Schliemann and His Papers: A Tale from the Gennadeion Archives

Heinrich Schliemann's heirs deposited most of his personal papers in the Gennadius Library of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens in 1936, but retained control over them until the School purchased them in 1962. For 27 years, the heirs granted sole authorization to exploit the papers to Ernst Meyer, who published only limited excerpts, obstructed the access of other researchers, and borrowed several volumes that were never returned. The author explores the troubled history of the Heinrich Schliemann Papers since the archaeologist's death in 1890 and examines the ways in which recent improvements in cataloguing and access are facilitating new research on Schliemann's life and career in their historical context.