Wolf, Edwin II (33619146): Difference between revisions

'''[[Wolf, Edwin II (33619146)|Edwin Wolf II]]''' (6 December 1911 – 20 February 1991) was a Philadelphia bibliographer and Ritchie Boy (Class 18) whose wartime skill with rare books drew Civil Affairs interest.

Edwin Wolf II was born on 6 December 1911 in Philadelphia. He attended William Penn Charter School and Bedales School in Hampshire, England, then spent about thirteen years with the A. S. W. Rosenbach Company working with rare books, producing bibliographical volumes and articles. He taught bibliography at Bryn Mawr College in 1941–42 and spoke French and German.

Wolf enlisted early in 1943, completed basic training in Louisiana, and took an Army Specialized Training Program course in Columbia, Missouri, specializing in Central and Southern Europe. Camp Ritchie records place him as a corporal in Company G, 2nd Training Battalion, Section 7D (Class 18). Correspondence from late 1944 and early 1945 recommended him for Civil Affairs consideration because of his knowledge of books and manuscripts; the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas reviewed the suggestion, though the Army would not act on recommendations of noncommissioned men for that assignment. He served in Europe through 1946.

After the war Wolf became a leading Philadelphia bookman, joining the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1952 and later serving as its librarian and chief executive. He received the Philadelphia Award in 1981 and died on 20 February 1991.