Alexander Kaufmann

Alexander Kaufmann (May 14, 1817 – May 1, 1893) was a German poet and folklorist from Bonn.

Biography

Kaufmann came from a prominent local family, whose members had served in both the city government and service of the former Elector of Cologne. He was also related to the painters Andreas and Karl Müller.

At the University of Bonn, he studied law, languages, and history. In 1844, Kaufmann was appointed to teach Prince Karl von Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, who made him keeper of the Wertheim archives in 1850. Kaufmann would retain this post until his death.

Works

Poetry Collections

*"Gedichte" (1852)
*"Mainsagen" (1853)
*"Unter den Reben" (1871)

Research and Folklore

*Research for Karl Simrock's "Legends of the Rhine"
*Collected local legends of the Main
*"Mythoterpe, ein Mythen-, Sagen- und Legendenbuch" with poet Georg Friedrich Daumer;
*Researched information for "Cæsarius von Heisterbach"
*Translated "Wunderbare Geschichten aus den Werken des Cæsarius von Heisterbach"
*"Biographie des belgischen Dominikaners Thomas von Chantimpre" (posthumous)