NTE2cg842.xml Guide to the Laurence J. Peter Papers 1959-1987 Peter (Laurence J.) Papers Finding aid prepared by Megan Bridge and Steven Bingo. Washington State University Libraries Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections © 2016 Finding aid encoded by Steven Bingo in 2016. Finding aid written in English. English. Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard). Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections Peter, Laurence J. Cage 842 Laurence J. Peter Papers 1959-1987 7 Linear feet of shelf space 15 Boxes and 1 Oversize folder The Laurence J. Peter Papers consist of documents about Peter's career as an author, educator, and satirist. Peter, best known for his work The Peter Principle, was a professor of education at the University of Southern California and author of 11 works. This collection primarily contains book manuscripts, correspondence, recorded lectures, and realia representative of Peter's satire. Collection materials are in English.

Laurence Peter was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1919. Peter received both his bachelors and master’s in education from Western Washington University in 1957 and 1958 respectively before receiving his Ph. D. in education from Washington State University in 1963. After graduating, Peter worked in Vancouver before being hired as an Associate Professor of Education, Director of the Evelyn Frieden Centre for Prescriptive Teaching, and Coordinator of Programs for Emotionally Disturbed Children at the University of Southern California in 1967. In 1969, W. Morrow published Peter’s best known publication The Peter Principle, which outlines how employees tend to rise to their level of incompetence, which sold over 200,000 copies in its first year of publication, was translated into 38 languages, and was on the New York Times best sellers list. The work was created in conjunction with free-lance writer Raymond Hull. It is still widely cited today in the corporate world. His publications about education include a four volume work titled Competencies for Teaching: System of Accountability for Teacher Education. He continued to publish a number of other books until his death on January 12, 1990 in his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California.

Peter married twice, first to Nancy Bailey in 1943 and then to Irene Howe in 1967. Nancy and Laurence had four children, John, Edward, Margaret, and Alice.

This collection consists of materials documenting Peter’s career as an author, educator, and satirist. Much of the collection contains typescripts, proofs, and galleys of Peter’s publications. The collection also contains correspondence, files for events attended by Peter, including presentations recorded on reel-to-reel audio tape, photographs of Peter, and selected realia, including a Golden Dinosaur award. Some incoming correspondence was written by celebrities, including George Carlin and Steve Allen.

Some of the items in this collection contain terms that have historically been used to dismiss, discount and marginalize individuals from particular communities. MASC recognizes the harm caused by these terms. We retain the language in this finding aid to document history and preserve context.

Series 1: Publications, 1959-1987. This series contains typescript drafts, proofs, and galleys of Peter's book length works, as well as reviews and other documents about his publications. This series is divided into 10 subseries, 1 for each title represented in the collection and general subseries for files about Peter's work or shorter works, such as articles.

Subseries 1: The Laughter Prescription, circa 1982. This subseries consists of one bound typescript of The Laughter Prescription.

Subseries 2: The Peter Plan, undated. This subseries consists of one bound typescript of the Peter Plan and a set of slides featuring illustrations from the book.

Subseries 3: The Peter Prescription, 1972-1973. This subseries consists of a bound and unbound typescripts of the book. In addition, this subseries contains an audio recording of the book on audio cassette.

Subseries 4: The Peter Principle, 1968-1986. This subseries consists of a bound and unbound typed draft of the book, a set of galley proofs, a follow up book length comic titled The Peter Principle: The Wide World of Incompetence by Matt Wuerker, and a film version of the book on 16 mm film.

Subseries 5: The Peter Pyramid, undated. This subseries consists of an unbound typescript of the book.

Subseries 6: Peter’s Almanac, undated. This subseries consists of one bound typescript of Peter’s Almanac.

Subseries 7: Peter’s People, undated. This subseries consists of one bound typescript of Peter’s People.

Subseries 8: Peter’s Quotations, undated. This subseries consists of an unbound typescript of Peter’s Quotations along with multiple copies of the index and table of subjects.

Subseries 9: Prescriptive Teaching, undated. This subseries consists of one bound typescript of Prescriptive teaching and notes on how to use the book.

Subseries 10: Process of Teaching, circa 1985. This subseries consists of on unbound typescript of the book including the instructor’s manual.

Subseries 11: Why Things Go Wrong, 1979-1984. This subseries consists of one unbound typescript of Why Things Go Wrong and a proposal for a heavily illustrated version of the book featuring several cartoons.

Subseries 12: Reviews and articles, 1959-1987. This series consists of reviews and publicity for works by Peter, articles by Peter, book ideas, and a Russian translation of an excerpt from the Peter Principle.

Series 2: Events and lectures, 1968-1982. This series consists of flyers, programs, and audio recordings of events in which Peter participated.

Series 3: Correspondence, 1965-1986. This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence. The file of celebrity correspondence includes correspondence from George Carlin and Steve Allen.

Series 4: Photographs, 1969-1985. This series consists of photographs taken largely for the purpose of publicity.

Series 5: Miscellaneous, 1968-1986. This series consists of farcical documents such as documents about Peter University and risqué personality assessments. The series also contains flyers and posters.

Series 6: Awards and realia, 1987. This series consists of awards both earned by and awarded by Peter, in addition to items that reflect Peter’s humor, including a name plate and branding iron.

The collection is arranged in 6 series: Series 1, Publications, is arranged alphabetically by title; Series 2, Events, is arranged in alphabetical order; Series 3, Correspondence, is arranged chronologically with a separate file titled celebrity correspondence; Series 4, Photographs; Series 5, Miscellaneous, is arranged in alphabetical order; and Series 6, Awards and Realia.

This collection is open and available for research use.

Copyright restrictions may apply.

[Item description]

Laurence Peter Papers, 1959-1987 (Cage 842)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

The Laurence Peter Papers were donated to Washington State University by Laurence Peter from 1977-1988 (MS 1977-50, MS 1983-25, MS 1986-23, MS 1986-30, MS 1987-25, MS 1988-31).

This collection was processed by Megan Bridge and Steven Bingo in 2016.

A copy of the Laughter Prescription and issues of Human Behavior Magazine were separated from this collection and cataloged with the WSU Libraries' rare books. The issues of Human Behavior Magazine contain a column titled "Peter's People."

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Peter, Laurence J. -- Archives Management -- Humor Organizational behavior Bureaucracy Literature Businesses and Corporations Series 1 Publications 1959-1987 Subseries 1 The Laughter Prescription circa 1982 10 Bound typescript copy circa 1982 Subseries 2 The Peter Plan undated 10 Bound typescript draft undated 13 Illustrations from the Peter Plan "Morrow" undated Subseries 3 The Peter Prescription 1972-1973 1 1 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Beginning pages, includes Introduction 1972 1 2 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 1 Chapter 1, 1-13 1972 1 3 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 1 Chapter 2, 14-33 1972 1 4 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 1 Chapter 3, 34-57 1972 1 5 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 1 Chapter 4, 58-73 1972 1 6 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 2 Chapter 5, 74-93 1972 1 7 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 2 Chapter 6, 94-124 1972 1 8 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 2 Chapter 7, 125-138 1972 1 9 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 2 Chapter 8, 139-153 1972 1 10 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 3 Chapter 9, 154-175 1972 1 11 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 3 Chapter 10, 176-193 1972 1 12 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 3 Chapter 11, 194-217 1972 1 13 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Part 3 Chapter 12, 218-255 1972 1 14 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Au Revoir, 259-259 1972 1 15 Original Manuscript The Peter Prescription Notes and Captions of Illustrations 1972 10 Bound typescript draft 1972 12 The Sound Edition of the Peter Prescription (audio cassette) 1973 Subseries 4 The Peter Principle 1968-1986 1 16 Information on film The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong 1975 1 17 Original Manuscript for The Peter Principle Beginning pages and Introduction 1968 1 18 Original Manuscript Chapters 1-5 The Peter Principle 1968 1 19 Original Manuscript Chapters 6-10 The Peter Principle 1968 1 20 Original Manuscript Chapters 11-15 The Peter Principle 1968 1 21 Original Manuscript Glossary and Notes on the Illustrations The Peter Principle 1968 Map Drawer Galley proofs Beginning Pages undated Map Drawer Galley proofs The Peter Principle undated Map Drawer Galley proofs The Peter Principle undated Map Drawer Galley proofs Beginning Pages undated 10 The Peter Principle undated 1 22 Manuscript for The Peter Principle: The Wide World of Incompetence undated 1 23 Peter Principle Cartoons 1984-1986 15 Peter Principle Why Things Go Wrong 16 mm film 1975 4 74 A Cartoon the Peter Principle Why Things Always Go Wrong 1979 Subseries 5 The Peter Pyramid undated 1 24 Typed Manuscript The Peter Pyramid Chapter 1, 1-25 undated 1 25 Typed Manuscript The Peter Pyramid Chapter 2, 26-52 undated 2 26 Typed Manuscript The Peter Pyramid Chapter 3, 53-102 undated 2 27 Typed Manuscript The Peter Pyramid Chapter 4, 103-142 undated 2 28 Typed Manuscript The Peter Pyramid Chapter 5, 143-184 undated Subseries 6 Peter's Almanac undated 11 Bound typescript draft undated Subseries 7 Peter's People undated 11 Bound typescript draft undated Subseries 8 Peter's Quotations undated 2 29 Table of Subjects for Peter's Quotations undated 2 30 Beginning Pages for Peter's Quotations undated 2 31 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 1-100 undated 2 32 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 101-200 undated 2 33 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 201-300 undated 2 34 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 301-400 undated 2 35 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 401-500 undated 3 36 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 501-600 undated 3 37 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 601-700 undated 3 38 Body of the book Peter's Quotations 701-761 undated 3 39 Index and Names and Authors for the book Peter's Quotations undated 3 40 Table of Subjects (2 copies) undated 3 41 Index undated Subseries 9 Prescriptive Teaching undated 11 Unbound typescript draft undated 3 42 Prescriptive Teaching Systems Film undated Subseries 10 Process of Teaching circa 1985 3 43 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Opening pages and Introduction undated 3 44 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter One "Tutoring" undated 3 45 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Two "Conceptual Model" undated 3 46 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Three "Assessment" undated 3 47 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Four "Program Objectives" undated 3 48 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Five "Lesson Objectives" undated 3 49 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Six "Elicitors" undated 3 50 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Seven "Reinforces" undated 3 51 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Eight "Transfer and Generalization" undated 4 52 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Nine "Individual Differences" undated 4 53 Original Manuscript Processes of Teaching Chapter Ten "Evaluation" undated 4 54 Processes of Teaching "Classroom Instruction" undated 4 55 Processes of Teaching Appendix A "Group Assessment" undated 4 56 Processes of Teaching Appendix B "Unit and Course Objectives" undated 4 57 Processes of Teaching Appendix C "Lesson Plans" undated 4 58 Processes of Teaching Appendix D "Teacher Performance and Instructional Media" undated 4 59 Processes of Teaching Appendix E "Contingency Management" undated 4 60 Processes of Teaching Appendix F "Individual Instruction" undated 4 61 Processes of Teaching Appendix G "Group Evaluation" undated 4 62 Processes of Teaching: Instructors Manual circa 1985 Subseries 11 Why Things Go Wrong 1979-1984 4 63 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Opening Pages 1984 4 64 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter One "A Man of Principle" 1984 4 65 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Two "Law and Disorder" 1984 4 66 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Three "A Clot for Every Slot" 1984 4 67 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Four "Gloom at the Top" 1984 4 68 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Five "Business as Usual" 1984 4 69 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Six "To Whom It May Concern" 1984 4 70 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Seven "Military Intelligence" 1984 4 71 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Eight "Short Cuts" 1984 4 72 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Nine "As the World Churns" 1984 4 73 Edited manuscript Why Things Go Wrong Chapter Ten "The Implausible Dream" 1984 Subseries 12 Reviews and articles 1959-1987 4 75 Articles, Book Reviews, Recent Activities 1962-1971 4 76 Best Seller Lists 1966-1983 5 77 Copies of Articles which L. J. Peter paraphrased 1967-1982 5 78 Einstein Revisited September 30, 1983 5 79 Focus on Exceptional Children volume 3 May 03, 1971 5 80 Gloom at the Top 1971-1982 5 81 Gloom at the Top 1959-1980 5 82 Humor and Peace undated 5 83 Inostrannaya Literatura (Russian translation of Peter Principle excerpt pp. 195-209) 1987 5 84 International Youth and Peace Years 1984-1985 4 86 Laughter Prescription review October 01, 1982 5 87 Peace Must Be Spoken in Many Languages May 23, 1984 5 88 Peter- Almanac 1979-1983 5 89 Peter- Clippings 1969-1985 5 90 Peter Plan- Activities and Clippings 1973-1982 5 91 Peter Prescription Clippings and Quotes 1972-1985 5 92 Peter Principle- Clippings 1969-1987 6 93 Peter Principle Revisited, or, Why Things Go Wrong 1984-1986 6 94 Peter Quote Book 1977-1985 6 95 Peter's People- Activities 1979-1982 6 96 Quote Book- Activities 1977-1979 6 97 Quote Book- Reviews 1977-1979 6 98 Quotes 1972-1982 6 99 Quotes about Dr. Peter and Quotes about Peter's books undated 6 100 The Incompleat Writing Machine or How the Theory of Hierarchalogy Is Confirmed in a Study of the Development of the Typewriter undated 6 101 Wait Watchers: Fun Quotes for Waiting Room Captives undated Series 2 Lectures and events 1968-1982 6 102 Loose flyers undated 12 Missouri State Teachers Association speech (reel-to-reel audio tape) November 02,1978 12 National Meeting of Systems Engineers speech, San Francisco (reel-to-reel audio tape) March 29,1968 6 103 Program and Schedule: Curriculum 4th International University for Presidents "Odyssey of Knowledge" Queen Elizabeth 2 May 14-21, 1973 6 104 Program for Heidelberg College 129th Commencement May 16, 1982 6 105 Santa Barbara Conference Lecture, handwritten page 1978 12 Today Show (reel-to-reel audio tape) August 25, 1972 6 106 United Nations Day World Holiday undated 6 107 Will Rogers Memorial undated Series 3 Correspondence 1965-1986 6 108 Correspondence 1965-1968 6 109 Letters- Comments about articles 1966-1969 6 110 Letters- Comments about articles 1967 6 111 Papers, Clippings, Articles, Letters 1967 7 112 Peter Principle- Correspondence 1969 7 113 Peter Principle- Correspondence 1969-1975 7 114 Education- Correspondence 1969-1982 7 115 Letters to L. J. Peter from Richard Armour, Articles by and about Richard Armour 1969-1985 7 116 Correspondence- General 1969-1986 7 117 Peter Principle- Correspondence 1970 7 118 Peter Prescription- Correspondence 1971-1972 7 119 Peter Principle- Correspondence 1971-1975 7 120 Peter Prescription- Correspondence 1972-1974 7 121 Loose correspondence 1972-1976 Series 4 Photographs 1969-1985 OS Layout for article in Home Magazine of the L.A. Times 1976 9 144 Photographs of L. J. Peter 1969-1985 9 145 Photographs of L. J. Peter undated 9 146 Photographs of L. J. Peter by Vernon Merrett of Life Magazine 1969 14 Signed Photo of Laurence Peter undated 14 Large Photo of Laurence Peter 1974 Series 5 Miscellaneous 1968-1986 Map Drawer Poster for "Guidelines for bureaucrats" undated 8 131 "How Neurotic Are You" article from MAD magazine. undated 8 132 Miscellaneous 1968-1986 8 133 An Official History of Peter University undated 8 134 Flyer- Peace must be spoken in many languages undated 5 85 L. J. Peter Info- Processing Notes and Bibliography undated 8 135 Peter University Miscellaneous undated 9 136 Process-Centered Therapy: Personality Understanding Test undated 8 137 Process Centered Therapy: Picture Arrangement Completion Test undated 8 138 Process Centered Therapy: Process Centered Intelligence Test undated 8 139 Process Centered Therapy: Process Centered Intelligence Test undated 8 140 Process Centered Therapy: Thematic Attitude Test undated 8 141 Process Centered Therapy: Thematic Interest Test undated 8 142 Psychiatry Do it yourself undated 8 143 Three Jeers For Bureaucracy undated Series 6 Awards and realia 1987 9 147 No Bull prize for 1987 goes to witness of postwar Berlin article November 26, 1987 9 148 No Bull Peace Prize undated 9 149 Awards and Certificates undated 14 Desk Placard "Resident Eccentric" undated 14 The Peter Principle Golden Dinosaur Award for Outstanding Incompetence undated 14 Branding iron Letter undated 14 Branding iron undated