Guide to Norman Foerster papers addenda M0251
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
May 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Norman Foerster papers addenda
Identifier/Call Number: M0251
Identifier/Call Number: 1883
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1837-1970
Abstract: Correspondence, scrapbooks, publications, and memorabilia from Norman Foerster's personal life and career. Also includes
photograph albums, lectures, notes, and essays on the subject of humanism.
Physical Location: Special Collections and University Archives materials are stored offsite and must be paged 36 hours in advance.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased by Norman Foerster to Stanford University, Special Collections in 1974.
Biographical / Historical
Norman Foerster was an American author and editor. Foerster was also a professor of literature and a proponent of the New
Humanist movement. He was born 14 April 1887 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and died 1 August 1972 in Palo Alto, California.
A.B. Harvard: 1910; A.M., University of Wisconsin: 1912; Litt.D., Uuniversity of South: 1931. University professor and instigator
of New Humanist movement in American criticism. As its chief spokesman, he edited its manifesto Humanism and America (1930).
Instructor in English, University of Wisconsin, 1911-1914; associate professor English, University of North Carolina, 1914-1919,
professor, 1919-1930; director School of Letters and professor English, University of Iowa, 1930-1944; visiting professor
English, Duke University, 1948-1949. Author of Outlines and Summaries, Sentences and Thinking, Nature in American Literature,
American Criticism, The American Scholar, Towards Standards, The American State University, The Future of the Liberal College,
The Humanities and the Common Man. Editor of Essays for College Men, Selected Literary Essays from James Russell Lowell, Chief
American Prose Writers, American Ideals, English poetry of the 19th century, American Poetry and Prose, Humanism and America,
and American Critical Essays.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Norman Foerster papers addenda (M0251). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Processing Information
The collection was listed and partially processed when it came to Stanford in 1974. At that time, a number of books written
and collected by Foerster were transferred to Stanford's Rare Book collection. As part of a library move in 2023, the collection
was rehoused. The original order from the earlier processing was maintained as much as possible. As an example, the original
Box 1 was rehoused as Boxes 1A, 1B, and 1C.
Related Materials
Stanford Libraries also holds the following related collections:
M0052: Norman Foerster papers, ca.1900-1949
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082957
M0173: Norman Foerster papers addenda, 1918-1940
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082911
M0183: Norman Foerster papers addenda, 1907-1965
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082998
Scope and Contents
The collection contains personal correspondence, scrapbooks, notes, and writings of English professor Norman Foerster. Also
included are various articles, papers, pamphlets, and other publications about the New Humanism movement in literary criticism.
The collection is an addenda to Foerster's papers that were already at Stanford. See related materials note for collection
numbers.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Foerster, Norman
Series I. Bound Materials & Ephemera
Box 1A, folder 1
Nature Diary
January-March 1904
Box 1A, folder 2
Personal Diary
June-September 1905
Box 1A, folder 3
Record of Royalties
1919-1948
Box 1A, folder 4
Birdwatcher's Notebook
1906-1921
Box 1A, folder 5
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 1. Introduction
Box 1A, folder 6
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 2. Plato
Box 1A, folder 7
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 3-5. Aristotle
Box 1A, folder 8
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 6. Longinus and Passages on True Classicism
Box 1A, folder 9
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 7-9. The Classical Tradition
General
Missing Lecture #8
Box 1A, folder 10
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 10-12. Romantic Criticism
Box 1A, folder 11
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 13. Realism
Box 1A, folder 12
Lectures on Literary Criticism - 14. Naturalism
Box 1B, folder 13
Medallion - Jay B Hubbell to Norman Foerster
December 1965
Box 5C, folder 39
MLA Award : Jay Hubbell medallion
Box 1B, folder 14
Photo Album of Baby Pictures
Box 1B, folder 15
Photo Album of Trip to Europe
Box 1C, folder 16
Holy Bible (British & Foreign Service Bible Society) King James version printed by Geo. Eyre & Andrew Spottiswoode, London
1837
Box 1C, folder 17
Ledger of Stories by Norman Foerster (printed clips)
Box 2A, Item 1
Scrapbook
December 1939-December1943
Box 2A, Item 2
Scrapbook
January 1944-December 1948
Box 2B, Item 3
Scrapbook
January 1949-December 1951
Box 2B, Item 4
Scrapbook
January 1952-December 1953
Box 3
Color Portraits of Norman Foerster
circa 1970
Box 5C, folder 43
Items pulled from Foerster books added to Rare Book Collections
Series II. Assorted Business & Personal Files
Box 4A, folder 1
Correspondence with Jean Roberts
1968-1969
Box 4A, folder 2
Correspondence with various family members
Box 4A, folder 3
Personal Correspondence - David Foerster (son)
Box 4A, folder 4
Personal Correspondence - Barrett Foerster (grandson)
Box 4A, folder 5
Personal Correspondence - Alice Worsley
Box 4A, folder 6
Personal Correspondence - misc.
Box 4A, folder 9-11
Financial Notes & Correspondence
Box 4A, folder 12
Legal & Financial Notes re: disputes
Box 5A, folder 12
Correspondence - American Poetry & Prose
Box 5A, folder 21
Country Club Apartment Association
Box 5B, folder 22
General Correspondence (incoming)
Box 5B, folder 23
General Correspondence (outgoing)
Series III. New Humanism Research & Teaching
Box 5A, folder 2
Manuscripts for Research: Five Associated University Libraries
1969
Box 5A, folder 3
Wartime Approaches to Liberal Education : Nine Editorials from THE DAILY IOWAN
circa 1944
Box 5A, folder 5
"Religion in an Age of Secularism" lecture by G.F. Thomas
1940
Box 5A, folder 6
College English Association Chapbook on the Mythological
1969
Box 5A, folder 7
Harvard Reading List in American History - Alumni edition
1938
Box 5A, folder 8
"Az Amerikai Irodalomtortenet - Iras Fejlodese" by Orszagh Laszlo
1935
Box 5A, folder 9
"John Brown's Body : Critical Estimate"
1929
Box 5A, folder 10
"The Individual and Society" lecture notes by Norman Foerster
Box 5A, folder 11
"Irving Babbit and Benedetto Croce : The Philosophical Basis of the New Humanism in American Criticism" by Folke Leander
1954
Box 5A, folder 17
Course Outlines & Reading Lists
Box 5A, folder 18
Notes by Alice Worsley for Norman Foerster biography
Box 5B, folder 26
Creative Writing Conference (Iowa)
1931
Box 5B, folder 29
Reports to Deans Kay & Stoddard on Iowa School of Letters
1936-1937
Box 5B, folder 30
Reviews of Foerster's books; interviews with Foerster
Box 5B, folder 31
Freshman English questionnaires, replies, reports
Box 5B, folder 32
Report of Foreign Languages
1940
Box 5B, folder 33
New Humanism articles collected by Foerster
Box 5B, folder 34
Meetings of Iowa's School of Letters
Box 5B, folder 35
Confidential Report on Iowa's School of Letters for Dean Harry K. Newburn from Norman Foerster
1941
Box 5B, folder 36
American Civilization Program
Box 5B, folder 37
"The Teacher of Great Literature" reprints from THE JOURNAL OF GENERAL EDUCATION
1947
Box 5C, folder 38
"Wordsworth and Coleridge" draft of book never completed by Foerster
Box 5D, folder 1
NEW YORK TIMES magazine select issues
1970-1972
Box 5D, folder 41
TOWN AND GOWN vol. III
1968-1969
Box 5D, folder 42
CALIFORNIA FARMER (11 volumes)
1965-1968
