Henry Bugbee Papers, 1936-2021

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bugbee, Henry, 1915-1999
Title
Henry Bugbee Papers
Dates
1936-2021 (inclusive)
Quantity
4.6 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 955
Summary
Henry Bugbee was an author and professor of philosophy at the University of Montana from 1957 to 1977 where he wrote and lectured on a wide range of topics. This collection contains his general biographical information, notes, written works, and class materials.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula. Student grades in Series III are restricted. Contact the repository for details.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Henry Greenwood Bugbee, Jr. was born in February of 1915 to Dr. Henry G. Bugbee and Mrs. Della S. Bugbee in New York City. He had two siblings: Dorothy and Eleanor. Bugbee received his B.A. in philosophy from Princeton University in 1936, submitting "In Demonstration of the Spirit" as an honors thesis before beginning graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Bugbee's time at Berkeley was interrupted by service in the US Navy where he earned the rank of Lieutenant and engaged in minesweeping, patrol and escort duty on ships in the Pacific. Following his service, Bugbee returned to his graduate studies at Berkeley, completing his PhD in 1946 under Dr. Jacob Loewenberg. After completing his education, Bugbee's teaching career took him to the University of Nevada at Reno, Stanford, Harvard, Chatham College, Penn State, and the University of Montana where he taught, with some interludes, from 1957 through his official retirement in 1977. At the University of Montana, Bugbee quickly became the chair of the philosophy department and was instrumental in building the program and creating and maintaining an intensive humanities program.

Best known for his book The Inward Morning: A Philosophical Exploration in Journal Form, Bugbee's work explores concepts of wilderness, art, human experience, and place. His other major publications include essays on the Book of Job, wilderness, Gabriel Marcel, the sublime, love, and education. Albert Borgmann, Bugbee's friend and colleague writes: "A major source of Bugbee's inspiration was the great literature of the West and the East. A humanist par excellence, he lived with and out of those texts, and through his example he made humanists out of many who were neither so trained nor inclined."

Bugbee had five children and two step-children. With his first wife, Jeanie Abbot, he had Ann, Joan and Bruce. With his second wife, Daphne Bugbee Jones, he had Barbara and Taj. Bugbee married Marlene Zentz in 1977. He married Sally Moore in 1982, and had step-children Jonathan and Megan. Henry Bugbee had a stroke and experienced dementia in the last years of his life. He passed away on December 18, 1999.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains materials relating to Henry Bugbee and his academic work. The bulk of the collection is made up of lecture typescripts and class material from his teaching career. The class material found in this collection begins with Bugbee's time as an assistant professor at Harvard University where he taught entry level courses on ethics and the philosophy of life. After leaving Harvard and publishing The Inward Morning, Bugbee made his way to the University of Montana where he taught courses on ethics, the philosophy of religion, eastern philosophy, and other upper-division courses. The collection also includes biographical information related to Bugbee and his family and a number of unpublished materials including essays and notes on various topics.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Non-exclusive intellectual property rights to some materials in the collection are held by the University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

Henry Bugbee Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged in six series:

Series I: Personal Information, 1939-2015, 0.5 linear feet

Subseries 1: Papers, 1939-2015, 0.3 linear feet

Subseries 2: Photographs, 1944-1985 and undated, 0.2 linear feet

Series II: Written Works, 1936-2017, 0.7 linear feet

Subseries 1: Essays and Notes, 1936-1998, 0.5 linear feet

Subseries 2: External Works Related to Bugbee, 1979-2017, 0.1 linear feet

Subseries 3: Essays by Various Authors, 1950-1991, 0.1 linear feet

Series III: Class Material, 1947-1979, 1.7 linear feet

Subseries 1: Class Transcripts and Notes, 1947-1979, 1.6 linear feet

Subseries 2: Student Grades, 1956-1979 - RESTRICTED, 0.1 linear feet

Series IV: Personal Artwork and Artifacts, 1998-1999 and undated, 1.2 linear feet

Series V: Contributions from Others, 2020-2021, 0.1 linear feet

Subseries 1: Gary Whited, 2020, 1 folder

Subseries 2: James G. Todd, 2021, 1 folder

Subseries 3: Richard Gotshalk, 1957-1958, 1 folder

Series VI: Home Movies, 1931-1939, 7 tapes

Series VII: Audio Recordings, circa 1995

Custodial History

The majority of professional materials in this collection were held by Henry Bugbee's wife, Sally Moore, before being loaned to David Rodick, who held them until their transfer to Archives and Special Collections in 2020 and 2021. Moore donated the majority of personal materials in this collection in 2020.

