Collection Overview

Summary
Arrangement
Description
Using the Collection

Note: some material may be restricted or offsite

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Subject Headings
History / Biographical Note

Collection Contents

View All
Series I: Administrative, 1943-2002
Series V: Reference and Research, 1933-2002
Series VI: Studies and Projects, 1935-1997
Series VIII: Audio Tapes (Reel-to-Reel), 1968-1972

Robert K. Merton papers, 1928-2003, bulk 1943-2001

After clicking 'Submit Request', users will login with their UNI and password (Columbia affiliates) or their special collections account (external users). Appointments are required and will be arranged according to each individual repository's policy.

Series III: Course Materials, 1928-1998

Course materials document Robert K. Merton's academic pursuits, from his studies as an undergraduate student at Temple University, to his longtime Professorship with Columbia University's Sociology Department. In addition to providing an overview of Merton's teaching career, the records also trace Merton's early academic influences and activities. As an undergraduate at Temple University, Merton studied under George Simpson and later became his research assistant. While attending Harvard University, Merton was largely influenced by Pitirim Sorokin and Talcott Parsons. With Parson's encouragement, Merton undertook the role of both tutor and instructor with Harvard University's Sociology Department. Merton also found inspiration from E.F. Gay, who helped develop his interested in science and technology. This series underscores the significance of these early mentors and depicts Merton's subsequent scholastic activities, including teaching at various institutions and research endeavors. Series III is divided into four subseries that reflect the stages of Merton's academic career.

Subseries III.1: Courses Attended and Student Activities, 1928-1939

Material in Subseries III.1 pertains to courses Merton attended as a student in the early 1930s at both Temple University and Harvard University. Items include handwritten lecture notes, course handouts, syllabi, examination questions, and a paper written by Merton. When known, course instructors are noted. Items related to course materials, but are unconfirmed as courses Merton attended, are included in the folder titled 'General.' This subseries illustrates the courses and professors that influenced Merton's early career pursuits and sociological interests. Of particular value is a document from a meeting of Parsons' Sociological Group. Merton formed this group with other sociology students while at Harvard University and they met frequently with professor Talcott Parsons to develop and discuss sociological problems and theoretical issues. Merton later cited the group and Parsons' role in his sociological development as fundamentally influential.


Box 123 Folder 1 General, 1937-1938

Box 123 Folder 2 Anthropology Courses--General, 1929-1930

Box 123 Folder 3 Contemporary Sociological Theory with Pitirim Sorokin, 1931

Box 123 Folder 4 Criminology with E.W. Burgess, 1939

Box 123 Folder 5 Criminology and Penology with Negley Teeters, 1929

Box 123 Folder 6 Economic Statistics with Crum, 1932

Box 123 Folder 7 Economics with E.Gay, 1931-1932

Box 123 Folder 8 The Far East (Professor Unknown), 1930

Box 123 Folder 9 Modern Economics with O.H. Taylor, 1937-1938


Box 148 Folder 2 Parsons' Sociological Group, 1937


Box 123 Folder 10 Principles of Sociology with George Simpson, 1928-1929

Box 123 Folder 11 Race Relations (Professor Unknown), undated

Box 123 Folder 12 Rural Social Organization with Greene, 1932-1933


Box 124 Folder 1 Self Regulation of the Social Organism with Corrado Gini, 1936

Box 124 Folder 2 Social Dynamics with Pitirim Sorokin, 1931-1936

Box 124 Folder 3 Sociology I with Pitirim Sorokin, 1936-1937

Box 124 Folder 4 Student Paper--"Some Considerations on Durkheim's Sociology,", 1932


Box 364 Folder 1 General, 1932, undated, 1932, undated

Box 364 Folder 2 Harvard University--Application and Graduate Student Dossier, 1931-1939

Box 364 Folder 3 High School Paper on Harry Houdini--Notes, circa, 1920s

Box 364 Folder 4 Student Paper--"A Study on the Functional Relationships Between Classicism, Romanticism and Various Social Phenomenon," circa, 1930s

Box 364 Folder 5 Tentative Projects--Notes, circa, 1930s

Subseries III.2: Courses Taught at Columbia University, 1941-1987

This subseries comprises the bulk of Series III and consists of items pertaining to Merton's lengthy teaching career at Columbia University. Courses taught by Merton are documented in great detail through extensive lecture notes (both preparatory and post-class), examinations, assignments, reading lists, syllabi, agendas and meeting minutes. Heavily represented in this subseries are seminars Merton co-taught with Harriet Zuckerman on the Sociology of Science. Related items include student research projects, proposals, and material relating to the referee process (also known as peer review). Subseries III.2 also contains information related to the University Seminars on the Professions, taught by Merton in the 1950s. These seminars led to the creation of the Casebook on Professions in American Society, which Merton co-authored with William J. Goode. The casebook outlines research and instruction methodology for the study of the professions and extensive documentation on its creation is included here. Items listed alphabetically by topic include assorted course lecture notes compiled thematically by Merton and research material that occasionally extends beyond Merton's teaching career.

General


Box 124 Folder 5 Correspondence, 1950-1975

Box 124 Folder 6 Examination Questions, 1953-1970


Box 349 Folder 8 Lecture--History of Functional Analysis, 1971, undated, 1971, undated

Reading Lists


Box 124 Folder 7 General, 1942-1969

Box 124 Folder 8 By Topic, 1949-1957


Box 349 Folder 9 "Twenty Five Suggestions to Ladies and Gentleman who Have Completed an American College Education and are Now Pursuing Graduate Studies as Candidates for Higher Degrees,", undated


Box 124 Folder 9 Unidentified Material, undated

Box 124 Folder 10 Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216, #G8015x-G8016y), 1947-1957


Box 125 Folder 1-8 Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216, #G8015x-G8016y), 1950-1954, (8 Folders)


Box 126 Folder 1-8 Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216, #G8015x-G8016y), 1954-1957, (8 Folders)


Box 127 Folder 1-9 Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216, #G8015x-G8016y), 1956-1963, (9 Folders)


Box 128 Folder 1-13 Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216, #G8015x-G8016y), 1963-1976, (13 Folders)


Box 129 Folder 1-12 Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216, #G8015x-G8016y), 1970-1979, (12 Folders)


Box 130 Folder 1-12 History of Sociological Theory (Course #150, #G4050y),1945-1968, (12 Folders)

Box 130 Folder 13 Lazarsfeld-Merton Seminar (Title Unknown), 1944-1945

Box 130 Folder 14-15 Selected Problems in the Relations Between Sociological Theory and Methods of Research co-taught with Paul Lazarsfeld (Course #319),, 1957-1958, (2 Folders)

Box 130 Folder 16 Selected Problems in the Theory of Organization (Course #321), 1955


Box 131 Folder 1-6 Selected Problems in the Theory of Organization (Course #321), 1955-1960, (6 Folders)

Box 131 Folder 7 Social Organization of Housing Communities (Course #150), 1947

Box 131 Folder 8-9 Social Structure of the City (Course #138), 1941-1947, (2 Folders)

Box 131 Folder 10-12 Social Structure Seminar (Course #331-332), 1948-1949, (3 Folders)


Box 132 Folder 1-3 Social Structure Seminar (Course #331-332), 1949-1950, (3 Folders)

Box 132 Folder 4 Social Theory Applied to Social Research (Course #213-214), 1943-1953

Box 132 Folder 5 Sociological Study of Medical Schools Seminar (Course #319), 1953-1954

Box 132 Folder 6 Sociology of Industry, circa, 1946

Box 132 Folder 7-8 Sociology of Professions (Course #169), 1956-1958, (2 Folders)

Sociology of Science Seminar co-taught with Harriet Zuckerman (Course #G9531x-G9532y)

Box 132 Folder 9-10 Bibliographies, undated, (2 Folders)

Box 132 Folder 11 Book Reviewing (How to), 1972-1982


Box 133 Folder 1 Dictionary of Scientific Biography Project,, 1965-1966

Box 133 Folder 2 Physical Review, 1966-1968

Box 133 Folder 3 Proposals to National Science Foundation, 1972


Box 152 Folder 1-7 Proposals to National Science Foundation, 1975-1977, (7 Folders)


