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Catalog Data

Photographer:
Brooks, Warwick  Search this
Steckel, Geo. (George), 1864-  Search this
Weston, Arthur  Search this
Sarony, Napoleon, 1821-1896  Search this
Collector:
Coffin, Ernest Edwin  Search this
Creator:
Falk, B. J. (Benjamin J.), 1853-1925  Search this
Sandwina, Katie  Search this
Weider, Joe (author)  Search this
Donor:
Manhart, Harrison D., II  Search this
Names:
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.)  Search this
Sandow, Eugen, 1867-1925  Search this
Extent:
11.5 Cubic feet (26 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pamphlets
Articles
Correspondence
Photographs
Glass plate negatives
Scrapbooks
Date:
1889-1954
Summary:
The collection documents Eugen Sandow and other bodybuilders through correspondence and photographs.
Scope and Contents:
The collection contains original and copy photographs of Eugen Sandow and other bodybuilders and actors, by well known photographers Warwick Brooks, Napoleon Sarony, Benjamin J. Falk, George Steckel, and others; correspondence with well-known bodybuilders such as Joe Weider and Katie Sandwina; and periodicals and books about Sandow.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into four series. Series 1: Background Materials, 1894-1958 Series 2: Correspondence, 1902-1954 Series 3: Publications, 1926-03-1955-01 Series 4: Photographs, 1889-1952
Biographical:
Ernest Edwin Coffin (1898-1954) was a California amateur bodybuilder, and weightlifter and collector of bodybuilding memorabilia, especially on the subject of Eugen Sandow. Coffin considered himself the world's expert on "Sandowania" and spent over 40 years writing and collecting memorabilia about Sandow as well as other strongmen such as Joe Weider, Milo Steinborn, and Katie Sandwina. Born Frederich Muller (1867-1925) in Konigsberg, Prussia, Muller emigrated to England in 1889 and become a citizen in 1906. Muller adopted the stage name of Eugen Sandow and ran several schools of physical culture, performed, lectured, and wrote about strength amd mental and physical health. Sandow toured the United States in 1893 with his manager, Florenz Ziegfeld, the "Follies" showman. Sandow's first American appearance was at the World's Fair in Chicago where he was an instant success. Ziegfeld marketed Sandow as "the perfect man," and "the modern Hercules." Sandow used his popularity to market books, a magazine (Physical Culture), and exercise equipment.
Separated Materials:
Materials in the Division of Culture and the Arts (now Division of Cultural and Community Life). The Division of Culture and the Arts holds hand weights, a cut-out, and a dumbbell belonging to Eugen Sandow. See accession #2001.0179.
Provenance:
The collection was donated to the Archives Center by Dan Manhart in 2009.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Physical education and training  Search this
Modelling  Search this
Bodybuilding  Search this
Books  Search this
Periodicals  Search this
Genre/Form:
Pamphlets
Articles
Correspondence
Photographs -- 20th century
Photographs -- 19th century
Glass plate negatives
Scrapbooks -- 20th century
Citation:
Ernest Edwin Coffin Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.1152
See more items in:
Ernest Edwin Coffin Collection
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85a17cf6d-30e5-44ee-9bee-4be32e20f412
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1152