his work as chief of the Slavic and Central European Division of the Library of Congress and specialist in Russian affairs. Yakobson's writings on the history of Russia and the evolution of the Soviet state comprise over half the papers.

The papers, which were transferred to the Manuscripts and Archives Department in 1985 from the Sterling Memorial Library Slavic and East European Collection, are arranged in three series: I. CORRESPONDENCE, 1920-1973; II. SUBJECT FILES, 1910-1979; and III. WRITINGS, 1943-1968.

The bulk of the material dates from 1940 to 1969 and is in English. There are some writings and other documents also in Russian and German.

Series I contains Yakobson's correspondence with friends, and other Russian scholars. Correspondence with George Vernadsky and Dimitri Fedotoff White dates from Yakobson's first years in the United States. Exchanges with Harold Lasswell concern Yakobson's article, "May Day Slogans in Soviet Russia," in Language of Politics.

Series II, SUBJECT FILES, contains numerous descriptive lists and bibliographies relating to Russian collections. Materials filed under "Library of Congress" relate to the Slavic Collection which Yakobson helped develop at the Library of Congress. The series also includes personal memorabilia of Yakobson and writings, photographs, and documents of other family members.

Series III, WRITINGS, is composed of drafts, notes, background material, and printed copies for Yakobson's articles, speeches, and lectures. The writings reflect Yakobson's interests in Russian history, politics, and government, particularly Russian nationalism, the evolution of the Soviet state, and the Jewish population. Files for Yakobson's studies of May Day slogans (folders 34-35), his article "Russia and Africa" (folders 54-58), and his paper "Unpublished Letters of I. Turgenev" (folders 77-79) are particularly voluminous. Lectures (folders 44-47) and speeches (folders 69-74) are arranged in chronological order.