Writer Louis Schneider (1805-1878): Letter Potsdam 1874 & Undat. Letter

You are bidding on one handwritten, signed letter of Actor, playwright, military writer, publicist and royal Prussian reader Louis Schneider (1805-1878).

DatedPotsdam, the 25th October 1874.

With letterhead dated “Association for the History of Berlin”, which he founded in 1865 and of which he was chairman from 1868 to 1878.

Enclosedsmall undated letter from Louis Schneider.

Aimed at an unnamed gentleman, that is the 1st. Secretary of the association, co-founder and municipal secretary Ferdinand Meyer (1826-1902). In 1892 his work “The Berlin Zoo from the Most Ancient Times to the Present” was published.

Excerpts:"Dear sir! I am attaching the version of yesterday's resolutions regarding the 'Iron Fund', which I would like to include in the minutes so that we can present them for written approval at the next meeting. I would be very grateful if you would be kind enough to let me know your concept of your minutes before the final copy on the next Saturday. [...] Most respectfully and devotedly, yours, L. Schneider."

Scope: one of four pages described (28.5 x 22.5 cm).

The small, undated letter enclosed (13.8 x 11 cm) also with a written page.

Transcription: “Business. I am attaching what I have just received from our member Grieben and I hope that it does not come too late. God give you comfort! Your L. Schneider."

Each without an envelope.

Condition: Thin Paper slightly browned, slightly stained and wrinkled; with small holes in dhe centerfold.Please also note the pictures!

Internal note: Antikf 24-01 in Schneider autograph autograph

About Louis Schneider and the Association for the History of Berlin (Source: wikipedia):

Louis Schneider (actually Ludwig Wilhelm Schneider; pseudonym. Sir John Retcliff, Louis Both, Ludwig Both, LW Both; *29. April 1805 in Berlin; † 16. December 1878 in Potsdam) was an actor, playwright, military writer, publicist and reader to two Prussian kings. He is known as a member of the Tunnel over the Spree and a supporter of young talents in this literary Sunday association as well as a co-founder of historical associations. He made a name for himself in military studies with his military writings, especially the publication of Soldier's Friend.

Life: Louis Schneider was born as the son of the Royal Prussian Kapellmeister Georg Abraham Schneider (1770–1839) and the singer Caroline Schneider-Portmann (1774–1850). His sister was the singer Maschinka Schneider (1815–1882). He began appearing in children's roles at the age of eight. Of great versatility as an actor and singer, he fell to King Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1823. of Prussia through his theater plays, but even more so through his military writings. As an actor, he also wrote many plays.

In 1830, Schneider wrote a set of instructions for the Landwehrmann, which had a circulation of 84,000 copies. In May 1832, the Soldier's Friend, a reading book for the Prussian infantryman, was also very successful, with a circulation of 211,000 copies, for the soldiers of the standing army.

In 1832 he married the actress Ida Buggenhagen (* 1810).

The magazine The Soldier's Friend. Journal for Comprehensive Instruction and Entertainment of the Prussian Soldier was published from July 1833 to July 1914 and was probably one of the most important, if not the most important, military magazine in German-speaking countries. It is of inestimable value for military historians and military scientists because it accompanied the development of the Prussian army over 80 years. Schneider was the publisher and editor until the end of his life.

The special feature of the soldier's friend was that it was intended for non-commissioned officers and soldiers. There were already a number of newspapers and magazines for officers, but one for the “common man” was a novelty in Prussia. A weekly magazine until 1848, it was published monthly thereafter. The model was the Journal de l'Armée in Paris, which had also been published since 1833.

In 1848 he became director of the Royal Theater in Berlin. In the revolutionary year of 1848, he was very committed to the return of the Prince of Prussia (later Wilhelm I) from exile and gave him a mouthpiece, particularly with the military newspaper. The Prince of Prussia wrote many of the articles in this newspaper anonymously himself.

