William Torrey Harris papers
0184
Finding aid prepared by Sue Luftschein; data entry by Carly Rustebakke
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2014 April
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
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], William Torrey Harris papers, Collection no. 0184, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University
of Southern California
Acquisition
Gift of Edith Davidson Harris, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1967.
Biographical note
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).
Custodial History
Originally housed in the USC Hoose Library of Philosophy; transferred to Special Collections in late 1990s.
Related Archival Materials
See: University of Southern California School of Philosophy records, 1889-1978, 1988, Collection no. 5095, University Archives,
Special Collections, University of Southern California
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Scope and Content
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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
Box 1, Folder 1
Abbot, Francis Ellingwood
1867-1903
Physical Description: 16 letters, 11 postcards.
Box 1, Folder 2
Adams, Henry B.
1875
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 1, Folder 3
Appleton, C. E.
1876 October-November
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 1, Folder 4
Bailey, P.T., Jr.
1897 March 19
Physical Description: 1 letter from Harris to Bailey, typed and signed carbon.
Box 1, Folder 5
Barzelloti, Giacomo
1870-1873
Physical Description: 3 letters, one each in German, Italian and English.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bosanquet, Bernard
1898 May 13
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 1, Folder 7
Boulting, William
1887, 1890
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 1, Folder 8
Bower, George Spencer
1879-1880
Physical Description: 4 letters.
Box 1, Folder 9
Bowne, Bordeu P.
1886-1908
Physical Description: 7 letters.
Box 1, Folder 10
Brereton, Cloudesley
1900-1908
Physical Description: 4 letters.
Box 1, Folder 11
Buisson, Ferdinand
1878-1892
Physical Description: 2 letters, 1 telegram with shorthand, 1 business card.
Box 1, Folder 12
Buls, Charles
1883, 1908
Physical Description: 2 letters, in French.
Box 1, Folder 13
Burns-Gibson, J.
1881-1898
Physical Description: 7 letters, 10 postcards, 1 handwritten announcement. Includes typed carbon of a letter from Harris to Burns-Gibson.
Box 1, Folder 14
Burrows, Herbert
1880
Physical Description: 4 letters, 2 leaflets.
Box 1, Folder 15
Cabot, James Elliot
1865-1883
Physical Description: 44 letters, 2 postcards.
Box 1, Folder 16
Caird, Edward
1879-1898
Physical Description: 9 letters.
Box 1, Folder 17
Chatterji, Mohini M.
1886-1887
Physical Description: 4 letters.
Box 1, Folder 18
Clarke, William
1881-1886
Physical Description: 1 letter, 4 postcards, In Memoriam pamphlet.
Box 1, Folder 19
Compayre, Gabriel
1890, 1896
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 notecard.
Box 1, Folder 20
Conta, B.
1877 May 15
Physical Description: 1 letter, in French.
Box 1, Folder 21
Cowell, Peter
1881-1907
Physical Description: 2 letters, 2 engravings, 1 certificate.
Box 5, Folder 1
D'Alfonso, Nicolo
1882-1899
Physical Description: 18 letters, 5 postcards, 4 envelopes (one with W.T.H.'s shorthand note).
Box 1, Folder 22-23
Dewey, John
1881-1904
Physical Description: 17 letters from Dewey, 4 postcards, 3 letters from Alice Dewey, 1 typed carbon of a reply from Harris. Folder 22 contains
the originals, folder 23 contains photocopies.
Box 1, Folder 24
Dini, Francesco
1879 November 6
Physical Description: 1 letter, in French.
Box 1, Folder 25
D'Orelli, A.
1885, 1886
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 1, Folder 26
Eucken, Rudolf
1885-1909
Physical Description: 7 letters, 1 notecard, 4 postcards. Primarily in German.
Box 1, Folder 27
Everett, Charles Carrol
1867-1899
Physical Description: 21 letters, 3 postcards, 3 carbon typescripts and 1 typed copy of letters to Everett, and 1 letter fragment.
Box 1, Folder 28
Ferri, Luigi
1871 February 17
Physical Description: 1 letter, in French.
Box 1, Folder 29
Franke, Kuno
1888-1889
Physical Description: 11 letters, 1 course description in German.
Box 1, Folder 30
Friedlaender, Ludwig
1878 February 6
Physical Description: 1 letter, in German; 1 envelope.
Box 1, Folder 31
Frohschamer, T.
1883 March 4
Physical Description: 1 letter, in German.
