THE GREAT IDEAS: THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO AND THE IDEAL OF LIBERAL EDUCATION 05/2002 – 09/2002
CASE 1 1. John Erskine, “General Honors at Columbia,” New Republic (October 25, 1922): 13. Reproduction from Library Microfilm Collection
2. John Erskine. The Delight of Great Books. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1928. Signed presentation copy. Rare Book Collection
3. John Erskine, “Report of Progress to July 1, 1918,” in Educational Plans for the American Army Abroad by Anson Phelps Stokes. New York: Association Press, 1918. Library General Collection
4. Columbia College, Columbia University, “General Honors Examination,” January 1927. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
5. The Harvard Classics. 50 vols. Edited by Charles W. Eliot. New York: P.F. Collier and Sons, 1909. Library General Collection
CASE 2 1. [Mortimer J. Adler], Columbia University Honors Reading Assignments—1927-28 [1927]. Robert M. Hutchins Papers
2. John Erskine, “Culture: An Interplay of Life and Ideas,” Century Magazine 116 (May 1928): 83-88. Library General Collection
3. Mortimer J. Adler’s Columbia University grade report for Winter Session 1923. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Columbia University General Honors instructional staff to Dean Hawkes, Columbia College, unsigned typescript letter, May 25, 1925. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
5. Columbia University Philosophy Department invitation to Honors Students performance of The Chronomides, February 27, 1922. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
CASE 3 1. Mortimer J. Adler, “Candidates for General Honors Reading,” [1927]. Robert M. Hutchins Papers
2. Mortimer J. Adler, “Honors Credo,” [1927]. Robert M. Hutchins Papers
3. Robert M. Hutchins to Mortimer J. Adler, manuscript letter, August 9, [1931]. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
5. “Freshman Week Program: The Colleges of Arts, Literature, and Science,” University of Chicago Announcements 31 (August 1, 1930). Mortimer J. Adler Papers
6. Mortimer J. Adler to Robert M. Hutchins, carbon copy of typescript letter, [1929]. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
CASE 4 1. Mortimer J. Adler and Robert M. Hutchins, Final Examination for General Honors 110, June 1931. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
2. “The University of Chicago,” Life (July 16, 1945): 71-77. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
3. Mortimer J. Adler, “What Alice B. Toklas Has Forgotten about Gertrude Stein’s Visit to the University of Chicago,” typescript, March 25, 1963. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Alice B. Toklas. What is Remembered. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1963. Ludwig Rosenberger Library of Judaica
5. Robert M. Hutchins, “Autobiography of a Student Who Did Not Go to St. John’s,” speech given at St. John’s College, June 8, 1942. Robert M. Hutchins Papers
CASE 5 1. College Curriculum Committee, University of Chicago, “The Educational Objectives of the College in the University of Chicago,” typescript report, April 21, 1934. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
2. Robert M. Hutchins. The Higher Learning in America. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1936. Faculty Publications Collection
3. Mortimer J. Adler to Stringfellow Barr, carbon copy of typescript letter, January 16, [1936]. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Mortimer J. Adler to Scott Buchanan, carbon copy of typescript letter, [January 1936]. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
5. Mortimer J. Adler to Scott Buchanan, carbon copy of typescript letter, [May 1936]. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
6. Mortimer J. Adler to Richard P. McKeon, typescript letter, n.d. Richard P. McKeon Papers
CASE 6 1. Mortimer J. Adler. How to Read a Book: The Art of Getting a Liberal Education. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940. Library General Collection
2. How to Read a Book advertisement, New York Times Book Review (April 21, 1940): 13. Library General Collection 3. How to Read a Book advertisement, New York Herald Tribune Books (April 7, 1940): 9. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Erasmus G. Addlepate (pseudonym). How to Read Two Books. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1940. Library General Collection
5. James T. Farrell, “Mortimer J. Adler: A Provincial Torquemada,” Partisan Review 7 (November/December 1940): 453-455. Library General Collection
6. “How to Read a Classic,” Publishers’ Weekly 137 (March 16, 1940): 1147-48. Library General Collection
CASE 7 1. [College Curriculum Committee], University of Chicago, “Analysis of the Four Reading Lists,” [1936]. Richard P. McKeon Papers
2. The University of Chicago Senate, minutes, January 22, 1942. University of Chicago Senate, Minutes, 1892-1967
3. [Clarence Faust], “The Chicago Plan,” typescript draft of report, [1944]. Presidents’ Papers, 1940-1946
4. The University of Chicago Cap and Gown. Chicago: Herbert F. Larson, 1938. Archival Serials
CASE 8 1. “The College and the Divisions: Sessions of 1944-1945,” University of Chicago Announcements 64 (May 14, 1944). Archival Serials
