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

 

Correspondence

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.
 

Papers

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