Max Ehrmann papers

Collection

Identifier: MSD-1894-002

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of poetry and articles written by Max Ehrmann. Also included are letters, publicity reviews, programs, photographs, a play, scrapbooks and newspaper clippings. Letters from Eugene Debs, George Ade, Charles Beard, Paul Dresser and Theodore Dreiser are also part of the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1880 - 2010

Creator

Ehrmann, Max (class of 1894) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, literary rights, including copyright reside with the creators of the documents or their legal heirs and assigns. All requests to publish or quote must be submitted to the DePauw University Archives and Special Collections. The publisher must also obtain permission from the copyright holder.

Biographical Note

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Max Ehrmann was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on September 26, 1872, the son of Max and Margaret von Ehrmann. He received his early education in the Terre Haute school system. He graduated from DePauw University in 1894, majoring in literature and philosophy. While at DePauw, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta, Beta Beta chapter and editor of the DePauw Weekly, the student newspaper. Later, Ehrmann engaged in two years of post-graduate work in letters and philosophy at Harvard University and received an honorary Ph.D. from the university.

He returned to Terre Haute to practice law in 1898. There, he was a deputy state attorney and worked at his family’s business, the Ehrmann Manufacturing Company. He left the company to begin a career in writing.

In 1937, Ehrmann received the DePauw University honorary degree of Doctor of Literature. During DePauw’s centennial celebration in 1937, he wrote the DePauw University Centennial Ode in tribute to his alma mater. He was honored in June 1945 when testimonials of his work as a poet and his genius for friendship were given by musicians, college teachers, artists, and friends at the Swope Art Gallery in Terre Haute. Ehrmann passed away on September 9, 1945 and is buried in Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute.