Description
The papers primarily document Seaver's career at Stanford University and include correspondence, class materials, and departmental
records. His correspondence files date from 1963-1987 and include one file on conscientious objection to military service.
Course files, 1964-2005, include syllabi, exams, course readers, student papers, and course evaluations. There are also materials
on traditional Western Civilization courses and on two alternate academic programs - CIV (Cultures, Ideas and Values) and
VTSS (Values, Technology, Science and Society); included are syllabi, course proposals, committee records, correspondence,
memoranda, student reviews, and clippings, 1966-97. Departmental and professional papers include committee records, correspondence,
memoranda, reports, and other materials, 1966-93; included are several folders on a peace studies program on campus.
Background
Paul S. Seaver joined the Stanford faculty in the Dept. of History in 1964; he received the Dean's Award for Excellence in
Teaching in 1981 and the Dinkelspiel Award for outstanding service to undergraduate education in 1987. His specialty was early
modern English history. He was involved in the efforts to expand the course content of the Western Civilization requirement,
serving as head of a task force to review the Western culture program (1986) and as Director of the Program in Cultures, Ideas
and Values (1989-92). Seaver earned his Ph.D. at Harvard and started his career as an instructor at Reed College, 1962-64.
Raised in the Quaker faith, Seaver refused induction into the Armed Services in 1950 and served 18 months in federal prison.
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the
Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission
from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.