Box 133 Folder 4 Referee Process, 1968-1970

Box 133 Folder 5 Research and Reference Material, 1968-1982

Requests

Box 133 Folder 6 Graduate and Post-Graduate Study, 1966

Box 133 Folder 7 Research and Teaching Personnel, 1966

Box 133 Folder 8 Seminar Materials, 1966-1971

Box 133 Folder 9-11 Seminar Meetings, 1965-1966, (3 Folders)


Box 134 Folder 1-8 Seminar Meetings, 1965-1976, (8 Folders)


Box 135 Folder 1-8 Seminar Meetings, 1975-1985, (8 Folders)


Box 136 Folder 1-11 Student Papers, 1965-1968, (11 Folders)

Box 136 Folder 12 Studies in Social Structure (Course #195s-196s), 1942-1943

University Seminar--The Professions in Modern Society (Course #417-418)

Box 136 Folder 13-14 General, 1950-1952, (2 Folders)


Box 137 Folder 1 Administrative, 1950-1951

Box 137 Folder 2 Bibliography, undated

Casebook on Professions in American Society

Box 137 Folder 3-4 General, 1953-1957, (2 Folders)

Chapters--Research and Drafts

Box 137 Folder 5-6 I. History of Professionalism, circa, 1950s, (2 Folders)

Box 137 Folder 7 II. Descriptive Statistics of Professions, circa, 1950s

Box 137 Folder 8 III. Public Images of Professions, circa, 1950s


Box 138 Folder 1 IV. Recruitment, circa, 1950s

Box 138 Folder 2 V. Education and Training, circa, 1950s

Box 138 Folder 3-4 VI. Career Patterns, circa, 1950s, (2 Folders)

Box 138 Folder 5 VII. Scope of Professional Activity and Inter-professional Relations, circa, 1950s

Box 138 Folder 6 VIII. Economics of Professions, circa, 1950s

Box 138 Folder 7 IX. Professional Role and Personality, circa, 1950s

Box 138 Folder 8 X. Professional Style of Life, circa, 1950s

Box 138 Folder 9 XI. Client Choice of Professional Services, circa, 1950s


Box 139 Folder 1 XII. Client-Professional Relationship, circa, 1950s


Box 151 Folder 1-3 XII. Client-Professional Relationship, 1952, (3 Folders)


Box 139 Folder 2 XIII. Professional Associations, circa, 1950s

Box 139 Folder 3 XIV. Social Control: Ethics and Law, circa, 1950s

Box 139 Folder 4 XVI. Historical and Cross-Cultural Comparisons, circa, 1950s

Box 139 Folder 5 Correspondence, 1952-1959

Box 139 Folder 6 Grant Proposal, 1953-1957


Box 151 Folder 4-6 Readings, 1966, (3 Folders)


Box 139 Folder 7 Correspondence, 1949-1953

Box 139 Folder 8 Cumulative Summary, 1950-1951


Box 151 Folder 7-9 Overview, undated, (3 Folders)


Box 139 Folder 9 Preliminary Planning, 1949-1952


Box 140 Folder 1-2 Provisional Outline, 1951, (2 Folders)

Box 140 Folder 3 Research Materials, undated

Box 140 Folder 4-12 Seminar Meetings, 1950, (9 Folders)


Box 141 Folder 1-11 Seminar Meetings, 1951, (11 Folders)


Box 142 Folder 1-11 Seminar Meetings, 1951, (11 Folders)

Box 142 Folder 12-13 University Seminar-- The State (Course #401-402), 1944-1946, (2 Folders)

By Course Name


Box 364 Folder 6 to 11 Analysis of Social Structures (Soc #216), 1950-1956, (6 Folders)


Box 365 Folder 1 to 2 Social Structure Seminar (Soc #331)--Minutes, Fall 1949-Spring, 1950, (2 Folders)

By Topic

Box 365 Folder 3 Institutionalized Evasions, 1952-1963

Box 365 Folder 4 to 5 Levels Analysis, 1943-1954, undated, 1943-1954, undated, (2 Folders)

Box 365 Folder 7 Sociology of Reference Groups, 1950-1957

General


Box 434 Folder 27 Lecture Notes, 1946-1953

Box 434 Folder 28 Suggested Seminar--Social Cleavages, undated

By Course Name

Analysis of Social Structures (Course #215-216)


Box 435 Folder 1 to 3 General, 1949-1972, (3 Folders)

