Felix Adler papers, 1830-1933

Summary Information

Abstract

Felix Adler, religious leader and educator, taught courses in social and political ethics at Columbia between 1902 and 1933. The collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, photographs, and printed materials.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Selected items cataloged; much of the collection is classified by subject and arranged in numbered folders. The collection is divided into two series.

• Series I: Unclassified Papers
• Subseries I.1: Cataloged Correspondence
• Subseries I.2: Arranged Correspondence
• Subseries I.3: Arranged Documents and Manuscripts
• Subseries I.4: Printed Material and Scrapbooks
• Series II: Classified Papers
• Subseries II.1: Columbia Lectures (100)
• Subseries II.2. General Classification (200)
• Subseries II.3 Single Lectures and Addresses by Dr. Adler (500)
• Subseries II.4. Lecture Series by Dr. Adler (600); Berlin Lectures (600); Miscellaneous Manuscripts

Description

Scope and Content

Correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, photographs, and printed materials. Included are letters from the leaders and members of the Society for Ethical Culture which Adler founded in 1876; the ethical movement abroad; religious and political figures; and extensive correspondence with his family, particularly his wife, Helen Goldmark Adler, to whom Adler wrote long, detailed letters about his activities. The family letters date back to his parents' generation when they were still living in Germany and many are in German and Hebrew. Among the correspondents are Louis D. Brandeis, John Dewey, Abraham Geiger, Charles Evans Hughes, William James, Jacob Riis, and Lillian Wald. There is a series of typescript copies of letters to and from Adler which were probably prepared for Adler's wife and daughter Eleanor as working copies for a projected life and letters of Adler. Both have made annotations on the copies, The manuscripts and typescripts span Adler's life. Included are childhood and school days poems and essays, and later manuscripts for published and unpublished lectures, articles, essays, books, notes, diaries, and random jottings on a wide range of topics: ethics, morality, philosophy, theology, Bible, Judaism, politics, social reform, arts and letters. There is a full set of lecture notes for his courses at Columbia University. In addition to his voluminous diary entires, he also kept records of conversations with individuals he met over the years.

Also included are records for the Society for Ethical Culture and its schools.

There is an incomplete index of personal names for Classification 100 and 200 only.

• Series I: Unclassified Papers

• Series II: Classified Papers

  The Classification Scheme of the papers is as follows:

  100 Classification with Subdivisions of 100: Lists of Courses Given at Columbia University

  200 Classification with Subdivisions for 200-225: General Classification (Includes Index of Names)

  500 Classification with Subdivisions of 500: Single Lectures and Addresses by Dr. Adler

  600 Classification and Subdivisions of 600: Lecture Series by Dr. Adler; Berlin Lectures and German Material; Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Documents

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

The following boxes are located off-site: 6-86. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Felix Adler papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material-- at Columbia

Horace L. Friess Papers, Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Algernon D. Black Papers, Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Alternate Form Available

Josephine Shaw letters are on: microfilm.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Horace L. Friess, 1974 and Mrs. Ruth Adler Freiss Gutmann, 1976-78 and 1981.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers Processed BRC 04/24/74.

Papers Processed JL-W 03/--/84.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2012-10-02 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical sketch

Felix Adler (Columbia A.B., 1870), religious leader and educator, taught courses in social and political ethics at Columbia between 1902 and 1933.