Acquisition Information

The majority of the Henry Bugbee collection was gifted to the Archives in 2020.

Processing Note

Many class transcripts, notes, and syllabi located outside Bugbee’s original bindings contained multiple copies, the copies of highest quality were kept, and duplicates were removed. Other photocopied material was removed when the original was intact and legible. The collection also contained numerous external essays written before and after Bugbee’s death. Essays written after Bugbee’s death, which did not directly relate to his work, were removed. Several newspaper clippings and notebooks emptied of their contents were removed.

In 2024, the VHS tapes from Series VI were digitized.

Related Materials

A brief series of letters between Henry Bugbee and Hannah Arendt may be found in the Hannah Arendt Papers at the Library of Congress.

Interviews from the Henry Bugbee Oral History Project are maintained by the University of Montana's Archives and Special Collections (OH 480).

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I:  Personal Information, 1939-2015Return to Top

0.5 linear feet

This series contains basic biographical information, personal correspondence, obituaries, and photographs.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Papers
0.3 linear feet
Correspondence was grouped by date or specific individual. The subseries is organized chronologically.
1939-2015
Box/Folder
1 / 1
Various Correspondence
1939-1956
1 / 2
Information About Bugbee's Parents
1945-1955
1 / 3
Program for Bugbee's Doctor of Philosophy Degree
1947
1 / 4
Correspondence With Gabriel Marcel
1957-1973 and undated
1 / 5
Various Correspondence
1957-1998 and undated
1 / 6
Documents Related to the Bugbee Lecture Endowment
1989-2014
1 / 7
Biographical Information
1992 and Undated
1 / 8
Bugbee's Curriculum Vitae
1993
1 / 9
Correspondence not addressed to or from Bugbee
1998-2015
1 / 10
Bugbee's Last Words
Written by a nurse caring for Bugbee
Circa 1999
1 / 11
Obituaries
1999-2000
1 / 12
Memorial Service Program
2000
1 / 13
Pedagogy and Reflection on Bugbee
undated
1 / 14
Collection of Business Cards
undated
10 / 1
Empty Envelopes from Personal Correspondence
Correspondence had been removed from envelopes prior to deposit at the Archives.
Subseries 2: Photographs
0.2 linear feet
Subseries two is organized chronologically and by context.
1944-1985 and undated
Box/Folder
1 / 15
Photocopied Image of the Ship Bugbee was on in WWII
1944
1 / 16
Bugbee's Ship from WWII
1940s
1 / 17
Bugbee in His Naval Uniform
Undated
1 / 18
Bugbee in His Naval Uniform
Undated
1 / 19
Bugbee in His Naval Uniform
Undated
2 / 1
Candid Image of Bugbee
1980
2 / 2
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 3
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 4
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 5
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 6
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 7
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 8
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 9
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 10
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 11
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 12
Candid Image of Bugbee
Undated
2 / 13
Bugbee and Sally Moore
1981
2 / 14
Bugbee and Sally Moore
1995
2 / 15
Bugbee and Sally Moore
Undated
2 / 16
Bugbee and Sally Moore
Undated
2 / 17
Bugbee and Sally Moore
Undated
2 / 18
Bugbee Fishing
1985
2 / 19
Bugbee Fishing
Undated
2 / 20
Bugbee Fishing
Undated
2 / 21
Bugbee Fishing
Undated
2 / 22
Bugbee Fishing
undated
2 / 23
Bugbee Holding his Catch
Undated
2 / 24
Bugbee Holding his Catch
Undated
2 / 25
Bugbee with Friends in Blodgett Canyon
Undated
2 / 26
Bugbee with Friends in the Rattlesnake Wilderness area
Undated
2 / 27
Bugbee
Undated
2 / 28
Family
Undated
2 / 29
Bugbee Nature Area
Undated
2 / 30
Gabriel Marcel
Undated
2 / 31
Gabriel Marcel
Undated
2 / 32
Contact Sheet of Negatives
Undated
2 / 33
Contact Sheet of Negatives
Undated
2 / 34
Contact Sheet of Negatives
Undated
2 / 35
Man on a Horse
Undated
2 / 36
Bugbee's Gravestone
Undated

