One of the more unusual collections in Washington University’s
Special Collections is that relating to the German author and editor,
Gert von Gontard. Von Gontard was the founder and editor of the
important literary and political magazine Neue
Revue , whose strong anti-Nazi policy expressed in cartoons,
articles, and poetry, put him on the Nazis’ “death list” in 1933. Von
Gontard fled to the United States where he became an active member of
the community of expatriate German artists and literary figures. He was
particularly active in developing theatrical projects and, with the
important producer-director Max Reinhardt, co-founded The Workshop, a
Los Angeles theatrical academy. Upon moving to New York, Von Gontard
became an active member of that city’s theatrical community, notably
through his efforts at bringing German theatre groups to New York.
