Karpe, Marietta and Dr. Richard, 1898 - 1988

File — Folder: 3

Oral History

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This interview discusses Marietta's childhood growing up in Pilzen, Czechoslovakia including her experience as a her education, being Jewish, and her involvement in the Jewish Youth movement Techelet Yava, later joining Jewish Youth Movement at University of Prague where she met her husband Richard, who was 14 years her elder, and they married the following year when she was 19. Both got involved in the study of psychoanalysis, which they continued through their life.

Also discussed is their flight from Europe and immigration to America as a result of Hitler's rise to power, which they didn't realize was so serious at the time. All of her family who remained perished, Marietta and Richard got out because a distant relative could sponsor them. They moved to Boston and other areas in Massachusetts (Marietta graduated with a masters in Social Work from Smith College late 1930s-pre 1941). Moved to Hartford in 1941.

Worked at Sheldon Guidance Clinic in New Britain, in retirement, worked with "Brighter Horizons" working with visually handicapped adults.

Researched origins of James Barrie and Peter Pan, particularly in regards to Psychoanalysis.

Talked about her children and grandchildren, some of whom live on a kibbutz in Israel near Lebanon boarder, was there during the 1982 Lebanon War.

Scope and Contents

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This file mainly contains copies of publications by Marietta and Richard Karpe, especially in regards to Freud and psychoanalysis. Also includes letters from Dr. Sigmond Freud as well as some nesclippings about their activities.

Also included are photocopies of family photos:

Page One: Top: Caspi - Israel, Sarah, Yael, Naoma, Michel, n.d.; Middle Left: Jane and Family, John Dixon, Steven, Bonnie, n.d.; Middle Right: Bobby & Hillary Johnson, grandchildren n.d..; Bottom: Clifford and Barbara Johnson, Bobby, 1983. Page Two: Israeli Family 1982, Israel. Allan Silver = Abba Caspi. Michel on Mother Dvorah's shoulders, Naoma in front of Mother, Father, Abba Casfri, Yael, Sarah, 1982. Page Three & Four: Marrietta Karpe, Dr. Richard Karpe, Israel, 1971. Two copies. Page Five: Bonnie Dixon, age 7, granddaughter Marietta Karpe, n.d.. Page Six: Marrieta Karpe Family. Dr. Richard Karpe, husand. daughters (L-R): Jane Dixon, Barbara Cliff Johnson, Doris Allan Silver, (Dvorah Abba Caspi, Israeli), ca. 1967. Page Seven: Steven Dixon (left) and Bobby Johnson (right), grandchildren of Marietta Karpe, n.d.. Page Eight: Parents (possibly Marietta's?) seated for formal portrait, 1898.

Dates

Creation: 1898 - 1988

German

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Letters from Dr. Freud presumably in German.

Selection from "Die Seele Des Andre Garaine" forward in German, original text and rough translation below:

Ich war Sextanerin (obersekundanerin), sechzehn Jahre alt, alsich 1928 diesen Roman schrieb. An seine Veroffentlichung dachte ich nicht. Es ist ein Bekenntnisbuch, das die heimliche, kuesche Gedanken- und GefÜhlswelt der Kinderseele von ihrer zartesen Entwicklung bis zur geistigen Reife enthÜllt. Selbst noch an der Scwelle des Kinderreiches stehend, konnte ich damals einen Blick zurÜckwerfen in gebiete, die schon heute, nach zwei Jahren, meine, Auge nebelhaft verschwimmen und in die dem Erwachsenen die Einsichtkaum je zuteil Wird. Was mein Andre tut, spricht und denkt, alles knÜpft irgendwie and die Motive meines eigenen Lebens an. Es ist der Niederschlang der oft qualenden Gedanken, die mich erfÜllten und sicher auch meine Altersgenossen erfÜllten. Denn es ist nicht wahr, daß wir nur auf das Triebhafte gerichtet sind! Vielleicht gewahrt mein Roman den Eltern und Aelteren einige AufschlÜsse Über das jugendliche Seelenleben und tragt so zum Verstandnis zwischen der Generation der Erwachsenen und der Heranwaschsenden bei. Um dieses Wunsches willen wage ich die Veroffentlichung des Romanes, trotz der Unzulanglichkeiten und Schwachen, die ihm, wie jedem Jugendwerke, anhaften.

I was Sextanerin (obersekundanerin), sixteen alsich 1928 wrote this novel. On its publication, I was not thinking. It is a commitment book that reveals the secret, kuesche thoughts and feelings of the child's soul from her zartesen development to spiritual maturity. Even still standing at the Scwelle of children empire, then I could take a look back in areas that already today, after two years, my, eyes misty blur and into the adult insight Hardly ever is bestowed. What my Andre does, speaks and thinks everything is linked somehow and the motives of my own life on. It is the Niederschlang the often torturous thoughts that filled me and certainly met my peers. Because it is not true that we are focused only on the Triebhafte! Perhaps my novel respected the parents and older some insights into the youthful soul life and carries thus contribute to understanding between the generation of adults and pre-washing. To this desire will I venture the publication of the novel, despite the inadequacies and weak to him, as any early works adhere.

Access Restrictions

Open for research use.

Info Not on Tape

Handwritten note at end of partial transcript reads:

"Not on Tape-Continuation of P2 [See note on hard copy]

While studying psychoanalysis, was commissioned to translate introductory lectures on psychoanalysis by Sigmond Freud from German to Czech. They were never publised because of Hitler era. In order to clarify certain sections, wrote to Prof. Freud three times, and has three handwritten letters by Freud. We'll bring them at later date. G.B."

[See Marietta and Dr. Richard Karpe People File for Freud letters].

Full Extent

From the File: 16 Linear Feet (2 filing cabinets)

Additional Description

Container Summary

Photocopy of title page and foreward of "Die Seele Des Andre Garaine: Geschichte Einer Jugend" [Trans: The soul of Andre Garaine : Boy's Life] by Marietta Eidlitz [Karpe]. Eight Six pages of photocopied photos. Photocopy of "Discussion on Barrie" in the Tokyo Journal of Psychoanalysis," Dec. 1958. Photocopy of "The Origins of Peter Pan". Photocopy of "Poet Will Drive Pegasus of Neurosis" in the Tokyo Journal of Psychoanalysis," 1957. Photocopy of "The Meaning of Barrie's 'Mary Rose' in "The International Journal of Psycho-analysis," 1957. Photocopies of social work certificate. "College Reunion" skit manuscript. Photocopied correspondence from Dr. Freud, 1935. "The Significance of Freud's Trip to Orvieto", 1979. "The Rescue Complex in Anna O's Final Identity", 1961. Photocopied newspaper clippings. Partial oral history transcript and abstract.