Series II:  Written Works, 1936-2017Return to Top

0.7 linear feet

This series contains published and unpublished essays, various notes, annotated typescripts, and external works related to Bugbee or containing excerpts of his work. It has been divided into three subseries. Subseries one contains Bugbee’s own written work. Subseries two contains writings about Bugbee and his work. Subseries three contains essays written by various authors. The content of these works is not directly related to Bugbee, but many have light annotation or underlining, presumably by Bugbee.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Essays and Notes
0.3 linear feet
This subseries is arranged chronologically, except that Bugbee's notes are at the end of the subseries.
1936-1998
Box/Folder
2 / 37
"In Demonstration of Spirit" Prologue, Chapter 1 and 2
1936
2 / 38
"The Moment Of Obligation In Experience" Published Article
1953
2 / 39
Book Containing Bugbee Excerpts Titled "Foray through Existentialism" by Kenneth Douglas and Francis Tafoya
Page 89
1955
2 / 40
"A Series of Essays, 1958-1974"
Essays included: A Venture in the Open; Thoughts on Creation; A Way of Reading the Book of Job; The Philosophic Significance of the Sublime; On Starting with Love; L’Exigence Ontologique; Le Recueillement et L’accueil; Education and the Style of our Lives; Wilderness in America; Loneliness, Solitude and the Two-Fold Way in Which Concern Seems to be Claimed
undated
2 / 41
Extract from the journal Revue Synthèses, number 165: "Henry Bugbee, Philosophe de plein air" by Jacques Masui and "L'Aube á l’Interieur de l’Etra" by Henry Bugbee
In French
February 1960
2 / 42
Annotated Copy of "The Revolution In Western Thought" by Houston Smith
1961
2 / 43
Bugbee's Introduction for a Talk by Gabriel Marcel and an Annotated Copy of Marcel's Talk Titled "Wisdom in the Technical Age"
All work is in English
April 1966
2 / 44
"A Point of Co-Articulation in the Life and Thought of Gabriel Marcel" Essay in Philosophy Today
1975
2 / 45
Book Authors at Sea by Robert Shenk
Includes excerpt from Inward Morning on pages 262-269
1977
2 / 46
Annotated Typescript of Gordan Brittan's Lecture Titled "Autonomy and Authenticity"
This is the text of the 1993 Bugbee Lecture at the University of Montana
1993
2 / 47
Orion: People and Nature Magazine, Spring 1998, with Essay "Four Henry Stories" by David James Duncan Dedicated to Sally Moore
1998
2 / 48
Annotated Translation of "On the Ontological Mystery: A Concrete Approach" by Gabriel Marcel
This is Bugbee's translation of the work into English
Undated
2 / 49
"Early Chapters from Living Philosophy"
Author unidentified. Includes a chapter titled "Henry Bugbee, religious philosopher"
Undated
3 / 1
"Nature and a True Artist" Essay
Undated
3 / 2
"On Starting With Love" Essay
Undated
3 / 3
"Juncture in Western Thought" Essay
This draft contains alternative pages throughout
Undated
3 / 4
"The Revolution in Western Thought: Another Step" Essay
Includes multiple drafts, manuscript, and typescript
Undated
3 / 5
"Wilderness in America" Essay
Undated
3 / 6
Notes on Marx
1976
3 / 7
Notes Titled "The Epochal Motifs in Western Thought: Peculiarity of the Modern Epoch"
Undated
3 / 8
Notes Titled "Notes on Objectivity"
Undated
3 / 9
Notes on Publications by Gabriel Marcel
Mostly in English, but some portions are written in French
Undated
3 / 10
Notes on Gita
Undated
3 / 11
Notes on Augustine
Undated
3 / 12
Notes on Van Gogh
Undated
4 / 1
Notes on Various Philosophers
Fragmented
Undated
4 / 2
Notes on Various Topics
Very fragmented, possibly written under the cognitive effects of dementia
Circa 1994
4 / 3
Notes on Various Topics
Very fragmented, possibly written under the cognitive effects of dementia
Circa 1994
Subseries 2: External Works Related to Bugbee
0.1 linear feet
This subseries is arranged chronologically.
1979-2017
Box/Folder
3 / 13
Albert Borgmann Class Notes on "The Inward Morning"
1979
3 / 14
Notes and Remarks on "The Inward Morning" by Ray Lanfear and Houston Craighead
2009
3 / 15
Notes on "The Inward Morning"
Author unknown
Undated
3 / 16
Forward to "The Inward Morning" by Alasdair MacIntyre
Undated
3 / 17
Notes on Bugbee, Marcel, and W.E. Hocking by David Rodick
Undated
3 / 18
Book Review Mentioning Bugbee's work
2017
Subseries 3: Essays by Various Authors
0.1 linear feet
1950-1991
Box/Folder
3 / 19
"The Age of the Worldview" by Martin Heidegger
1950
3 / 20
"The Traginomic: Concern in Depth" by Albert Hofstadter
1965
3 / 21
"The Narrative Quality of Experience" by Stephen Crites
1971
3 / 22
"God and Temporal Being" by John Lawry
1984
3 / 23
"'Not I' says Beckett" by Edith Kern
1987
3 / 24
"Finding as Founding: Taking steps in Emerson's Experience" By Stanley Cavell
1989
3 / 25
"Reflections: The End of Nature" Article in the New Yorker
1989
3 / 26
"Why Are We in the Gulf" by TM power
1991
3 / 27
"A Phenomenology of the American Experience" by John Anderson
Undated
3 / 28
"The Origin of dialogue: The 'Tempest' Speaks" by John Anderson
Undated

Series III:  Class Material, 1947-1979Return to Top

1.7 linear feet

The class material in series III contains lecture notes, supplementary notes, and syllabi from Bugbee’s teaching career at Harvard University and the University of Montana. Material dated after 1957 are from classes taught at the University of Montana. Depending on the specific course, the lecture notes are either typed or handwritten. These notes are generally formal, dated, and closely mirror the shape of class lectures. Supplementary notes may be found throughout individual class folders and include short descriptions or analyses of particular texts or concepts.

Class material, when arranged in Bugbee’s original bindings, were kept in their original order and arranged chronologically. Other class material preserved outside of Bugbee’s original bindings were grouped by specific class and arranged chronologically; Student grades were relocated to a separate, restricted box.

Access is restricted to student grades in this series.

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Class Transcripts and Notes
1.6 linear feet
This subseries has been arranged chronologically.
1947-1979
Box/Folder
5 / 1
Philosophy 100
1947
5 / 2
Philosophy 101
1948
5 / 3
Philosophy 102
Pagination fragmented
1948
5 / 4
Philosophy 190
1949
5 / 5
Philosophy 190
1953
6 / 1
Philosophy B-151
1955
6 / 2
Philosophy B-151 and B-152
Folder 1 of 2
1955
6 / 3
Philosophy B-151 and B-152
Folder 2 of 2
1955
6 / 4
Philosophy B-151
Folder 1 of 2
1956
6 / 5
Philosophy B-151
Folder 2 of 2. Student grades relocated to box 9
1956
7 / 1
Philosophy B-152
1957
7 / 2
Philosophy B-152
Student grades relocated to box 9
1957
7 / 3
Philosophy 490
1959
7 / 4
Philosophy 454
1959
7 / 5
Philosophy 100
1959
7 / 6
Philosophy 354
Folder 1 of 2
1959
7 / 7
Philosophy 354
Folder 2 of 2. Student grades relocated to box 9
1960
8 / 1
Philosophy 120
Folder 1 of 2
1960
8 / 2
Philosophy 120
Folder 2 of 2 Student grades relocated to box 9
1960
8 / 3
Philosophy 100
1960
8 / 4
Philosophy 120
1960
8 / 5
Philosophy 355
Student grades relocated to box 9
1961
8 / 6
Philosophy 121
1961
8 / 7
The New Testament
1976
8 / 8
Intensive Humanities Program
1977
8 / 9
Philosophy 460
Student grades relocated to box 9
1979
8 / 10
Philosophy 202
Undated
8 / 11
Supplementary Class Material
Undated
Subseries 2: Student Grades - RESTRICTED
0.1 linear feet
This subseries is arranged chronologically.
This subseries is restricted because of the presence of student grades.
1956-1979
Box/Folder
9 / 1
Student Grades
From Philosophy B-151
1956
9 / 2
Student Grades
From Philosophy B-152
1957
9 / 3
Student Grades
From Philosophy 354
1960
9 / 4
Student Grades
From Philosophy 120
1961
9 / 5
Student Grades
From Philosophy 355
1961
9 / 6
Student Grades
From Philosophy 355
1961
9 / 7
Student Grades
From Philosophy 460
1979

