Stephen J. Tonsor papers, 1951-2001

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Tonsor, Stephen J. (Stephen John), 1923-2014
Abstract:
Papers of the American historian include correspondence, speeches, and writings, relating to conservative political thought and higher education in the United States.
Extent:
50 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize box (18.8 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Stephen J. Tonsor papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Background

Scope and content:

The Stephen John Tonsor papers, acquired in 2002, consist of correspondence, speeches and writings and other materials relating to conservative political thought and to higher education in the United States.

The bulk of the materials contained in the Correspondence series include Stephen Tonsor's personal correspondence with his friends and family members, various organizations he was associated with, and exchange of official letters with his colleagues relating to students' requests for recommendations for teaching positions and admission to graduate programs in different universities around the country. Among his personal correspondents, special mention should be made of, F. A. Hayek, Sidney Hook, Henry Regnery, and Eric Voegelin. Speeches and Writings reflect his political ideas relating to conservative ideology, his views about current educational systems and problems arising out of that system. Some of Henry Regnery's writings are included in the Writings by Others series.

The inclusion of photographs sent to him by his friends, such as Annelise Thimme, George Tilton, and others, complement the series previously mentioned.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1923 November 26
Born, Jerseyville, Illinois
1941-1943
Student, Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois
1943-1946
Served as Sergeant (Cryptographer) Signal Corps, U.S. Army
1948
B.A., Philosophy, University of Illinois
1948-1949
Student, University of Zurich, Switzerland
1953-1954
Student, University of Munich, West Germany
1954
Awarded Ph.D., History, University of Illinois
1954-
Assistant professor to professor of history, University of Michigan
1954-1955
Pre-doctoral instructor, University of Michigan
1957, 1962, 1972
Horace H. Rackham grantee
1955-1959
Instructor, University of Michigan
1959
Author, National Socialism: Conservative Reaction or Nihilist Revolt?
1959-1964
Assistant professor, University of Michigan
1962
Recipient, University of Michigan Literary and Education Class of 1923 Award for Distinguished Teaching
1962-1963
Relm Foundation grantee
1964-
Associate professor, University of Michigan
1969
Associate Editor, Modern Age
1970-1973
Consultant, President's Council of Economic Advisers, Washington, D.C.
1971
Summer grantee, Earhart Foundation
1972
Awarded honorary D. Litt
1972-1973
Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
1974
Author, Tradition and Reform in Education Member, Mont Pelerin Society
1974-1977
Member, board of directors, YM-YWCA, Ann Arbor, Michigan
1975
Author, America's Continuing Revolution: An Act of Conservation
1982
Author, Freedom, Order, and the University
1990
Author, Reflections on the French Revolution: A Hillsdale Symposium
1993
Author, Quest for Liberty: America in Acton's Thought
Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2002
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into eight series: Biographical File, Correspondence, Speeches and Writings, University of Michigan File, Writings by Others, Subject File, Oversize Material, Photographs

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Stephen J. Tonsor papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563