2. The University of Chicago. Social Sciences 3: Syllabus. 12th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Bookstore, 1946. Syllabi Collection 3. The University of Chicago. Natural Sciences 1: Selected Readings. 2d ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Bookstore, 1946. Syllabi Collection
4. The University of Chicago. First Year Course in the Study of Humanities (Humanities 1): Syllabus for the First Year of a Three-Year Course in the College. Chicago: University of Chicago Bookstore, 1942. Library General Collection
5. Robert M. Hutchins, “The University at War,” University of Chicago Magazine 34 (January 1942): 3-24. Archival Serials
CASE 9 1. William H. McNeill, “Integration,” in The Idea and Practice of General Education: An Account of the College of the University of Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1950. Faculty Publications Collection
2. Richard P. McKeon, course calendar and syllabus for Observation, Integration, and Interpretation, Autumn Quarter 1944. Richard P. McKeon Papers
3. William H. McNeill. History Handbook. Part 1. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1949. Library General Collection
4. University of Chicago Board of Examinations. O.I.I. Quarterly (December 1944). Two copies. Library General Collection
CASE 10 1. St. John’s College, “The New Program at St. John’s College in Annapolis,” The Bulletin (supplement, July 1937). Mortimer J. Adler Papers
2. Sidney Hook, “Ballyhoo at St. John’s College: Education in Retreat,” New Leader (May 27, 1944): 8-9. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
3. Scott Buchanan to Robert M. Hutchins, Western Union telegram, [October 1937]. Robert M. Hutchins Papers
4. Scott Buchanan to Robert M. Hutchins, typescript letter, June 24, 1937. Robert M. Hutchins Papers
5. Stringfellow Barr, “John Doe Goes to St John’s,” Progressive Education 16 (January 1939): 18-23. Library General Collection
CASE 11 1. Robert M. Hutchins to Walter Paepcke, carbon copy of typescript letter, September 20, 1943. Presidents’ Papers, 1940-1946
2. Walter Paepcke to Robert M. Hutchins, typescript letter, October 15, 1943. Presidents’ Papers, 1940-1946
3. List of participants in Mortimer J. Adler’s and Robert M. Hutchins’ University Club “Fat Man’s Great Books Course,” [1943]. Presidents’ Papers, 1940-1946
4. Milton Meyer to Wilber Munnecke, typescript memorandum, September 7, 1943. Presidents’ Papers, 1940-1946
5. Robert M. Hutchins’ copy of the reading list (with discussion leaders) for “Fat Man’s Great Books Course,” [1943]. Presidents’ Papers, 1940-1946
CASE 12 1. Great Books of the Western World. 54 vols. Founders’ Edition. Edited by Mortimer J. Adler. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1952. Gift of Elizabeth Abler, Rare Book Collection
3. General criteria for selection of titles for inclusion in Great Books of the Western World, n.d. Presidents’ Papers, 1925-1945
4. Joseph Schwab to Robert M. Hutchins, typescript letter, November 4, [1943]. Presidents’ Papers, 1925-1945
5. Robert M. Hutchins to John Erskine, carbon copy of typescript letter, October 13, 1943. Presidents’ Papers, 1925-1945
CASE 13 1. The Syntopicon. Vol. 2 of Great Books of the Western World. Founders’ Edition. Edited by Mortimer J. Adler. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1952. Gift of Elizabeth Abler, Rare Book Collection
2. The Syntopicon. Vol. 3 of Great Books of the Western World. Edited by Mortimer J. Adler. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1952. Library General Collection
3. “The 102 Great Ideas,” Life (January 26, 1948): 92-102. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Mortimer J. Adler and Clare Boothe Luce, “The Great Ideas,” University of Chicago Round Table (June 11, 1950). Presidents Papers, 1925-1945
5. Mortimer J. Adler to Wallace Brockway, carbon copy of memorandum, December 1, 1945. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
CASE 14 1. Program and menu from the presentation dinner for the “Founders’ Edition” of the Great Books of the Western World, April 15, 1952. Gift of Elizabeth Abler, Mortimer J. Adler Papers
2. Presentation booklet containing transcriptions of the speeches given at the presentation dinner for the “Founders’ Edition” of the Great Books of the Western World, April 15, 1952. Gift of Elizabeth Abler, Mortimer J. Adler Papers
3. Signed photograph of William Benton, Robert M. Hutchins, and Mortimer J. Adler, April 15, 1952. William Benton Papers
4. Photograph of Mortimer J. Adler, Jacques Maritain, and Clifton Fadiman, April 15, 1952. William Benton Papers
5. Signed photograph of Robert M. Hutchins, William Benton, and University of Chicago Chancellor Lawrence Kimpton, April 15, 1952. William Benton Papers
CASE 15 1. Signed photograph of Mortimer J. Adler, William Benton, and Robert M. Hutchins with the first set of the Great Books of the Western World, [1952]. William Benton Papers
2. Dwight Macdonald, “The Book-of-the-Millennium Club,” New Yorker 28 (November 29, 1952): 171-188. Library General Collection
3. Mockup for advertising flier for the Great Books of the Western World, n.d. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Advertising flier for the Great Books of the Western World, n.d. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
5. Harry E. Houghton to William Benton, Robert Hutchins’ carbon copy of typescript letter, December 20, 1949. Presidents’ Papers, 1925-1945
CASE 16 1. Promotional materials for the Great Books of the Western World, [1960s]. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