The year 1848 brought a turning point in Schneider's life. His royal loyalty and conservative sentiments led him to cause a stage scandal. During the performance of his piece Der Kurmärker und die Picarde, he had to sing the well-known song O Tannenbaum, whose verses: “Fidelity and constancy, you should keep them at all times” he performed to the audience with a challenging gesture. The democratically minded audience responded with hissing, whistling and thumping, and when Schneider repeated the verses again in the same way, such a huge theatrical scandal broke out that he was forced to take his leave from the stage.

Frederick William IV had Schneider summoned to him and rewarded him by appointing him “reader” and giving him the title of court councilor. In his new position, Schneider represented the cheerful element in art and literature at court. He made the Berlin joke, which the king himself always enjoyed, more or less acceptable. Under siege, he saved the threatened existence of the Kladderadatsch and protected the then editor David Kalisch from expulsion. He also discreetly used his influence to benefit his former colleagues and literary friends, especially the members of the Tunnel over the Spree. The poet Ernst Scherenberg was given a pension mainly because of its use. He also maintained a caring spirit towards his former fellow actors. He founded the first pension scheme for German stage workers. He also founded the Association for the History of Berlin (1865) and Potsdam (1862), after he had already demonstrated his thorough knowledge in this area through several historical works. He was chairman of the Association for the History of Berlin from 1868 to 1878 and had a significant influence on its founding years.

His great skill, his talent for languages, his personal kindness and his reliability and discretion earned him the king's trust. Schneider became a constant companion of Friedrich Wilhelm IV. on his travels. The Russian Tsar placed particular trust in him, and Schneider always had to appear before him when he visited Berlin. He was very familiar with Allen Russian affairs and had written reports from St. Petersburg for the Kreuzzeitung.

In the Schleswig-Holstein campaign he became the first Prussian war correspondent, as newspaper editors were previously unknown in the troops.

After the death of Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Schneider could no longer remain in his previous position. He was entrusted with overseeing the royal private library and promoted to Privy Councilor. In this capacity he accompanied the king as secretary and official reporter for the State Gazette during the Austrian campaign. He also took part in the war against France in 1870/71, accompanying the king; In his memoirs he writes, among other things, about how, as a Freemason, he was involved in preparing the establishment of a field lodge in Versailles.

In the service of Wilhelm I, he also took on functions as his press spokesman and smaller diplomatic missions. As an arch-conservative, legitimist admirer of the Prussian monarchy and the autocratic tsar, he was soon the subject of ridicule in the Tunnel over the Spree poets' association. But Theodor Fontane praises in detail his achievements as a supporter of young talent in his memoirs.

After his return from France, Schneider lived in Potsdam, where he wrote fundamental works on religious studies. There is a plaque in his memory at the Palais Ritz there.

Schneider created a unique collection of images relating to theater history, which later formed the basis of the Museum of the Prussian State Theater.

Fonts (selection)

Instructions for the Landwehrmann. 1830.

The art of putting on make-up. Physiography for the theater. Berlin 1831. On-line

Soldier's friend, a reading book for the Prussian infantryman. Heyn, Berlin 1832.

The soldier's friend military magazine. 1833–1914.

Wehr newspaper. Military magazine.

Bellona. Novellas, stories, reports and descriptions from warrior life. 2 volumes. Hayn, Berlin 1837.

The evil eye or: The Queisse in the years 1538, 1638, 1738 and 1838. Historical novel in four sections. Berlin 1838–1844.

Actor novellas. 2 volumes. Berlin 1839.

Johann Carl von Eckenberg, the strong man. A study of Berlin's theater history. 1848.

History of the opera and the royal opera house in Berlin. 1852

The book of the Red Eagle Order. 2 volumes. Berlin 1857

King William. Military biography. 1866.

A Royal Service Buckle, 1868

Instruction book for the infantryman. 1869.

Pictures from Berlin's nights! 2. edition. 1870;

Instruction book for the cavalryman. 1872.

The war memorial coin for the 1870 - 71 campaign. 1872

The war of the Triple Alliance (Empire of Brazil, Argentine Confederation and Republic of Banda Oriental del Uruguay) against the government of the Republic of Paraguay. 3 volumes. Berlin (Behr) 1872–1875.

Out of my life. 3 volumes. 1879–1880.

Serial works

The Prussian orders, decorations and awards: historical, pictorial, statistical

Volume 1: The book of the Rothen Adler-Orden, AW Hayn, Berlin 1857.

Volume 3: The Düppel Storm Cross, AW Hayn, Berlin 1867

Volume 4: The Louisen Order. Hayn, Berlin 1867

The memorial cross for the campaign of 1866, AW Hayn Erben, Berlin 1867

The medal for rescue from danger, AW Hayn, Berlin 1867

The military badge of honor, AW Hayn, Berlin 1868

House Order of Hohenzollern. Duker, Berlin 1869

The Princely House Order of Hohenzollern, which was included among the royal Prussian orders. Duncker, Berlin 1869

The Book of the Black Eagle Order. Duncker, Berlin 1870

The Royal Crown Order. Duncker, Berlin 1871

The Book of the Iron Cross. Duncker, Berlin 1872

Volume 13: The Cross of Merit for Women and Virgins. Duncker, Berlin 1872

Stage repertoire [sic] from abroad: France, England, Italy, Spain. 37 volumes, AW Hayn, Berlin 1830 ff.

The Association for the History of Berlin eV, founded. 1865, is the oldest historical association in Berlin. The association often acted as a significant source of inspiration in the institutionalization and professionalization of Berlin's historiography and preservation. From its founding phase to the end of the Empire, its list of members reads like the “Who's Who” of Berlin's propertied and educated middle classes; today it is a cross-section of Berlin's population. To this day, the association is one of the largest cultural organizations in Berlin with over 700 members. It also acts as the regional association of the Federal Homeland and Environment Association in Germany.

Organization and activities

Goals: According to the statutes (§2), the association has a very broad goal:

“The association wants to arouse interest in the historical development of Berlin in Allen circles of the Berlin population and expand and deepen knowledge of Berlin's history by promoting local history research.

Board of Directors: The Executive Board consists of the Chairman, the first and second vice-chairmen, the secretary, the deputy secretary, the treasurer and the deputy treasurer. The overall board consists of the executive board and up to nine assessors. All board members are elected by the general meeting for a period of two years.

Chairman: The chairman has a key role, as he represents the association “together with another member of the executive board in and out of court”. Since its founding, the association has had 17 chairmen:

1865–1867: Karl Theodor Seydel (1812–1873), Mayor of Berlin 1862–1872

Karl Seydel was appointed honorary chairman in 1869.

1868–1878: Louis Schneider (1805–1878), actor and writer

1879–1883: Karl Sachse (1810–1891), senior postal director

1884–1891: Ernst Friedel (1837–1918), lawyer, local politician and founder of the Märkisches Museum and the Brandenburgia History Association

1892–1898: Bruno Reuter (1834–1898), secret state archivist

1899–1916: Richard Béringuier (1854–1916), lawyer, judge and co-initiator of the German Huguenot Society

1916–1919: Georg Voß (1854–1932), private lecturer at the Technical University of Berlin and curator of Thuringia's art monuments

1919–1920: Adolf Zeller (1871–1946), architect and university professor at the Technical University of Berlin

1921–1930: Louis Noël (1855–1933), colonel

1930–1945: Hermann Kügler (1889–1955), teacher and writer

1949–1964: Kurt Landsberg (1892–1964), senior director of studies, university professor, state politician and President of the Berlin House of Representatives from 1957 to 1958

1961–1967: Bruno Harms (1890–1967), doctor and hygienist

1967–1978: Walter Hoffmann-Axthelm (1908–2001), doctor and medical historian

1978–1985: Gerhard Kutzsch (1914–2000), director of the Berlin State Archives from 1965 to 1979

1985–1999: Hermann Oxfort (1928–2003), lawyer, notary and justice senator and mayor of Berlin

1999–2005: Klaus Finkelnburg (* 1935), lawyer, notary and 1. President of the Berlin Constitutional Court

since 2005: Manfred Uhlitz (* 1956), art historian and operator of the Glockenturm exhibition and visitor center in the Olympiapark Berlin

Story

Founding (1865): Berlin grew in the second half of the 19th century. Century, driven by industrialization and the increasing importance as a capital, grew enormously, so that the population tripled from 1848 to 1865. In accordance with the increased space and validity requirements, historical building structures were gradually demolished for new buildings. The plan to demolish the medieval court arbor in particular was met with strong protests. The Jewish doctor Julius Beer and the city secretary Ferdinand Meyer took this as an opportunity and published a call to found a historical association in various newspapers in January 1865. On the 28th. In January 1865, the Association for the History of Berlin was formed in the Café Royal (Unter den Linden 33, corner of Charlottenstrasse) under the leadership of Mayor Karl Theodor Seydel, who was also elected founding chairman. Among the 28 founding members were, among others, the former mayor. D. Heinrich Wilhelm Krausnick, city archivist Ernst Fidicin, architecture professor Friedrich Adler and the founder of the Berlin professional fire department Adolf Gerstenberg.

Research and expansion (1865–1914):When it was founded, the association formed two commissions to prepare a Berlin archive/library and a Berlin museum. The latter resulted in an official letter to the magistrate with the request to found a city history museum, which was implemented in 1874 in the form of the Märkisches Provinzialmuseum. The founding director of the museum, Ernst Friedel, was a member of the association, as were several personalities on the museum's scientific advisory board. The VfdGB handed over its collections to the museum as a deposit. From 1875 onwards, the magistrate gave the association long-term premises in the German Cathedral, which earned the members the contemporary title of “Domherren”.

During the Empire, the number of members of the VfdGB grew significantly and reached the previous highest number of 1,052 people at the end of 1914. This “hype” was caused not least by an official protectorate of the two German emperors Friedrich III. and William II. from 1886. William II took on the 22nd In January 1908 and 1911 he even personally attended lectures with his wife Auguste Viktoria, whereupon the association had a commemorative medal minted. The protection included an annual financial subsidy, support for the association through donations and benefits, and recognition as a legal entity since 1877. As a result of this gain in prestige, other high-ranking Prussian military and civil servants joined the club.

From the beginning, the association and its members dedicated themselves to the scientific analysis of the city's history. The first public event took place in 1865 in the lecture hall of Berlin's oldest school (Berlinisches Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster). The first issue of the “Writings of the Association for the History of Berlin” appeared in the same year. By 1914, the VfdGB published 49 more issues. In 1885 the association presented the first publication on Berlin street names and, at its instigation, the magistrate created a list of monuments for the first time in 1886. At the same time, the scientific competence of individual officials was discussed internally, which led to numerous resignations around 1890. As a result, the Brandenburgia historical association “Society for the Local History of the Province of Brandenburg” (1891) and the Association for the History of the Suburbs of Berlin (1892) were founded. As early as 1884, club members founded the forerunner of today's State History Association for the Mark Brandenburg eV.

In 1872 the association honored its spiritus rector, the city archivist Ernst Fidicin, with a gold medal, which he received personally from the emperor on December 15th. June in Potsdam. Further copies of this silver and bronze coin, now known as the “Fidicin Medal”, were available for purchase until 1882, after which it was only awarded in silver.

In 1884, the VfdGB underpinned its social aspirations and became the managing association of the general association of German history and antiquity associations. He remained editor of the association's publication until 1899.

In 1891, Charlotte von Oven bequeathed 30,000 marks to the association to support Berlin theater members.

The association was responsible for the “Old Berlin” area at the Berlin trade exhibition in 1896. In 1902 the association published its Berlin calendar for the first time.

