Fonds EC - Papers of Edward Conze

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 EC

Title

Papers of Edward Conze

Date(s)

  • 1939 - 1979 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 archival folder

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Edward Conze, was born Eberhard Julius Dietrich Conze, in London in 1904 while he father was a German Vice Consul. He studied in Tübingen, Heidelberg, Kiel, Cologne and Hamburg. In 1928 he published his dissertation, "Der Begriff der Metaphysik bei Franciscu Suarez", and was awarded a doctorate in philosophy from Cologne University. He continued post-graduate research in Germany but being a member of the Communist Party he fled to England when the Nazis came to power in 1933.
He continued to lecture on philosophy and psychology but also became interested in Buddhism. In the 1940s he moved to Oxford where he began to work on Sanskrit texts from the Prajñāpāramitā tradition and continued to work on Buddhist texts for the rest of his life.
In 1979, Conze self-published two volumes of memoirs entitled Memoirs of a Modern Gnostic. Conze produced a third volume which contained material considered to be too inflammatory or libellous to be published while the subjects were alive. No copy of the third volume is known to exist.

Archival history

These papers were acquired by Vera Calvert (neé Baker). Some show evidence of having been given by Conze to Calvert. These remained in the family's possession until 2020.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were donated by Barbara Simmonds, step-daughter of Vera Calvert in April 2020.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Handwritten, typed and printed manuscripts of work by Edward Conze which were given to his friend Vera Calvert (neé Baker). They include early philosophical work, translations and explanations of Buddhist work and teaching curricula.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • English
  • Sanskrit

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    The Library Collections hold several books and pamphlets by Conze. Details can be found in our Library catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

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    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-ec

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        The material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2020.

        Accession area