Joseph L. Blau papers, 1912-1987

Letters to Blau from Pearl S. Buck, Alfred Kazin, Reinhold Niebuhr, Alfred Knopf, Daniel Boorstin, Paul Blanshard, and Salo Baron. Also, letter from Albert Einstein to David Rosenstein.

Gift of Kathy Wyer, 2001

Series is almost evenly divided between letters received and carbons of letters sent. It includes all correspondence except that which is included in the Letters from Publishers, Permissions to Print or ACLS series (and some letters filed with specific essays or addresses).

Incoming and outgoing letters are arranged separately. Incoming letters are filed alphabetically; letters from unidentified correspondents are filed at the end of this sequence. Outgoing letters are filed chronologically by year; undated letters are filed at the end of this sequence.

Series consists of letters to Blau from book and periodical publishers as well as royalty statements from Prentice-Hall, Inc. relating toMen and Movements in American Philosophy. Also included are reader's reports of various authors' works submitted by Blau at the request of publishers, and a number of book contracts between Blau and various publishers.

The letters cover the years 1946-1986. Many of them are invitations to submit journal articles and book reviews or reminders from editors that publishing deadlines are near. The royalty statements were issued at six-month periods and cover the years 1952-1972. The reader's reports cover the years 1980-1981.

Letters are arranged chronologically; royalty statements, contracts, and reader's reports are filed separately and arranged chronologically.

Series consists of letters from Blau and Salo Baron requesting permission to quote from manuscript materials inMen and Movements in American PhilosphyandJews of the United States: A Documentary Historyas well as letters from institutions and individuals in response to these requests.

Most of the letters are perfunctory; however some document the difficulties Blau and Baron encountered in obtaining permission to quote from personal papers inJews of the United States.

Letters for the two books are filed separately. Within this arrangement, request and permission letters are kept together and filed alphabetically under the name of the individual or institution granting permission.

Annotated typescripts and handwritten drafts of chapters, parts of chapters and outlines of chapters of books edited or authored by Blau includingSocial Theories of Jacksonian Democracy(1947),Men and Movements in American Philosophy(1952),Judaism: Postbiblical and Talmudic Periods(1954),William James: Pragmatism and Other Essays(1963)Francis Wayland: The Elements of Moral Science(1963),Cornerstones of Religious Freedom(rev. ed, 1964), andReform Judaism: A Historical Perspective(1973). More than half of these drafts have not been identified.

Arranged alphabetically by title of book when draft is identifiable; unidentified manuscripts are filed at the end of the alphabetical sequence.

Typescripts and, less often, manuscripts of Blau's shorter writings. Undated pieces were probably written in the 1950s and 1960s. Representative subjects of these essays are Jewish history and philosophy, John Dewey, David Hume, the history of American philosophy and the philosophy of religion. Several biographies of American thinkers are also included. Most were published in journals such as theJournal of Philosophy,theHumanistandJewish Social Studies.

Arranged alphabetically by title of article or essay.

Mostly unmarked typescripts of one or two-page reviews and review notes written by Blau for publication in scholarly journals. Reviews are primarily of books in philosophy and religion such as Martin Buber'sTales of the Hasidimand Leonard White'sThe Federalists.

Arranged alphabetically by title of reviewed book.

These boxes contain almost entire book drafts as well as a number of shorter articles that are suitable for publication.

Reprints and original typescipts of short articles by Blau including a variety of biographies and topics in philosophy. These articles were published in theEncyclopedia of Philosophy,theEncyclopedia of Religion,and an encyclopedia published by the Arete Company. Also included are a group of encyclopedia articles whose eventual destination is unknown.

Arranged alphabetically by title of article.

Typescripts and manuscripts of Blau's short stories (such as "Time and Chance; or How I Murdered My Great-Aunt") and literary criticism (such as "A Critical Study of the Elizabethan Sonnet Sequence") Most of these works were written for undergraduate and graduate English classes; some include instructor's comments.

Unarranged.

Typescripts, carbons and clippings from Columbia magazines and newspapers of short poems by Blau. Also includes a 1943 NY Times Magazine clipping of Blau's poem "A Fantasy" with a typed draft.

Unarranged.

Typescripts, manuscripts and photocopies of addresses--other than classroom lectures--delivered by Blau on a multitude of topics (similar to those of his essays). Most of these addresses were given at New York area ethical unions, and at universities across the country. Included is a series of lectures Blau delivered to the 92nd St. YW-YMHA. Also included are several tributes Blau gave to colleagues and friends (Salo Baron, for example).

Arranged alphabetically by title; untitled addresses are filed after this alphabetical sequence.

Photocopies of syllabi, reading lists, handouts, and exams as well as typed and handwritten lecture notes for graduate and undergraduate courses and seminars taught at Columbia. Also included are outlines of planned courses Blau was to give.

Approximately 35 philosophy and 19 religion courses are represented, although for most courses only photocopies of syllabi and exams are included. Those courses with substantial lecture notes are Greek Philosophy, American Social Philosophy, History and Literature of American Philosophy, Philosophy of John Dewey and History of Judaism. Most philosophy course materials appear to be from the 1950s; most religion course materials appear to be from the 1960s.

Philosophy and Religion courses are arranged separately; when known, course name and number are indicated on folders. Materials are filed in course number order; those for which course number is unknown are filed after the numerical sequence. One folder of miscellaneous materials for which both course name and number are unknown is filed after both the religion and philosophy course materials. One folder of miscellaneous materials for philosophy courses taught at Barnard are filed after other philosophy course materials.