Box 5, Folder 2
Gardner, Henry Norman
1894-1909
Physical Description: 22 letters, 1 typed carbon of letter from Harris.
Box 1, Folder 32
Gibbons, J. Cardinal
1892 March 26
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 1, Folder 33
Gilman, Daniel C.
1874-1896
Physical Description: 13 letters, 1 telegram.
Box 1, Folder 34
Giner de los Rios, Francisco
1891, 1892
Physical Description: 2 letters, one in English, one in Spanish; 2 envelopes.
Box 1, Folder 35
Gordon, James (Royal Society of Edinburgh)
1881-1882
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 1, Folder 36
Grasby, William Catton
1890-1904
Physical Description: 5 letters; 2 envelopes (1 in W.T.H.'s hand).
Box 1, Folder 37
Hall, G. Stanley
1871-1901
Physical Description: 21 letters, 2 postcards, 1 typed copy or a letter from Harris.
Box 2, Folder 1
Hedge, Frederic H.
1865-1886
Physical Description: 14 letters, 1 notecard.
Box 2, Folder 2
Hegel, Karl
1879-1887
Physical Description: 3 postcards, in German.
Box 2, Folder 3
Henry, C.S.
1867-1868
Physical Description: 8 letters, 1 postcard.
Box 2, Folder 4
Henry, Francis A.
1867-1898
Physical Description: 25 letters, 4 postcards.
Box 2, Folder 5
Hodgson, Shadworth Hollway
1870-1891
Physical Description: 8 letters.
Box 5, Folder 3
Hoffmann, Franz
1870-1880
Physical Description: 4 letters in German, 1 translation.
Box 2, Folder 6
Holden, Edward S.
1884-1909
Physical Description: 24 letters, 2 notecards, clipping.
Box 2, Folder 7
Hoose, James H.
1906 May 8
Physical Description: 1 typed carbon copy from Harris to Hoose.
Box 2, Folder 8
Horne, Herman H.
1904, 1906
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 5, Folder 4
Hough, Williston S.
1885-1893
Physical Description: 13 letters, 1 annotated prospectus.
Box 2, Folder 9
Howells, William Dean
1876 June 10
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 2, Folder 10-14
Howison, George H.
1866-1908
Physical Description: Folder 10: 1866-1878, 28 letters, 1 note. Folder 11: 1878-1889, 27 letters, 8 postcards, 2 typed carbon copies of letters
from Harris, 1 typescript. Folder 12: 1889-1895, 17 letters, 1 flyer. Folder 13: 1896 March-November, 13 letters, 2 offprints.
Folder 14: 1897-1908, 22 letters, 2 typed carbon copies of letters from Harris, 1 typescript.
Box 2, Folder 15
Hvalgren, Emanuel
1876-1881
Physical Description: 6 letters, 1 pamphlet, 1 manuscript, in German and English.
Box 2, Folder 16
James, Henry
1866-1872
Physical Description: 3 letters.
Box 2, Folder 17
James, William
1877-1903
Physical Description: 23 letters, 9 postcards.
Box 2, Folder 18
Kodyn, Senyabuso
1880 January 26
Physical Description: 1 letter
Box 2, Folder 19
Ladd, George Trumbull
1887-1901
Physical Description: 6 letters, 1 typed carbon copy of letter from Harris, 1 letter from R. Nokashima.
Box 2, Folder 20
Maitland, Edward
1886 August 1
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 2, Folder 21
Mariano, Raffaele
1886-1887
Physical Description: 2 letters, in German.
Box 2, Folder 22
Matheson, Robert
1885 November 11
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 23
Michelet, Karl Ludwig
1869-1884
Physical Description: 4 letters, in German.
Box 2, Folder 24
Mukharji, Ras Bihari
1885
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 2, Folder 25
Munsterberg, Hugo
1898-1899
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 2, Folder 26
Morris, George S.
1871-1889
Physical Description: 46 letters, 2 notes, 9 postcards, 2 pamphlets, 1 leaflet.
Box 3, Folder 1
Newcomb, Simon
1880
Physical Description: 4 letters, Harris's shorthand notes.
Box 3, Folder 2
Parker, Theodore
1857
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 3, Folder 3
Paton, J.B.
1871 May 20
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Parsons, Mrs. T. W.
1875?
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 3, Folder 5
Peirce, Charles S.
1868-1869
Physical Description: 20 letters.
Box 3, Folder 6
Pohle, Josef
1888-1889
Physical Description: 1 letter, 2 postcards, 1 leaflet in German.
Box 3, Folder 7
Porter, N.
1874 May 28
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 3, Folder 8
Raymond, W.H.V.
1868 April 20
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 3, Folder 9
Reddy, C. Ramabagi
1907 May 17
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 3, Folder 10
Ribot, Theodule-Armand
1876-1879
Physical Description: 4 letters, in French.
Box 3, Folder 11
Royce, Josiah
1877-1894
Physical Description: 10 letters, 4 postcards.
Box 3, Folder 12
Sadler, Michael
1905-1906
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 3, Folder 13
Sanborn, Franklin Benjamin
1868 April-May
Physical Description: 2 letters, 2 envelopes.
Box 3, Folder 14
Santayana, George
1900
Physical Description: 3 letters.
Box 3, Folder 15
Senier, A.
1881-1882
Physical Description: 2 letters, 2 postcards.
Box 3, Folder 16
Simon, T. Collyns
1867-1881
Physical Description: 14 letters.
Box 3, Folder 17
Stirling, James Hutchinson
1875-1884
Physical Description: 24 letters, 1 flyer.
Box 3, Folder 18
Stratton, George M.
1897
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 typescript.
Box 3, Folder 19
Takachika, Faknoka
1881 June 19
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 3, Folder 20
Tanaka, Fujinaro
1876, 1880
Physical Description: 2 letters.
Box 3, Folder 21
Taylor, Bayard
1871
Physical Description: 1 letter, 1 envelope.
Box 3, Folder 22
Tokama, Kawano
1881 February 10
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 3, Folder 23
Vaihinger, Hans
1881-1904
Physical Description: 4 letters, 1 postcard, in German..
Box 3, Folder 24
Van Becelaere, F. L.
1902-1903
Physical Description: 4 letters.
Box 3, Folder 25
Vera, A.
1871-1875
Physical Description: 8 letters.
Box 3, Folder 26
Wallace, William
1874-1904
Physical Description: 5 letters from Wallace, plus 1 letter from Mrs. Wallace and 1 letter from Edwin Wallace.
Box 3, Folder 27
Ward, James
1880-1904
Physical Description: 6 letters.
Box 3, Folder 28
Wasson, David A.
1866-1884
Physical Description: 10 letters.
Box 3, Folder 29
Watson, John
1875-1909
Physical Description: 52 letters, 14 postcards, 1 manuscript.
Box 3, Folder 30
Weiss, Georg
1882
Physical Description: 1 postcard, in German.
Box 3, Folder 31
Wiggin, Kale Douglas
1902?
Physical Description: 1 letter.
Box 4, Folder 1
"Theology"
undated
Physical Description: 51 small notebook pages, handwritten essay.
Box 4, Folder 2
W.T.H. address on the "Doctrine of the Divine Personality"
1896
Physical Description: Typed copy of original manuscript.
Scope and Content
Delivered at the Philosophical Union, University of California at Berkeley.
Box 4, Folder 3
G.H. Harrison on W.T.H.'s article
undated
Physical Description: Accompanied by envelope with "G.H. Harrison/on W.T.H.'s/article" in Harris's hand.
Box 4, Folder 4
W.T.H. notes for discussions at Philosophical Union
1896
Physical Description: Notebook size pages, handwritten notes.
Scope and Content
Based on Josiah Royce's pamphlet "The Conception of God" and G.H. Harrison's comments in the same pamphlet. Also, notes for
a Tuesday morning meeting of the Philosophical Union on "Defend and Expound and Criticize Hegel".
Box 4, Folder 5
[Philosophical Union papers]
1896-1897
Scope and Content
Typewritten essays by T.P. Bailey, Jr., E.N. Henderson, and J.E. Beard.
Box 4, Folder 6
[Philosophical Union address]
1896
Scope and Content
Original manuscript of W.T.H. address before the Philosophical Union, December 18, 1896, on "Doctrine of the Divine Personality."
Composed of original introduction combined with portions of an address given before the Parliament of Religions (Chicago,
1893), on "The Proofs of the Existence of God."
Box 4, Folder 7
[Philosophical Union pamphlets]
1896
Box 4, Folder 8
W.T.H.'s engagements in California
1896 December
Box 4, Folder 9
[Scrapbook pages]
1896-1897
Scope and Content
Pages of a scrapbook containing clippings about Harris, the State Teachers' Association meeting in San Jose, and the Philosophical
Union.
Box 4, Folder 10
[Photograph of George H. Harrison]
1894 October
Box 4, Folder 11
[Glenmore Group photograph]
circa 1890