Guide to the Erwin Raisz file, 1914-1988

(bulk 1962-1968)


Special Collections, James P. Adams Library.
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu

Published in 2024

Collection Overview

Title: Erwin Raisz file
Date range: 1914-1988, (bulk 1962-1968)
Creator: Stern, Roxanne S.
Extent: 0.21 cubic feet
Abstract: Information regarding the life and accomplishments of cartographer, professor, and geologist, Erwin Raisz.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Special Collections, James P. Adams Library.
Collection number: MSS-0141

Scope & content

The collection contains several documents and maps from the professional and personal life of Erwin Raisz. These materials were collected or sent to Roxanne and Franklin Stern. Included are: maps depicting the outline of continents according to the projection of Raisz, yearly letters from Raisz and his wife to family and friends, abstracts of papers from Raisz’s time at Harvard, pages from Raisz’s textbooks, an advertisement of Raisz’s maps with prices, and a text of Raisz’s life. The collection also includes business cards for Marika Raisz’s antiques store in Boston, annual holiday letters from the Raisz family, a letter to Franklin Stern from Pat Gilman asking Stern to write about Raisz, and an obituary for Raisz.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Topics Geographical Names Occupations Document Types

Arrangement

Arranged in the order in which it arrived in Special Collections.

Biographical/Historical Note

Erwin Raisz was born in Slovakia, March of 1893. Raisz attended Columbia University and taught at Harvard University. Raisz was a cartographer, geographer, and professor. He died in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1968.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: The collection is open for research.
Use of the materials: Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Alternate form: The collection has not been digitized and is not available online.
Preferred citation: Erwin Raisz file, MSS-0141, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
Contact information: Special Collections, James P. Adams Library.
Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Ave
Providence, RI, 02908
Tel: 401-456-8380
email:digitalcommons@ric.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The collection was accumulated by Franklin R. Stern (former Rhode Island College professor) and donated to Special Collections by Franklin Stern's wife, Roxanne Stern, in 2007 after Ranklin's death.
Processing information: The collection was described by Special Collections intern Hailey-Rose Coulter Brown in 2024 under the supervision of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica L. Denison. 
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by Hailey-Rose Coulter Brown.
Encoding: This finding aid was encoded by Veronica L. Denison, 2024.
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Location/Existence of copies: The collection has not been digitized and is not available online.

Inventory

Folder 1 Yearly letters from Raisz and his wife to family and friends, Raisz obituary, advertisements of Raisz’s maps, business cards for Marika Raisz antique store, a letter from Franklin Stern, clippings from Raisz textbooks, General Cartography by Erwin Raisz, newspaper clippings of Marika and Erwin, articles on Raisz accomplishments, life, and career.
 1914-1988
Oversize Folder 1 Maps: United States, Virginia, Utah, Tennessee, Wellesley College, England, California, Europe, North Africa, Central America, Africa, Germany.
 1939-1968