Box 435 Folder 4 Exams, 1966

Box 435 Folder 5 to 8 Lecture Notes, 1957-1971, (4 Folders)

Box 435 Folder 9 to 10 Reading Lists, 1951-1974, (2 Folders)


Box 436 Folder 1 Student Memoranda, 1963-1967

Box 436 Folder 2 History of Sociological Theory (Course #150)--Notes and Exams, 1950-1966

Box 436 Folder 3 to 4 Seminar in Social Structure (Course #331)--Minutes, 1949-1951, (2 Folders)

Box 436 Folder 5 to 6 Seminar on the Sociology of Occupations (Course #331-332)--Notes, 1949-1951, (2 Folders)

Social Theory Applied to Social Research (Course #213-214)

Box 436 Folder 7 General, 1949-1951

Box 436 Folder 8 Lecture Notes, 1950-1953


Box 437 Folder 1 Paradigm: Group Structure and Roethlisberger-Dickson Study, undated

Box 437 Folder 2 Reading Lists, 1950-1951

Box 437 Folder 3 Student Papers, 1949-1950

Box 437 Folder 4 Theory of Social Control, 1949-1950

Box 437 Folder 5 Sociology of Professions (Course #169), 1956-1957

Box 437 Folder 6 University Seminar--The Professions in Modern Society (Course #417-418)--Casebook on Professions in American Society--Table of Contents,, 1966

By Topic

Box 437 Folder 7 to 8 Continuities in Reference Group Theory--Notes and Research, 1949-1951, (2 Folders)

(Includes Items on "The American Soldier)

Box 437 Folder 9 Modes of Structural Interdependence, 1952-1964


Box 438 Folder 1 Social Myths of Science, 1958-1961, undated, 1958-1961, undated

Status Sets

Box 438 Folder 2 to 5 General, 1955-1978, (4 Folders)

Box 438 Folder 6 Activation of, 1961-1986

Box 438 Folder 7 Central Statuses, 1958-1971

Box 438 Folder 8 Conflict in and Articulation of, 1955-1976

Cross Cutting


Box 439 Folder 1 to 4 General, 1954-1975, (4 Folders)

Box 439 Folder 5 History and Theory of, 1955-1971

Box 439 Folder 6 Versus Cross Pressures, 1947-1964

Box 439 Folder 7 Dominant, 1957-1975

Key Statuses

Box 439 Folder 8 to 9 General, 1958-1979, (2 Folders)


Box 440 Folder 1 Central, Salient, Dominant, 1964-1977

Role Sets

Box 440 Folder 2 to 3 General, 1955-1987, (2 Folders)

Box 440 Folder 4 Johnson, Allan Manuscript, undated

Box 440 Folder 5 Types, 1975

Box 440 Folder 6 Salient Statuses, 1964-1975


Box 441 Folder 1 Structural Change, 1952-1968

Box 441 Folder 2 to 3 Structural Context, 1952-1966, (2 Folders)

Box 441 Folder 4 Whyte, William--The Organization Man,, 1958

Subseries III.3: Courses Taught at Other Institutions, 1934-1998

Subseries III.3 contains material on early courses taught by Merton outside of Columbia University, as a teaching assistant and instructor at Harvard University and Professor at Tulane University. Items also relate to courses Merton taught during summer sessions at University of California, Berkeley. Records include copies of course examinations, lecture notes, syllabi, and reading lists.

General


Box 142 Folder 14 Syllabi and Reading Lists, 1937-1940

Harvard University

General

Box 142 Folder 15 Exams, circa, 1930s

Box 142 Folder 16 Reading List, 1937


Box 349 Folder 10 Correspondence, 1939


Box 143 Folder 1 Sociological Method (Course #5A)--Teaching Assistant, 1937-1938

Box 143 Folder 2-3 Sociology A (Assistant to Pitirim Sorokin), 1934-1937, (2 Folders)

Box 143 Folder 4 Sociology 4, 1937-1939

Box 143 Folder 5 Sociology of Religion (Course #6B), 1938

Tulane University

Box 143 Folder 6 Administrative, undated

Box 143 Folder 7 Social Psychology, 1940-1941

University of California, Berkeley

Box 143 Folder 8 Introduction to Sociology (Course #S2B), 1947

Box 143 Folder 9-11 Social Structure of the City (Course #S136), 1947, (3 Folders)