Photocopies of syllabi and reading lists as well as handwritten lecture notes for philosophy and religion courses taught by Blau at The New School for Social Research, Baruch College, Vassar College, the University of Minnesota and the University of Arkansas. Also included is a typewritten outline of a course Blau proposed to teach at the John L. Elliot Institute in 1949.

Arranged in alphabetical order by name of institution.

Both typed and handwritten notes on loose sheets and index cards for philosophy and history courses Blau took as an undergraduate and graduate student at Columbia. Includes what appear to be typewritten lecture notes of Salo Baron's 1929 Survey of Jewish History course and of Herbert Schneider's philosophy department course, "Study of Religions." Also includes photocopies of miscellaneous syllabi and of an an incomplete 80-page outline of Eastern religions with some handwritten comments. Series also contains undergraduate papers and Blau's master's thesis on John Biddle, along with what appear to be Blau's father's notes at Columbia.

The history and philosophy course materials are arranged separately. Blau's notes for Baron's Jewish History course are filed with other history class notes; his notes for Schneider's religion course are filed with other philosophy class notes. Within that arrangement, papers and cards are filed in rough chronological order; the papers, other notes, miscellaneous photocopies, and undated materials are filed at the end.

Typescripts and carbon copies of reports written by Blau while a teacher of English and speech in New York public high schools. Titles of reports include "Classroom Use of Auditory Aids" and "The Function of Drills in the Teaching of Speech."

Arranged in alphabetical order by title of report.

Photocopies and typescripts of Committee minutes, reports and memoranda regarding meeting schedules, nominations of faculty interviewers, applicant statistics and brief statements of admissions policies.

Arranged chronologically by year.

Photocopies and carbon copies of memoranda and reports received by Blau who, as a departmental representative, was involved with the renovations and reallocation of space in Hamilton Hall.

Arranged chronologically.

Photocopies and some typescripts of minutes of Council meetings which Blau attended as a member of the Executive Committee. Also includes a photocopy of the 1960 Annual Report and a list of publications sponsored by the Council.

Photocopies of memos to department faculty members detailing upcoming department lectures and events as well as minutes of department meetings at which course offerings and faculty appointments are discussed. Also includes minutes of the 1959 and 1960 meetings of the Committee on Instruction as well as Blau's roll book for 1949-1955.

Arranged chronologically.

Photocopies and typescripts of minutes of meetings of the Department (beginning in 1962), and its predecessor, the interdepartmental Committee on Religious Studies. Series also contains some photocopies of minutes for the Joint Committee for the Ph.D in Religion as well as typescripts of proposed courses and of reading lists for religion majors.

Coverage of the irregularly scheduled department and committee meetings is sporadic: the years 1961 through 1963 are the most extensively represented; there are very few items relating to later years.

Minutes and memoranda for the Committees and the Departments are arranged separately arranged separately from the miscellaneous materials. Within that classification, materials are arranged chronologically by year; undated materials are filed at the end of chronological sequences.

Memos and notes to and from Blau regarding the topic for an essay on the basis of which this academic prize is awarded.

Unarranged.

Photocopies of minutes of monthly seminars sponsored by Columbia and attended by Blau and other scholars interested in American studies. Also includes a photocopied directory of members and list of papers read.

Minutes are lengthy and incorporate papers presented at the seminar as well as ensuing discussions.

Only minutes of meetings 1-9, 11-19, 21, 23, 26, 28-32, 34-42, 44 and 46 are included.

Arranged in meeting number order.

Material relating to two other university seminars: On Israel and Jewish Studies, and On Studies in Religion.

Primarily photocopies of minutes, miscellaneous typed reports and photocopies and original correspondence in connection with the ACLS Lecture Series on the History of Religions.

The bulk of this series is correspondence. Most of it relates to lectures which Blau delivered at Harvard, Duke and other universities in 1964 and 1965. The rest relates to a 1971 lecture series which Blau helped to arrange.

Most of the minutes and reports relate to the financial status and publication plans of the ACLC Committee on the History of Religion.

Minutes, correspondence and reports are arranged separately. Minutes and correspondence are arranged chronologically except that correspondence relating to the controversy surrounding the ACLS attempt to publish Thornkild Jacobsen's lectures has been segregated and filed together as the "Jacobsen matter." Other reports are unarranged.

Photocopied minutes of meetings which Blau attended as a member of the Executive Council as well as copies of memoranda notifying scholars of conferences given by the Society, which was founded as an outcome of a 1953 ACLS conference.

Arranged chronologically by year; undated materials are filed after this chronological sequence.

Correspondence and copies of correspondence relating to the controversy surrounding a Jewish Studies appointment at Brooklyn College. Blau wrote an interim report on the matter.

Unarranged.

Miscellaneous correspondence and typescripts of reports relating to the Society or to the Union, the Society's parent institution. Also includes a few photocopies of minutes of the Advisory Committee on the Institute for Ethical Studies, of which Blau was the first Director, as well as some correspondence relating to the Society's Special Fraternal Commission.

Most of the material falls within the years 1952-1963.

Arranged chronologically; undated materials are filed after this chronological sequence.

Materials from conferences and meetings in which Blau participated, including a symposium on General Education and a conference on Creationism vs. Darwinism.

This series consists of one radio play, one film proposal, and one TV documentary proposal ("Sacred Journeys") for which Blau was a consultant (1980).

Copies of scholarly journals and reprints of articles written by Blau.

About 25 books--both popular and scholarly--and a number of reprinted articles by various authors, which have been inscribed by the author or annotated by Blau.