File:Library of the Business Institute MORKO (13270010503).jpg

This stamp comes from the library of the Moscow Institute of Commerce of M.O.R.K.O. M.O.R.K.O. is an acronym for the Moscow Society for the Dissemination of Business Education. This organization was founded in 1897 in Moscow. In 1898, it began offering evening classes on commerce and 1901 it formed two business schools, one for men and one for women. In 1907 the Moscow Institute of Commerce was formed by combining all of the existing schools and courses. In 1919 it was renamed the Karl Marx Institute of Economics, and in 1924 it was again renamed after Marxist theoretician Georgi Plekhanov. Since 1991, it has been called the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. It is one of the largest higher education institutions of economics in Russia.
This book stamp is from a book looted by the Nazis and sorted by Colonel Seymour Pomrenze, one of “the Monuments Men,” at the Offenbach Archival Depot.
There are two scrapbooks of archival markings from the books sorted at the Offenbach Depot in the Seymour Pomrenze Collection held by the American Jewish Historical Society (Call number P-933) There is a finding aid for the collection here The digitized scrapbooks are available here and here.

For more information on this project check the Center’s blog: 16thstreet.tumblr.com/tagged/Offenbach-Depot

Dr. Mitch Fraas, Acting Director of the Digital Humanities Forum at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries' Special Collections Center is working on a similar project for the German book stamps based on NARA microfilm of the volumes the American Jewish Historical Society currently holds. See viewshare.org/views/mfraas/offenbach-bookplates/

The Center for Jewish History would like to acknowledge the following: The American Jewish Historical Society, who graciously allowed the use of their archival materials and digital content; Mitch Fraas, Acting Director of the Digital Humanities Forum at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries' Special Collections Center, for his data and technical assistance in this project; David Rosenberg, Reference Services Research Coordinator, and Melanie Meyers, Senior Reference Services Librarian for Special Collections, for managing and creating the digital map; and Reference Services Intern Ilya Slavutskiy for his work on translating and mapping.