John Somerville papers, 1960-1985
Summary Information
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1922
- Bib ID:
- 6915356 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Somerville, John, 1905-1994
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 5.5 linear feet (11 boxes)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
-
Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material 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.
Description
Summary
Papers of Somerville, alumnus and brief Columbia professor, writer and political activist.
Arrangement
Not organized.
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
Material is unprocessed. Please contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material 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
Reproductions 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); John Somerville Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
accn number: Source of acquisition--[source of acquisition]. Method of acquisition--Gift, Purchase, etc; Date of acquisition--date.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Collection-level record describing unprocessed material made public in summer 2018 as part of the Hidden Collections initiative.
Papers processed mmb 5/2/1999.
Papers appraised appraiser [date].
Biographical / Historical
Internationally known philosopher and peace activist who earned the Bertrand Russell Peace Award and the Gandhi Peace Prize. Born in New York City, Somerville earned three degrees from Columbia University and taught three decades at the City University of New York before moving to Southern California in 1967. Five of his 10 books on peace and philosophy were translated into Swedish, Danish, German, Russian and Japanese. Somerville coined and publicized the word omnicide as a warning against nuclear bombing. In his 70s, Somerville switched to writing plays, including "The Crisis" which dealt with ethical issues involved in President John F. Kennedy's handling of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. He won the Gandhi award given by the Connecticut-based group Promoting Enduring Peace in 1986 and the Russell award earlier. Somerville founded several peace organizations, including International Philosophers for Prevention of Nuclear Omnicide.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
All links open new windows.