Hamburg Library Acquires Exile Writer Bruno Frank Archive with Thomas Mann Letters

The partial estate of exile author Bruno Frank (1887–1945) and his spouse Elisabeth Frank (1903–1979) has been acquired by the Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg Carl von Ossietzky, with financial backing of 12,500 euros from the Kulturstiftung der Länder. This collection features correspondence from Thomas Mann (1875–1955) and various other German writers in exile, primarily from the late 1930s and 1940s, showcasing the literary community in Southern California. Bruno Frank, a Jewish banker, emigrated from Germany in 1933 and established residence near Los Angeles in 1937. Elisabeth Frank’s collection includes approximately 100 letters from her mother, Fritzi Massary (1882–1969), as well as family letters and personal documents. The library plans to digitize these materials for online availability, with additional support from the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung.