English: Novorossiysk Imperial University Library. This institution in Odessa was founded in 1817, and was originally known as Richelieu Lycee. In 1865, by decree of the Emperor Alexander II, it was re-organized as Imperial Novorossiysk University. Still in existence to this day, it boasts many Nobel prize winning alumni in various sciences, and is now known as I. I. Mechnikov Odessa National University (named after alumni I.I Mechnikov, who won the Nobel prize for medicine in 1908.). It still has an impressive library as well; they have the largest scientific library of any university in the Ukraine, with 3.6 million volumes, ranging from the 15th century to the present day.

This book stamp is from a book looted by the Nazis and sorted by Colonel Seymour Pomrenze, one of “the Monuments Men,” at the Offenbach Archival Depot.


There are two scrapbooks of archival markings from the books sorted at the Offenbach Depot in the Seymour Pomrenze Collection held by the American Jewish Historical Society (Call number P-933) There is a finding aid for the collection here The digitized scrapbooks are available here and here.


For more information on this project check the Center’s blog: 16thstreet.tumblr.com/tagged/Offenbach-Depot


Dr. Mitch Fraas, Acting Director of the Digital Humanities Forum at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries' Special Collections Center is working on a similar project for the German book stamps based on NARA microfilm of the volumes the American Jewish Historical Society currently holds. See viewshare.org/views/mfraas/offenbach-bookplates/


The Center for Jewish History would like to acknowledge the following: The American Jewish Historical Society, who graciously allowed the use of their archival materials and digital content; Mitch Fraas, Acting Director of the Digital Humanities Forum at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries' Special Collections Center, for his data and technical assistance in this project; David Rosenberg, Reference Services Research Coordinator, and Melanie Meyers, Senior Reference Services Librarian for Special Collections, for managing and creating the digital map; and Reference Services Intern Ilya Slavutskiy for his work on translating and mapping.

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