Well-known members (excerpt)

Heinrich Albertz (1915–1993), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Ella Barowsky (1912–2007), politician

Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg (1856–1921), Reich Chancellor

Gustav Böß (1873–1946), Mayor of Berlin

Conrad von Borsig (1873–1945) and Ernst von Borsig (1869–1933), manufacturers

Willy Brandt (1913–1992), Federal Chancellor, Governing Mayor of Berlin

Eberhard Diepgen (born 1941), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Alfred Döblin (1878–1957), writer

Johann Gustav Droysen (1808–1884), historian

Ernst Fidicin (1802–1883), city archivist

Theodor Fontane (1819–1898), writer

Ernst Friedel (1837–1918), city councilor, founder of the Märkisches Museum

Adolf von Harnack (1851–1930), theologian

Arthur Hobrecht (1824–1912), Mayor of Berlin

Martin Kirschner (1842–1912), Mayor of Berlin

Heinrich Wilhelm Krausnick (1797–1882), Mayor of Berlin

Friedrich Meinecke (1862–1954), historian

Adolph von Menzel (1815–1905), painter

Walter Momper (born 1945), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Carl of Prussia (1801–1883), brother of Emperor Wilhelm I.

Louis Ferdinand of Prussia (1907–1994), head of the House of Hohenzollern

Emil Rathenau (1838–1915), entrepreneur

Edwin Redslob (1884–1973), art historian and president of the Free University

Ernst Reuter (1889–1953), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Louise Schroeder (1887–1957), mayor of Berlin

Klaus Schütz (1926–2012), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Friedrich Albert Schwartz (1836–1906), photographer

Karl Theodor Seydel (1812–1873), Mayor of Berlin

Axel Springer (1912–1985), publisher

Dietrich Stobbe (1938–2011), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Adolf Streckfuß (1823–1895), writer

Otto Suhr (1894–1957), Governing Mayor of Berlin

Louis-Ferdinand Ullstein (1863–1933) and Rudolf Ullstein (1874–1964), publishers

Hans Wall (1942–2019), entrepreneur and art patron

Richard von Weizsäcker (1920–2015), Federal President, Governing Mayor of Berlin

Adolf Wermuth (1855–1927), Mayor of Berlin

Robert Zelle (1829–1901), Mayor of Berlin

Honorary members (excerpt)

Heinrich von Achenbach (from 1885), Minister of State and President of the Province of Brandenburg

Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg (from 1902), Prussian Interior Minister, Reich Chancellor

Gustav Böß (from 1925), Mayor of Berlin from 1921 to 1930

Willy Brandt (from 1965), Governing Mayor, Federal Chancellor from 1969 to 1974, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1971

Johann von Dallwitz (from 1910), Prussian Minister of the Interior from 1910 to 1914, Imperial Governor in Alsace-Lorraine from 1914 to 1918

Eberhard Diepgen (since 2014), Governing Mayor of Berlin from 1984 to 1989 and from 1991 to 2001

Theodor Fontane (from 1890), writer

Max von Forckenbeck (from 1884), Governing Mayor of Berlin from 1878 to 1892

Friedrich Wilhelm von Loebell (from 1914), Prussian Minister of the Interior from 1914 to 1917, President of Brandenburg

Friedrich von Moltke (from 1908), Prussian Minister of the Interior from 1907 to 1910, member of the Prussian House of Lords

Walter Momper (since 2014), Governing Mayor of Berlin from 1989 to 1991, President of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2011

Hermann Oxfort (from 2003), Senator for Justice from 1975 to 1976 and 1983 to 1985, Mayor of Berlin, chairman of the association from 1985 to 1999

August Wilhelm Prince of Prussia (from 1912), member of the Prussian state parliament

Edwin Redslob (from 1965), Reich Art Director until 1933, Rector of the Free University of Berlin

Heinrich Karl Ludolf von Sybel (from 1887), director of the state archives, member of the Academy of Sciences

Richard Karl Freiherr von Weizsäcker (from 1984), Governing Mayor from 1981 to 1984, Federal President from 1984 to 1994, honorary citizen of Berlin since 1990

Adolf Wermuth (from 1912), mayor of Berlin from 1912 to 1920, member of the Prussian mansion

Robert Zelle (from 1893), mayor of Berlin from 1892 to 1898