The Long
Insurgency

Dossier · 1923–1970

Institute for Social Research

A Marxist institute in American exile: research, ideas and influence

Chronology

1923–1970

192319471970
18 dated events
  1. Institute founded in Frankfurt Reported · Source 2, Foundation, first paragraph
  2. First building opens Reported · Source 1, p. 24; PDF p. 64
  3. Horkheimer becomes director Reported · Source 1, p. 36; PDF p. 88
  4. Horkheimer gives his opening lecture Reported · Source 1, p. 38; PDF p. 91
  5. Institute begins its new research journal Reported · Source 2, Foundation, last paragraph
  6. Police close the Frankfurt Institute Reported · Source 1, p. 128; PDF p. 271
  7. Gestapo confiscates the Frankfurt Institute Reported · Source 1, p. 128; PDF p. 271
  8. Institute relocates to New York Reported · Source 2, Exile, first paragraph
  9. Institute accepts Columbia housing Reported · Source 1, pp. 144–146; PDF pp. 303–308
  10. Adorno joins American radio research Reported · Source 1, p. 239; PDF p. 492
  11. American Jewish Committee holds a research conference Documented · Source 10, Series foreword; EPUB OEBPS/08_Foreword.xhtml, paragraph beginning “In an effort to advance…”
  12. OSS report proposes dissolving Nazi organizations Documented · Source 9, Report 16, R&A 1655.5, pp. 253–254; PDF pp. 277–278. Marcuse attribution comes from the editor.
  13. Institute returns to Frankfurt Reported · Source 2, Reopening, first paragraph
  14. The Authoritarian Personality is published Reported · Source 10, Copyright page; EPUB OEBPS/03_Copy.xhtml, “First published” line
  15. Institute is formally re-established Reported · Source 2, Reopening, first paragraph
  16. New Frankfurt building opens Reported · Source 2, Reopening, first paragraph
  17. Angela Davis returns to study with Marcuse at UC San Diego Reported · Source 3, Angela Davis, preface, p. xi; PDF p. 12
  18. Radical America publishes a discussion of Marcuse Documented · Source 12, Contents; Dear Herbert, pp. 3–5; PDF pp. 2, 5–7
Low Memorial Library at Columbia University in New York, seen across the campus steps.
Low Memorial Library on Columbia University’s New York campus, photographed on August 4, 2017. The Institute’s offices were at 429 West 117th Street. Photo: Marco Almbauer, via Wikimedia Commons. Released into the public domain by the photographer. Display resized by Wikimedia. Image source License Rights basis · The archive records this item as being in the public domain.

Overview

The Institute for Social Research opened a new home for Marxist research in Frankfurt, Germany. It was founded in 1923. Its first building opened on June 22, 1924. Felix Weil helped fund it with wealth from his family. His father, Hermann, had made his fortune in the grain trade. Historian Rolf Wiggershaus describes the funding and the Institute's ties to Frankfurt University. [1], pp. 12–19, 24–26

Its first director, Carl Grünberg , studied socialism, economic history and the labor movement. Max Horkheimer became director in 1930 and gave his opening address in January 1931. He broadened the work to include psychology and culture. The central question was why people accepted a society marked by inequality. This approach became known as Frankfurt School critical theory. [1], pp. 25–26, 36–39

The researchers brought different skills. Friedrich Pollock studied economics and helped run the Institute. Erich Fromm studied how social life shaped people's thoughts and feelings. Leo Löwenthal studied literature and edited the journal. Herbert Marcuse worked on philosophy. Theodor W. Adorno studied music, culture and society. Henryk Grossmann focused on economics. Franz Neumann and Otto Kirchheimer studied law and politics. They did not all share the same views. [1], pp. 51–54, 116–117, 147, 223–224, 283–288

Nazi repression forced the Institute out of Germany in 1933. It first set up a base in Geneva, then moved to New York in 1934. Columbia University gave it space, including a house at 429 West 117th Street. The Institute kept control of its own work. [1], pp. 127–132, 143–148

The Institute returned to Frankfurt after the war. Its own history dates the return to 1949, its formal re-establishment to 1950, and its new building to 1951. Its American story continued through research partnerships, books and teaching. [2], “Reopening”; [3], pp. xi–xiv

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