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University of Washington Department of Philosophy records, 1917-2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Washington. Department of Philosophy
Title
University of Washington Department of Philosophy records
Dates
1917-2006 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.91 cubic feet (3 boxes plus 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
UW Resource No. 00299
Summary
Records of the University of Washington Department of Philosophy
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

Open to all users, but access to portions of the collection is restricted. Contact Special Collections for details.

Request at UW

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Historical Note

The Department of Philosophy and Psychology was established at the University of Washington in 1902 with the appointment of William Savery as its chair and only professor. Savery slowly augmented the department, and many of these professors went on to have distinguished careers. By 1915 Psychology became a separate department. William Savery died in 1945 after having chaired the department for 43 years. A gift of six hundred books from his personal collection formed the nucleus of the philosophy library, and in 1947, Philosophy Hall was renamed in his honor.

Savery's legacy is also perceptible in the philosophy department's emphasis on the position of philosophy in contemporary culture and the lives of its students. Savery, along with his colleagues Vernon Parrington and J. Allen Smith, participated in the campus's intellectual and progressive movements, and often advocated for liberal policies in Washington State. Later faculty members also vocalized their political ideals, generating controversy and leading to criticism of the department. During the Joseph McCarthy era of the 1950s, Herbert Phillips was fired by the university for his acknowledged communism, and Melvin Rader was tried and acquitted of perjury for denying charges of communist activity alleged by the Washington State Joint Fact Finding Committee on Un-American Activities (also known as the Canwell Committee). During the 1960s and 1970s, Professor Frederick Adrian Siegler became a popular but contentious figure on campus for his unorthodox pedagogy, and Professor Michael Lerner garnered attention for his involvement in anti-war protests with the Seattle Liberation Front.

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Content Description

Departmental reviews and self-studies, annual reports, salary and tenure policies, faculty files, teaching assistant training handbooks, graduate student handbooks, and brochures and publicity.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Public Records (Use is unrestricted after access has been granted).

Preferred Citation

University of Washington Department of Philosophy records. Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle, Washington.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 05-027, University of Washington, Department of Philosophy records, 1917-1996
  • Accession No. 16-042, University of Washington, Department of Philosophy records, 1957-2006

Processing Note

Processed in 2005 by Emily Inslow and Brittany Olson.

During processing, personnel and student records that were exempt from public disclosure were discarded.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Philosophy teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Philosophy--Study and teaching (Higher)--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Psychology and philosophy--Study and teaching (Higher)--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • University of Washington--Faculty
  • University of Washington. Department of Philosophy--Archives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Administrative records
  • Annual reports
  • Architectural drawings
  • Biography files
  • Business correspondence
  • Handbooks and manuals
  • Instructional materials
  • Organization files
  • Records (Documents)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Lerner, Michael, 1943- (associated name)
    • Murphy, Arthur Edward, 1901-1962, (associated name)
    • Rader, Melvin (Melvin Miller), 1903-1981, (associated name)
    • Randall, John H. (John Herman), 1923- (associated name)
    • Savery, William, 1875- (associated name)
    • Schneider, Herbert W. (Herbert Wallace), 1892-1984, (associated name)
    • Siegler, Frederick Adrian, (associated name)

    Corporate Names

    • University of Washington. University Archives (creator)

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Subject Terms

  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)


2006 (Last modified: 4/10/2017)

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