Register of the John Somerville papers
Finding aid prepared by Nick Siekierski
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2010
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: John Somerville papers
Date (inclusive): 1930-1995
Collection Number: 95058
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
15 manuscript boxes
(6.3 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, writings, and notes, relating to Marxist philosophy, philosophy and education in the Soviet Union, peace and
nuclear disarmament movements, and the loyalty-security program in the United States.
Creator:
Somerville, John, 1905-1994
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
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.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1995.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John Somerville papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical/Historical Note
American philosopher; president, Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism; president, International Philosophers for
the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide.
| 1905 March 13 |
Born, New York City, New York |
| 1935-1937 |
Somerville and his wife, Rose Maurer Somerville, work in the U.S.S.R. studying Soviet philosophy |
| 1938 |
Receives Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University |
| 1939-1967 |
At Hunter College (the City University of New York) Somerville advances from Instructor to Professor Emeritus |
| 1946 |
Author, Soviet Philosophy: A Study of Theory and Practice |
| 1949 |
Author, The Philosophy of Peace |
| 1950s |
Testifies in three trials as an expert witness on the doctrines of Marxism-Leninism |
| 1956 |
Author, The Communist Trials and the American Tradition |
| 1962-1987 |
Founding editor and Editor in Chief of the translation quarterly, Soviet Studies in Philosophy (now Russian Studies in Philosophy) |
| 1962 |
Co-founder of the Society for the Philosophical Study of Dialectical Materialism (later, the Society for the Philosophical
Study of Marxism)
|
| 1963 August |
Helps organize first bi-national conference of American and Soviet philosophers at the XIIIth World Congress of Philosophy
in Mexico City
|
| 1963 December 27 |
Organizes first full dialogue on U.S. soil between American and Soviet philosophers at the American Philosophical Association
(APA) conference, in Washington D.C.
|
| 1967 |
Author, The Philosophy of Marxism |
| 1967-1972 |
Taught at the United States International University |
| 1975 |
Author, The Peace Revolution: Ethos and Social Process |
| 1976 |
Author, The Crisis: The True Story of How the World Almost Ended (play) |
| 1978 |
Co-founder of The Union of American and Japanese Professionals Against Nuclear Omnicide |
| 1980 |
Initiates California Campaign for No-First-Use of Nuclear Weapons |
| 1981 |
Awarded the degree Doctor of Humane Letters from Denison University; Author, Soviet Marxism and Nuclear War and The Last Inquest
(play)
|
| 1983 |
Co-founder and first president of the International Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide (IPPNO) at the XVIIth
World Congress of Philosophy in Montreal
|
| 1984 |
Initiates National Campaign for a Policy of No-First-Use of Nuclear Weapons |
| 1986 |
Organizes first conference of the IPPNO in St. Louis |
| 1987 |
Receives Gandhi Peace Award from the board of directors of Promoting Enduring Peace |
| 1987 |
Receives Bertrand Russell Peace Award |
| 1994 January 8 |
Died, El Cajon, California |
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection includes materials related to Marxist philosophy, philosophy and education in the Soviet Union, peace and nuclear
disarmament movements, and the loyalty-security program in the United States, in the form of correspondence, writings, and
notes. The collection encompasses the years 1930-1995, with the bulk of the materials covering 1960-1989.
The bulk of the material relates generally to John Somerville's academic career, which encompassed the study of Marxism, Soviet
philosophy, and education, as well as his political activism against the proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear war, and
nuclear
omnicide, a term coined by Somerville to describe the extinction of the human species as a result of human action. Most of these materials
relate to his work as co-founder and president of the Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism (SPSM), the International
Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide (IPPNO), and his support of and membership in related organizations such
as the American Philosophical Association (APA) and The Union of American and Japanese Professionals Against Nuclear Omnicide
(UAJPANO).
The original order of the materials was retained within each folder in the collection, as received by the Hoover Archives.
The folders in the collection were organized into five series:
Biographical File, Diaries, Correspondence, Speeches and Writings and Subject File. Researchers should be aware that the materials under a particular subject heading do not necessarily represent the entirety
of that subject and more materials may be available in another series. Even though most of the materials in the collection
are found in the correspondence series, because a substantial amount of printed matter other than correspondence is interfiled
within the correspondence folders, a reasonable effort has been made to identify important materials within these folders
that are not categorized as correspondence. Researchers looking for a specific writing, assuming it isn't in the speeches
and writings series, should strongly consider browsing through the correspondence folders.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into 5 series: Biographical File, Diaries, Correspondence, Speeches and Writings, Subject File
Related Collections
World without War Council records, 1948-2008, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Robert H. Kupperman papers, 1965-1995, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Fred Charles Iklé papers, 1972-1988, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Lorelei Kelly collection, 1983-1993, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Edward Teller papers, 1930-2003, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Peace
Disarmament
Education -- Soviet Union
Internal security -- United States
Philosophers
Philosophy, Marxist
Philosophy -- Soviet Union
Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism
International Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide
Biographical File
1935-1994
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence, clippings and other printed material; includes material relating to John Somerville's doctoral degree, academic
and professional career, and condolences to his wife after his death. Arranged chronologically.
box 1, folder 1
Correspondence relating to Somerville's doctoral examination
1935-1936
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 1, folder 2
Correspondence, recommendations, Hunter College, Columbia and Cornell University
1935-1944
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 1, folder 3
One page biography
circa 1946
box 1, folder 4
Clippings and interviews relating to John Somerville
1949-1990
box 1, folder 5
Clippings, writings and transcript
1950-1988
box 1, folder 6
Citation for the presentation of Doctor of Humane Letters from Denison University, with photograph
1981
box 1, folder 7
Book reviews
1973-1974
Scope and Contents note
in German
box 1, folder 9
Clippings, press releases and essays by Somerville related to awards received by him
1980-1987
box 1, folder 10
John Somerville's statement of retirement from the presidency of the International Philosophers for the Prevention of Nuclear
Omnicide (IPPNO), correspondence, a biographical sketch
An Appreciation: John Somerville, 1905-1994 and condolences to Rose Somerville after John Somerville's death
1991-1994
box 1, folder 11-23
Diaries
1935-1939
Scope and Contents note
Diaries describe the period during and after which John and Rose Maurer Somerville lived in the U.S.S.R. studying and lecturing
on Soviet philosophy and education. Arranged chronologically.
Correspondence
1940-1993
Scope and Contents note
Letters, writings, reports, programs, memoranda, resolutions, newsletters, clippings, research material, pamphlets and miscellany.
The bulk of this material relates generally to John Somerville's academic career in the study of Marxism, Soviet philosophy,
education and his political activism against the proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear war, and his work as co-founder
and president of the Society for the Philosophical Study of Marxism (SPSM) and the International Philosophers for the Prevention
of Nuclear Omnicide (IPPNO). Arranged into two subseries: Chronological Correspondence and Alphabetical Correspondence.
Chronological correspondence
1933-1993
box 2, folder 2-5
1940-1953
Scope and Contents note
including a letter from Harold H. Fisher, director of the Hoover Institution, June 8, 1949, clippings, notes, and the Bulletin
of the Committee on Education, National Council of American-Soviet Friendship, Vol. I, No. 2, September-October 1945
box 2, folder 6-7
1947-1961
Scope and Contents note
transcript
box 2, folder 8
1949-1990
Scope and Contents note
meeting minutes
box 2, folder 9-10
1950-1959
Scope and Contents note
writings
box 2, folder 11-12
1960-1967
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian, clippings
box 3, folder 1-4
1960-1969
Scope and Contents note
writings, clippings
box 3, folder 9
1962-1968
Scope and Contents note
writings
box 3, folder 10
1963-1968
Scope and Contents note
writings
box 4, folder 1-2
1966-1992
Scope and Contents note
some in Japanese
box 4, folder 3-8
1970-1980
Scope and Contents note
writings, announcements, newsletters
box 5, folder 1-4
1980-1989
Scope and Contents note
proposed APA resolution and "Rough Draft of a Proposal for Soviet-American Visits and Interaction (SAVI) Paul Allen, 11/22/88"
box 5, folder 5-9
1980-1990
Scope and Contents note
clippings, statements, press releases, writings and the IPPNO Constitution "Approved at the Organizing Meeting Held at the
XVIIth World Congress of Philosophy in Montreal, August 23, 1983"
box 5, folder 10
1980-1993
Scope and Contents note
writings, resolutions
box 5, folder 11
1980-1993
Scope and Contents note
book review
box 6, folder 1
1982-1992
Scope and Contents note
writings
box 6, folder 4
1990-1992
Scope and Contents note
relating to The Crisis and the IPPNO
Alphabetical correspondence
1936-1944
box 6, folder 7
American Philosophical Society (APA)
1966-1988
box 6, folder 8
American Philosophical Association, Committee on Freedom for Latin-American Philosophers
1969-1972
box 6, folder 9
Blanshard, Brand
1966-1967
box 6, folder 10
Bulgaria, clippings, writings
1973-1986
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 6, folder 11
Bulgarian Philosophy Society
1973-1986
box 6, folder 12
Burtt, Edwin Arthur
1980-1987
box 6, folder 13
Catholic Bishops, clippings
1967-1983
box 6, folder 14
Cohen, Robert S.
1962-1981
box 6, folder 15-17
The Crisis, reviews, writings
1976-1992
box 7, folder 1
Daffern, Thomas, and Phipps, John-Francis
1985-1989
box 7, folder 2
Dunham, Barrows
1961-1992
box 7, folder 3
Einstein, Albert
1950-1987
box 7, folder 4
Fédération Internationale des Societes de Philosophie (FISP), XVII World Congress of Philosophy
1981-1993
box 7, folder 5
Frazier, Howard, Promoting Enduring Peace Inc.
1981-1993
box 7, folder 6
Fried, John H.E.
1979-1991
box 7, folder 7
Friedman, Howard
1990-1993
box 7, folder 8
Ginsberg, Robert
1972-1991
box 7, folder 9
Glossop, Ronald
1985-1992
box 7, folder 10
Hampsch, George, IPPNO Newsletter, Spring 1989
Spring, 1989, 1976-1990
box 7, folder 12
Hirschbein, Ronald
1972-1993
box 7, folder 13
Hunter College, clippings, statement
1965-1992
box 7, folder 15
International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, 1982, press releases, 1980-1983 and UAJPANO
writings, pamphlets
1980-1984
box 7, folder 16
International Directory of Philosophy and Philosophers, writings
1964
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 8, folder 1
IPPNO, World Congress of Philosophy, XVII, Montreal, Canada, 1983, program, press release
1980-1983
box 8, folder 2
IPPNO, meeting minutes
1980-1986
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 8, folder 5
IPPNO and the United Nations, press releases
1983-1991
box 8, folder 6
IPPNO Conference, St. Louis, 1986 (including Linus Pauling), program, press releases, 1985-1986
1985-1986
box 8, folder 7
IPPNO, World Congress of Philosophy, XVIII, Brighton, England, 1988, reports, program
1985-1988
box 8, folder 8
IPPNO and CPP, writing, meeting minutes
1985-1989
box 8, folder 9
IPPNO and the Concerned Philosophers for Peace (CPP), newsletters
1985-1991
box 9, folder 1
IPPNO, Moscow, Russia conference, 1990, meeting minutes
1987-1992
box 9, folder 3
International Philosophy Congress, XIII, Mexico City 1963, articles
1962-1965
box 9, folder 4
Japan, clippings, writings
1952-1991
box 9, folder 5
Lamont, Corliss
1966-1995
box 9, folder 6
Lown, Bernard, writings
1981-1992
box 9, folder 8
Mannerheim, Augustin, writing and Alfven, Hannes, press release, clipping
1971-1995
box 9, folder 11
McGovern, George, writings
1980
box 9, folder 12
Neurath, Holland, photo
1936
box 9, folder 13
Nobel Peace Prize
1981-1982
box 9, folder 14-16
Notables including: Sir Alfred Ayer, Fred Warner Neal, Lord Philip Noel-Baker, Cornelius Kruse, W.H. Ferry, William Wilson,
J.W. Fulbright, Herbert Marcuse, Darwin J. Meserole
1948-1992
box 9, folder 17
Parsons, Howard
1961-1991
box 10, folder 3
Polish Academy of Sciences
1977-1987
box 10, folder 4-7
Progress publishers
1971-1994
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 10, folder 11
Schwartz, Gunther
1970-1993
box 10, folder 12
Shibata, Shingo
1984-1986
box 10, folder 13
Soviet philosophers
1962-1977
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 10, folder 14-16
Soviet Studies in Philosophy, University of Glasgow
1962-1967
box 10, folder 17
Soviet Studies in Philosophy, International Arts and Sciences Press,
1962-1986
box 10, folder 18
Thomas, Claire, clippings
1983-1986
box 10, folder 19
Thompson, Edward, Palmer (E.P.), writings, clippings
1981-1990
box 10, folder 20
Union of American and Japanese Professionals Against Nuclear Omnicide (UAJPANO)
1982-1989
box 10, folder 21
USSR, notes
1947-1948
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 11, folder 1
USSR, and writings
1947-1993
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 11, folder 2
USSR, Academy of Science
1958
box 11, folder 3-7
USSR, and writings, clippings
1961-1988
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 11, folder 8
World Congress of Philosophy, XVI, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1978, writings
1976-1979
Scope and Contents note
Some in German
box 11, folder 9
World Congress of Philosophy, XVI, Vienna, Austria, 1968, writings
1967-1968
Scope and Contents note
Some in German
box 11, folder 10-11
World Congress of Sociology, VII, Varna, Bulgaria, 1970, clippings, writings, photos
1969-1970
Speeches and Writings
1935-1990
Scope and Contents note
Typescript and printed copies, notes, reviews, correspondence, and transcripts. Arranged chronologically. See also Subject
File for reviews
box 11, folder 15
Interviews with Professors Rudas, Broushlinski, and Razumovsky, Moscow
1936-1937
box 11, folder 16
Letters to the editor, clippings
1936-1937
box 12, folder 1
Articles, relating to Afghanistan, Marxism, Catholic Bishops, Cuban Missiles, Nuclear Weapons, and Omnicide
1949-1989
box 12, folder 2-3
Letters to the editor, clippings
1950-1989
box 12, folder 4
Articles about Albert Einstein, Elie Wiesel, Soviet philosophy
1956-1986
box 12, folder 5-8
Lectures, Moscow
1958
Scope and Contents note
In Russian
box 12, folder 9
"U.S.S.R.-Philosophy" and "Report to the Commission on the Function of Philosophy in Liberal Education of The American Philosophical
Association: Soviet Philosophy and Our Educational Opportunities,"
undated
box 12, folder 10
Lectures, Moscow
July 3 and 17, 1958
Scope and Contents note
In Russian
box 12, folder 11
Letters to the editor, clippings
1961-1990
box 12, folder 12
Articles and essays relating to humanism, Marxism, and philosophy
1970-1991
box 12, folder 13-14
Lectures, Korcula, Yugoslavia
July, 1963
Scope and Contents note
In Russian
box 13, folder 1
"Second Lecture", Korcula, Yugoslavia
July 4, 1963
Scope and Contents note
In Russian
box 13, folder 2
Articles on the subject of humanism, war and the first use of nuclear weapons
1964-1989
box 13, folder 3
"The Future of Science and the Growing Role of the Ethical Factor" 1968,
America's Unknown Atomic Soldier,
undated
box 13, folder 4-7
Letters to the editor, some regarding Alexander Haig, clippings, correspondence
1968-1990
box 13, folder 8
Letters to the Editor, some regarding Alexander Haig, clippings, correspondence
1970-1988
box 13, folder 9
Writings relating to Japan and nuclear omnicide
1973-1979
box 13, folder 10
Catholic Bishops, articles and letters to the editor
1981-1982
box 13, folder 11
Soviet "Criticism and Self-Criticism"
undated
box 13, folder 12
"USSR--Education: Aims and Objectives"
undated
box 13, folder 13
"Philosophy in Russia"
undated
box 13, folder 15
Notebooks
undated
Scope and Contents note
In Russian
Subject File
1935-1993
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence, reports, memoranda, newsletters, clippings, articles, pamphlets, and other printed material, notes, transcripts,
press releases, and miscellany.
Arrangement note
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
box 14, folder 1
Afghanistan, writings, clippings, program
1979-1980
box 14, folder 2
Bulgaria, correspondence, SPSDM newsletter, clippings
1973-1980
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 14, folder 3
California Initiative and No First Use (NFU) Campaign
1978-1990
box 14, folder 4
Christian-Marxist Dialogue, clippings and correspondence
1966-1985
Scope and Contents note
Some in German
box 14, folder 5
Clippings, correspondence, writings and notes
1949-1977
box 14, folder 6
Columbia University Home Study Radio Broadcasts, transcripts, questionnaires, station lists
1930
box 14, folder 7
Communism in the U.S. clippings, and a poll from the University Centers for Rational Alternatives signed by Sidney Hook
1956-1971
box 14, folder 8
The Crisis, correspondence, programs, posters
1979-1992
box 14, folder 9
Dialogues on the Philosophy of Marxism, reviews
1974
box 14, folder 10
Domestic terrorism, clippings
1963-1987
box 14, folder 11
The Enjoyment of Study, review
circa 1954
box 14, folder 12
Genocide, scientific humanism, social philosophy, first use of nuclear weapons, Marxism, pamphlets
1949, 1968-1995.
Scope and Contents note
Some in German and Russian
box 14, folder 13
Haig, Alexander, correspondence, including from Edward Kennedy, clippings
1981
box 14, folder 14
"How Philosophy Is Studied in USSR" clipping
1935
box 14, folder 15
Hubers, Paul, "Socialism & Omnicide"
1980s
box 14, folder 16
International Philosophy Congress, XIII, Mexico City, one rolled panoramic photo of John Somerville and others
1963
box 15, folder 1
International Philosophy Congress, XIII, Mexico City, one rolled panoramic photo of John Somerville and others
1973-1993
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 15, folder 2
International Conference on General Semantics, August 9-13, 1965, San Francisco, clippings, photocopy
1965
box 15, folder 3
International relations, nuclear war and peace, articles and publications
1978-1988
Scope and Contents note
Some in Russian
box 15, folder 4
IPPNO meeting minutes, report, correspondence
1986-1988
box 15, folder 5
Japan, correspondence, clippings and writings
1961-1979
box 15, folder 6
Japan, pamphlets and correspondence, mostly in Japanese
1976-1980
box 15, folder 8
"Mary Somerville," by A.W. Richeson
1941
box 15, folder 9
"The Meaning of the Declaration of Independence: Philosophic Roots and Present Relevance," bibliographic notes relating to
the article
undated
box 15, folder 10
Molodtsov, V.S. "Philosophical Education in the U.S.S.R.,"
undated
box 15, folder 11-12
The Peace Revolution, reviews, clippings, correspondence
1954-1988
box 15, folder 13
The Philosophy of Marxism, review
1985
box 15, folder 14
The Philosophy of Peace, reviews, clippings, correspondence
1949-1954
box 15, folder 15
Reviews, clippings
1950-1954
box 15, folder 16
Soviet Marxism and Nuclear War, reviews
1981-1983
box 15, folder 17
Soviet Philosophy, reviews, program
1946-1948
box 15, folder 18
Soviet Philosophy, reviews
1947-1948
Scope and Contents note
Most in Danish
box 15, folder 19
Somerville, John, images, Silhouette 1946, Hoover Tower steps 1949, Mexico City 1963, Tijuana 1985, St. Louis 1986
1949-1986
box 15, folder 20
Theatre programs
1936
Scope and Contents note
In Danish