Box 365 Folder 6 Harvard University--Sociology 4--Partial Classroom Notes, 1936-1939

Box 365 Folder 8 Rockefeller University--Correspondence, 1996-1998

Harvard University

Sociology 4


Box 441 Folder 5 General, circa, 1938

Box 441 Folder 6 General Functions of Social Structure, 1938-1939

Box 441 Folder 7 Social and Cultural Structure, 1938-1939

Box 441 Folder 8 Social Structure and Social Planning, 1938

Subseries III.4: Notes and Research, 1930-1990

The bulk of this subseries consists of Merton's handwritten reading notes. These notes summarize writings by various authors and individuals on a wide range of topics, including sociological theory, philosophy, psychology, religion, science, and the law. The majority of notes are undated, but generally pertain to items written in the 1920s and 1930s. These notes were presumably composed during Merton's tenure as a student or in his early years of teaching, as reference for course work and lectures. This subseries also contains topical research files, including newspaper clippings, articles, and notes pertaining to various subjects. In many cases the topics contained in these subject files were explored by Merton in subsequent projects, studies, and courses. The records are arranged using the original order established by Merton and are organized alphabetically by individual or author's last name and by subject.

Individuals and Authors


Box 144 Folder 1 A--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 2 B--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 3 C--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 4 Castiglioni, Arturo, circa, 1946

Box 144 Folder 5 Comte, Auguste, undated

Box 144 Folder 6 Cooley, Charles Horton, undated

Box 144 Folder 7 D--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 8-9 Durkheim, Emile, 1953-1964, undated, 1953-1964, undated, (2 Folders)

Box 144 Folder 10 Durkheim Emile and Freud, Sigmund, undated

Box 144 Folder 11 E--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 12 F--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 13 G--General, undated

Box 144 Folder 14 Granet, Marcel, undated


Box 145 Folder 1 H--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 2 Hobbes, Thomas, undated

Box 145 Folder 3 J--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 4 K--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 5 L-M--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 6 M--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 7 Mannheim, Karl, undated

Box 145 Folder 8-10 Marx, Karl, 1951-1963, undated, 1951-1963, undated, (3 Folders)

Box 145 Folder 11 N--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 12 Nisbet, Robert, undated

Box 145 Folder 13 O--General, undated

Box 145 Folder 14 P--General, undated


Box 146 Folder 1-2 Pareto, Vilfredo, undated, (2 Folders)

Box 146 Folder 3 R--General, undated

Box 146 Folder 4 S--General, undated

Box 146 Folder 5 Scheler, Max, undated

Box 146 Folder 6-7 Simmel, Georg, 1957-1966, undated, 1957-1966, undated, (2 Folders)

Box 146 Folder 8 Sombart, Werner, undated

Box 146 Folder 9 Sorokin, Pitirim, undated

Box 146 Folder 10 Spencer, Herbert, 1958-1963, undated, 1958-1963, undated


Box 147 Folder 1 T-U--General, undated

Box 147 Folder 2 Thomas, W.L., undated

Box 147 Folder 3 V-W--General, undated

Box 147 Folder 4 Weber, Max, undated

Box 147 Folder 5 Z--General, undated

Subjects

Box 147 Folder 6 General, undated

Box 147 Folder 7 Freedom to Read, undated

Box 147 Folder 8 French Sociology, undated

Box 147 Folder 9 Human Relations in Industry, 1946-1947

Box 147 Folder 10 Jesuits, 1939, undated, 1939, undated

Box 147 Folder 11 Professions, undated

Box 147 Folder 12 Propaganda, 1943, undated, 1943, undated

Box 147 Folder 13 Science Clippings, 1930-1940

Box 147 Folder 14 Social Change, 1961-1965, undated, 1961-1965, undated

Box 147 Folder 15 Sociologists of Industry, 1946

Box 147 Folder 16 Sociology of the Army, undated

Box 147 Folder 17 Symbolic Logic, 1941


Box 365 Folder 9 to 10 Observability and Visibility, 1949-1990, (2 Folders)


Box 433 Folder 5 Genesis and Development of a Scientific Fact by Ludwik Fleck--Proofs, undated