Skip to main content

George Frederick Gundelfinger papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 693

Scope and Contents

The papers of George Frederick Gundelfinger contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, publications of The New Fraternity, and other books, pamphlets, and unpublished writings by Gundelfinger. The transcripts of his trial are also included, as are diplomas, sheet music for compositions by Gundelfinger, paintings by him, photographs, printing plates and layouts for publications, and writings by others, mostly on mathematics. The papers are completely unprocessed and disorganized, and contain numerous duplicates of many of the publications. There is also an addition which contains an edited diary describing a family tour of Europe in 1908.

The following pages contain a box list of the collection and a more detailed list of printed items in the papers; this list is not comprehensive.

These papers were donated to Yale University in 1973 by George Frederick Gundelfinger. Further correspondence and other papers can be found in the Yale Archives, RU 50.

Dates

  • 1891-1969

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of George Gundelfinger, 1973. Transfer from Hall of Graduate Studies, 2004. Gift of Elizabeth Gundelfinger, 2016.

Extent

16.92 Linear Feet (13 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.0693

Abstract

The papers consist of correspondence, publications of The New Fraternity, and other books, pamphlets, and unpublished writings of George Frederick Gundelfinger who made a lifetime crusade of sending his publications and moral admonitions to Yale University. Yale's suit against him in 1939 for sending obscenity through the mail is documented by trial transcripts. Also in the papers are photographs, newspaper clippings, printed matter, and books on mathematics. There is also an edited diary describing a family tour of Europe in 1908.

Biographical / Historical

George Frederick Gundelfinger, a teacher of mathematics and a writer, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1884. He earned a B.S. from Sheffield Scientific School, Yale University in 1906 and a Ph.D. in math in 1909. He taught math at Yale from 1909 to 1913, and he also taught at the University of Pittsburgh and at Carnegie Institute of Technology. He wrote and printed the Interquadrangular, an independent Yale paper, and founded the brotherhood, "The New Fraternity." Upon retiring from teaching, Gundelfinger began a lifetime of moral crusading by sending his publications and admonitions to the students of Yale University.

Title
Guide to the George Frederick Gundelfinger Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Staff of Manuscripts and Archives
Date
December 1982
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours