Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Howard Woolston papers, 1922-1947
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Woolston, Howard Brown, 1876-1961
- Title
- Howard Woolston papers
- Dates
- 1922-1947 (inclusive)19221947
- Quantity
- 10 cubic ft. (27 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 1400 (Accession No. 1400-001)
- Summary
- The collection contains original research in the fields of group behavior, urban sociology and prostitution of a former professor of sociology, University of Washington
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Regarded as an eminent scholar, teacher and humanist, Professor Howard B. Woolston was one of the ranking sociologists of his day. He was an expert in urban sociology and the sociology of social movements, as well as group behavior, prostitution, and wage investigation.
Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1876, Woolston received his A.B. from Yale in 1898, and was a fellow at Chicago, receiving his S.T.B. in 1901. He was a Harvard fellow and received his A.M. in 1902, studied in Paris and Berlin the following two years, returning to receive his Ph.D. from Columbia in 1909. He began teaching as an Instructor at City College of New York in 1909, leaving as a professor of sociology and statistics in 1918. Beginning in 1919 he served as Professor of Sociology at the University of Washington, retiring in 1947 as professor emeritus and resident consultant. He served as an investigator for The Bureau of Social Hygiene, and was Assistant Editor of the American Sociological Review from 1938-40. He was decorated in the Order of St. Sava, Serbia, for his relief work during World War I. He was a member of The American Sociological Society and the Pacific Sociological Society.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The speeches and writings in the Woolston papers are generally treated as personal papers, with labeled folders for each item. Some speeches and writings are left in the separate sub-groups, as they relate to Woolston’s function in those organizations. The main group of writings contain much of Woolstons’s original research in the fields of group behavior, urban sociology and prostitution. This group provides great insight into the early thinking of American sociologists.
Since Woolston entered the field of sociology at a time when it was gaining recognition as a valid area of study, his papers provide a look at that development. From his early interest and work in settlement houses, Woolston helped pioneer the more scholarly and scientific study of sociology and society, and the use of statistics as a tool in interpreting social data.
Box 20 contains information of the Loyalty Oath Controversy at the University of Washington, in which Woolston was a leader of a group of instructors opposed to the oath. Some papers pertaining to the Canwell Investigations, faculty tenure, the Barnes’ Affair and the Oppenheimer case are included therein.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Personal papersReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box/Folder | |
| 1/1-3 | Biographical/Historical features |
| 1/4-9 | Incoming letters
A more detailed handwritten list of correspondents is available
in the repository.
|
| 1/10-11 | Outgoing letters
A more detailed handwritten list of correspondents is available
in the repository.
|
| 1/12-14 | General correspondence
A more detailed handwritten list of correspondents is available
in the repository.
|
| 1/15 | Correspondence of others |
| 1/16 | Mailing lists, addresses |
| 1/17 | Letters of introduction and recommendation |
| 1/18 | Financial records |
| 1/19 | Legal documents |
| 2/1-9/5 | Speeches and writings |
| 9/6-12/31 | Notes |
| 12/32 | Photographs |
| Box | |
| 13 | Clippings |
| 14-19 | Ephemera and miscellany |
SubgroupsReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box | |
| 20-23 | University of Washington
Sociology Department |
| Box/Folder | |
| 24/1-9 | United States War Department,
Civil Protection School, University of Washington |
| 24/10-12 | College of the City of New
York |
| 24/13-18 | American Sociological
Society |
| 25/1-6 | Social Science Research
Council |
| 25/7-9 | Social Science Research Council,
Pacific Coast Regional Committee |
| 25/10-21 | Social Science Research
Conference of the Pacific Coast |
| 25/22-24 | Pacific Sociological
Society |
| 25/24-33 | Phi Beta Kappa, Washington
Chapter |
| 25/34-38 | Alpha Kappa Delta, Washington
Chapter |
| 25/39-43 | Washington State Planning
Council |
| 25/44-46 | Beta Epsilon, Washington
Chapter |
| 25/47-48 | Cleveland Summer Playgrounds
Committee |
| tube | |
| 26 | Diploma, Eastman School of
Business |
| 27 | Notes, statistical charts on
sociological topics |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Civil defense
- Civil defense--United States
- Human behavior--Research
- Professional associations--United States
- Prostitution--Research
- Sociologists--Washington (State)--Seattle--20th century
- Sociology teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Sociology, Urban--Research
- Sociology--Societies, etc
- Sociology--Study and teaching--Washington (State)
- Sociology--United States--20th century
- Trade associations--United States
Personal Names
- Woolston, Howard Brown, 1876-1961--Archives
Corporate Names
- American Sociological Society
- Pacific Sociological Society (U.S.)
- Social Science Research Council (U.S.)
- United States. War Department. Civil Protection School (University of Washington)
- University of Washington--Faculty
- Washington State Planning Council
Geographical Names
- Washington (State)--Civil defense
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