2. William Benton, speech to Encyclopaedia Britannica “Great Books” division managers’ conference, typescript notes, February 11, 1964. William Benton Papers
CASE 17 1. Photograph of Goethe Bicentennial Convocation and Music Festival Grounds, June/July 1949. Elizabeth Paepcke Papers
2. Announcement for Goethe Bicentennial Convocation and Music Festival, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
3. Eero Saarinen to Walter Paepcke, manuscript letter, July 4, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
4. “Goethe Bicentennial Makes Aspen World Cultural Capital,” Pueblo, Colorado Star- Journal, May 29, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
5. Program from the Goethe Bicentennial Convocation and Music Festival, June/July 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
6. “Thar’s Gold in Them Thar Bones,” Chicago Tribune, July 2, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
CASE 18 1. “Culture Takes Root at Aspen, Colo., as Institute for Humanistic Studies,” Kansas City Times, June 19, 1950. Walter Paepcke Papers
2. Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, final revised program, August 21-27, 1950. Walter Paepcke Papers 3. Walter Paepcke to Allen Cochrane, carbon copy of typescript letter, February 4, 1950. Walter Paepcke Papers
4. Cyril O. Houle to Robert Hutchins, carbon copy of typescript memorandum, December 23, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
5. Walter Paepcke to Mr. and Mrs. William M. Dorrance, carbon copy of typescript letter, November 14, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
6. Mr. and Mrs. William M. Dorrance to Walter Paepcke, Western Union telegram, November 4, 1949. Walter Paepcke Papers
CASE 19 1. Photographs of Mortimer J. Adler, n.d. Elizabeth H. Paepcke Papers These images of Adler teaching an Executive Seminar at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies are from Elizabeth H. Paepcke’s photograph album.
2. Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies, Summer Program 1950. Walter Paepcke Papers
3. Photograph of Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies Executive Seminar performance of Antigone (Mortimer J. Adler, center right), n.d. Elizabeth H. Paepcke Papers
4. Mortimer Adler. “Philosopher at Large: An Intellectual Autobiography,” typescript draft, n.d. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
5. Walter Paepcke, Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies Summer Program 1951, typescript report, n.d. Walter Paepcke Papers
CASE 21 1. Mortimer J. Adler to Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke, typescript letter, March 18, 1958. Walter Paepcke Papers
2. Great Books Foundation, “101 Great Books in the Modern World,” n.d. Walter Paepcke Papers
3. Photograph of Elizabeth Paepcke (third from the right) on television set of “It’s a Great Idea,” 1949. Elizabeth H. Paepcke Papers
4. Walter Paepcke to Elizabeth Paepcke, typescript letter, February 21, 1947. Elizabeth H. Paepcke Papers
5. Great Books Foundation readings. Chicago: Great Books Foundation, n.d. Library General Collection
6. [Mortimer J. Adler], “Date for Construction of Proliferation Chart,” typescript report, April 19, 1958. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
CASE 22 1. Allan Bloom. The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1987. Faculty Publications Collection
2. Mortimer J. Adler to Allan Bloom, photocopy of typescript letter, April 8, 1987. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
3. Martha Nussbaum, “Undemocratic Vistas,” The New York Review of Books (November 5, 1987): 20-26. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. James Atlas, “Chicago’s Grumpy Guru,” New York Times Magazine (January 3, 1988): 13. Reproduction from Library Microfilm Collection
5. Paul Lerner and Jordan Orlando, “An Interview with Allan Bloom,” Chicago Literary Review (September 23, 1987): 11-16. Archival Serials
6. Paul Lerner, “The Closed Mind,” Chicago Literary Review (September 23, 1987): 7-8. Archival Serials
7. Lisa Maroski, “After Bloom, Then What?” Chicago Literary Review (September 23, 1987): 7. Archival Serials
CASE 23 1. Great Books of the Western World. 61 vols. 2d ed. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1990. Gift of Wendy Doniger, Library General Collection
2. Mortimer J. Adler, “The Great Books Then and Now: 1952 and 1990,” typescript draft of speech given at the Library of Congress, October 25, 1990. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
3. Mike Capetanakis to Pat Wier, photocopy of memorandum, June 22, 1989. Mortimer J. Adler Papers
4. Eric Altman, “Not So Great,” The Nation 251 (November 19. 1990): 584. Library General Collection
CASE 24 1. Mortimer J. Adler. Manual for Discussion Leaders: Preliminary Draft for Use in Great Books Community Groups. Chicago: University of Chicago Bookstore, 1946. Faculty Publications Collection
2. John Beard to University College Great Books instructors, mimeographed typescript memorandum, September 24, 1946. Presidents’ Papers, 1945-1950
3. University College, University of Chicago, “The Great Books in the Modern World,” 1946. Presidents’ Papers, 1945-1950
4. University of Chicago Graham School. Basic Program Quarterly Calendar, Fall 2001. Archival Serials File
5. University of Chicago Graham School. Basic Program Quarterly Calendar, Summer 2001. Archival Serials File