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William Torrey Harris papers
0184
0184
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Title: William Torrey Harris papers
Collection number: 0184
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.88 Linear feet
5 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1857-1909
Abstract: The William Torrey Harris papers, 1857-1909, consists of letters, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, and leaflets collected
and created by noted 19th century educator, philosopher and lexicographer William Torrey Harris. In addition to letters from
major philosophers of the period, including John Dewey, Josiah Royce, William James, and George H. Howison, the collection
also contains manuscripts and notes penned by Harris and material related to the Philosophical Union of the University of
California. Harris (1835-1910) was the editor of the Journal of Speculative Philosophy, and one of the founders of both the
"St. Louis Movement" and the Concord School of Philosophy. A prolific author, he also edited and published early work by William
James, Josiah Royce, and John Dewey, and introduced Hegel to the American intellectual scene.
creator:
Abbot, Francis Ellingwood, 1836-1903
creator:
Cabot, James Elliot, 1821-1903
creator:
Caird, Edward, 1835-1908
creator:
d'Alfanso, Nicolo
creator:
Dewey, John
creator:
Eucken, Rudolf, 1846-1926
creator:
Everett, Charles Carroll, 1829-1900
creator:
Gilman, Daniel C., (Daniel Coit), 1831-1908
creator:
Hall, G. Stanley, (Granville Stanley), 1844-1924
creator:
Harris, William Torrey, 1835-1909
creator:
Hedge, Frederic H., (Frederic Henry), 1831-1918
creator:
Hegel, Karl, 1813-1901
creator:
Henry, C. S., (Caleb Sprague), 1804-1884
creator:
Hodgson, Shadworth Hollway, 1832-1912
creator:
Holden, Edward S., (Edward Singleton), 1846-1914
creator:
Hough, Williston S., (Williston Samuel), 1860-1912
creator:
Howison, George Holmes, 1834-1917
creator:
James, William, 1842-1910
creator:
Morris, George Sylvester, 1840-1889
creator:
Peirce, Charles S., (Charles Sanders), 1839-1914
creator:
Royce, Josiah, 1855-1916
creator:
Simon, Thomas Collins
creator:
Stirling, James Hutchison, 1820-1909
creator:
Wasson, David Atwood, 1823-1887
creator:
Watson, John, 1847-1939
[Box/folder# or item name], William Torrey Harris papers, Collection no. 0184, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Gift of Edith Davidson Harris, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1967.
William Torrey Harris (1835-1909) was an American educator, lexicographer, and philosopher. Born in Connecticut, Harris graduated
from Phillips Andover Academy and enrolled at Yale University, but left in his junior year. He moved to St. Louis, where he
accepted a position as a teacher of shorthand in the St. Louis public school system. He eventually rose to become the superintendent
of schools in that city, a post he held from 1867 to 1880. Shortly after his arrival in St. Louis, Harris became interested
in modern German philosophy, specifically the work of Hegel. From 1867 to 1893, Harris edited the Journal of Speculative Philosophy,
the quarterly publication of the St. Louis Philosophical Society (of which he was co-founder) and the first such journal to
be published in the United States and in English. In 1873, Harris, with Susan E. Blow, founded the first permanent public
school kindergarten in St. Louis. In 1880, Harris moved to Concord, MA where he helped establish the Concord School of Philosophy;
he lectured at the School until 1889, when he accepted the position of United States Commissioner of Education, a post he
held until 1906. In 1906, he was awarded the first meritorious award by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
He published many books on both education and philosophy, including "The Psychological Foundations of Education" (1898).
Originally housed in the USC Hoose Library of Philosophy; transferred to Special Collections in late 1990s.
See: University of Southern California School of Philosophy records, 1889-1978, 1988, Collection no. 5095, University Archives,
Special Collections, University of Southern California
Advance notice required for access.
The William Torrey Harris papers consists of letters, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, and leaflets collected and created
by William Torrey Harris, 1857-1909. In addition to letters from major philosophers of the period, including John Dewey, Josiah
Royce, William James, and George H. Howison, the collection also contains manuscripts and notes penned by Harris and material
related to the Philosophical Union of the University of California.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Abbot, Francis Ellingwood, 1836-1903 -- Correspondence
Cabot, James Elliot, 1821-1903 -- Correspondence
Caird, Edward, 1835-1908 -- Correspondence
d'Alfanso, Nicolo -- Correspondence
Dewey, John -- Correspondence
Eucken, Rudolf, 1846-1926 -- Correspondence
Everett, Charles Carroll, 1829-1900 -- Correspondence
Gilman, Daniel C., (Daniel Coit), 1831-1908 -- Correspondence
Hall, G. Stanley, (Granville Stanley), 1844-1924 -- Correspondence
Harris, William Torrey, 1835-1909 -- Archives
Harris, William Torrey, 1835-1909 -- Correspondence
Hedge, Frederic H., (Frederic Henry), 1831-1918 -- Correspondence
Hegel, Karl, 1813-1901 -- Correspondence
Henry, C. S., (Caleb Sprague), 1804-1884 -- Correspondence
Hodgson, Shadworth Hollway, 1832-1912 -- Correspondence
Holden, Edward S., (Edward Singleton), 1846-1914 -- Correspondence
Hough, Williston S., (Williston Samuel), 1860-1912 -- Correspondence
Howison, George Holmes, 1834-1917 -- Correspondence
James, William, 1842-1910 -- Correspondence
Morris, George Sylvester, 1840-1889 -- Correspondence
Peirce, Charles S., (Charles Sanders), 1839-1914 -- Correspondence
Philosophical Union of the University of California. -- Archives
Royce, Josiah, 1855-1916 -- Correspondence
Simon, Thomas Collins -- Correspondence
Stirling, James Hutchison, 1820-1909 -- Correspondence
Wasson, David Atwood, 1823-1887 -- Correspondence
Watson, John, 1847-1939 -- Correspondence
Correspondence
Manuscripts
Notes
Philosophers--United States--19th century--Archival resources
Philosophy--Study and teaching--United States--Archival resources
Typescripts