Opponents forced a clause restricting the Institute’s building to sociological research only

Evidence

The Institute’s opponents, such as the university’s registrar, who feared that the premises might be misused for party-political purposes, only succeeded in having a clause included in the contract between the city of Frankfurt and the Society for Social Research to the effect that the use of the building for purposes other than sociological research was only permissible with the written approval of the municipal authorities. Authorization from the ministry for the `foundation of an Institute of Social Research as an academic institution of the University of Frankfurt which will also serve the University for teaching purposes’ came through at the beginning of 1923. Construction began in March. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 66