Series IV:  Personal Artwork and Artifact, 1998-1999 and undatedReturn to Top

0.2 linear feet

This series contains two paintings by Bugbee created towards the end of his life, and his favorite hat.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
OS 11
Bugbee's Hat
Note from Sally Moore: Henry's fishing hat, which belonged to his father. At one point Henry pasted together where the creases on the top had split.
Undated
OS 12
Personal Artwork: "Fish"
Note from Sally Moore: My daughter, Megan, who is an artist was having Henry and me do a little painting exercise. This was Henry's.
1998
OS 12
Personal Artwork: "Raining Grapes"
Folder includes Western Montana Fair 1st place ribbon. Note from Sally Moore: Henry was in a nursing home in his final year of dementia. He made this in a program there.
1999

Series V:  Contributions from Others, 2020-2021Return to Top

0.1 linear feet

This series contains content by or about Bugbee given by others to become part of the Bugbee archival collection. It includes writings and reminiscences about Bugbee.

This series is generally arranged by date of receipt of content.
Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Gary Whited
1 folder
2020
Box/Folder
10 / 2
Book Containing Bugbee Excerpts and an Interview With One of His Students Titled "Existentia" by various authors
Pages 239, 278, and 295
2020
Subseries 2: James G. Todd
1 folder
2021
Box/Folder
10 / 3
A Reminiscence Written by Bugbee's friend James Todd
2021
Subseries 3: Richard Gotshalk
1 folder
1957-1958
Box/Folder
10 / 4
Correspondence from Bugbee to Gotshalk
1957-1958

Series VI:  Home Movies, 1931-1939Return to Top

0.5 linear feet

This series contains home movings of Bugbee with his family. The recordings were provided to the Archives on VHS tapes.

Container(s) Description Dates
box-tape
13/1
Home Movies
Shots of a rowing and crew competition (likely at Princeton), sailing, hiking, and fishing.
1931-1939
13/2
Home Movies
Shots of outdoor activities including camping, fishing, horse back riding/ packing, wildlife, boating, dog sledding, ski jumping. Scenes showing winter activities, the Stampede at Cody, Wyoming and the Stampede Parade, and shots of Yellowstone National Park.
1931-1939
13/3
Home Movies
Shots of an estate, boat, river views, ocean fishing, cargo boats, woods and a park, steam boats, mountains, a pack train, picnic, camping, and lake scenes.
1931-1939
13/4
Home Movies
Shots of travels in Italy. Scenes from Italian towns and cities, a boat/ship, a party, scenery and a lodge, tennis, snow scenes/ winter activities including skiing and hockey, and a pack train trip in an unknown forest. Some portions of this film are in color.
1931-1939
13/5
Home Movies
Shots of people horse back riding in the mountains, camp scenes, and shots of a rowing competition (Likely at Princeton).
1931-1939
13/6
Home Movies
Shots of girls running relay races, scenes on an unidentified lake in a row boat. Shots of people playing tennis and other outdoor activities. Shots of a beach, sailboats, and a car driving.
1931-1939
13/7
Home Movies
Child playing in the ocean. Scenes of individuals playing deck tennis on a ship and shots of life boats. Shots from an airplane and of an unknown airport. Shots of an individual fishing from a boat, a boat docking, people swimming in the ocean. Scenes from a commercial airport (unknown location) and people by a pool. Film footage of Henry Bugbee's wedding to Jeanie in 1937. Shots of a backyard with dog, neighborhood of an unknown location near a beach. Shots of Henry Bugbee, Jeanie and their daughter Ann. Pack train, snow scenes, sled dogs,,and a hunting party.
1931-1939

Series VII:  Audio Recordings, circa 1995Return to Top

The series consists of audio recordings. The majority of the recordings are memorial service information and interviews with Bugbee, some of which have been transcribed and published in the book Wilderness in America. The audio recordings were donated to the Archives on cassette tapes.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
14
Audio Recordings

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Education--Montana--Missoula
  • Philosophy, American--20th century
  • Philosophy--Study and teaching (Higher)--Montana--Missoula

Personal Names

  • Bugbee, Henry Greenwood, Jr.--Archives

Corporate Names

  • Montana State University (Missoula, Mont.)--Faculty
  • University of Montana (Missoula, Mont. : 1965-1994)--Faculty