Reinhold Niebuhr papers, circa 1913 -- 1998

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Series 1: Writings, circa 1944 -- 1953

This series is open for research.

1.5 linear feet; 1.5 linear feet; 3 boxes

This series contains annotated typescripts, galley proofs, and drafts with corrections of some of Niebuhr's published work. (Today, The Nature and Destiny of Man is published as a two volume work: Volume 1 is titled "Human Nature" and Volume 2 is titled "Human Destiny." Please note that "Human Destiny and History" is Volume 2 of The Nature and Destiny of Man.)

This series in unarranged.



Box 1 Folder 1-18 Nature and Destiny of Man annotated typescript, circa 1944 -- 1953


Box 1 Folder 19-37 Human Destiny and History annotated typescript, circa 1944 -- 1953



Box 2 Folder 1-14 Self and the Dramas of History annotated typescript, circa 1944 -- 1953


Box 2 Folder 15-20 Christian Realism and Political Problems annotated typescript, 1953


Box 2 Folder 21-25 Children of Light and Children of Darkness annotated typescript, circa 1944



Box 3 Folder 1-9 Irony of American History annotated typescript, circa 1944 -- 1953

Series 2: Correspondence, 1939 -- 1988

This series is open for research.

0.25 linear feet; 0.25 linear feet; 1 box

This series contains select Niebuhr correspondence, including letters to Professor William Turner Levy that touch on a range of subjects and people such as T.S. Eliot and Lionel Trilling as well as Niebuhr's writings and plans.

This series is unarranged.



Box 4 Folder 1-9 Prof William Turner Levy, 1950 -- 1968


Box 4 Folder 10-11 John C Bennett (bulk; copies from LOC), 1939 -- 1972


Box 4 Folder 12 Christopher Niebuhr from Hans Christoph Von Hase, 1987


Box 4 Folder 13 Ursula Niebuhr from Hans Christoph Von Hase, 1988

Series 3: General, circa 1913 -- 1998

This series contains some restricted material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list.

0.75 linear feet; 0.75 linear feet; 1 box

This series contains general files including the Bible given to Niebuhr as a remembrance of his ordination, obituaries of both Reinhold and Ursula Niebuhr, and photocopies of the pages from Niebuhr's biography Courage to Change by June Bingham, which show passages underlined by President Jimmy Carter in 1976. Notes relating to an exhibition on Niebuhr in which Tony Byrnes, Burke Library Cataloger, wrote to Dr. Milton Gatch, Burke Library director, about Niebuhr's relationship to T.S. Eliot are also included.

This series is unarranged.


Box 4 Folder 14 Photocopies of Niebuhr's biography Courage to Change, by June Bingham, underlining by President J. Carter, 1976


Box 4 Folder 15 Ursula Niebuhr Obituaries, circa 1997


Box 4 Folder 16-17 Notes and Titles for Exhibition, circa 1978 -- 1998


Box 4 Folder 18 Consultation Copies: Ernst Von Harnack typescript biography by Anna Harnack; Copies of Decorations by Harnack; Letter Professor John Brown Mason to Niebuhr, 1945 -- 1957


Box 4 Folder 19 Originals: Ernst Von Harnack typescript biography by Anna Harnack; Copies of Decorations by Harnack; Letter Professor John Brown Mason to Niebuhr, 1945 -- 1957

This file is fragile and restricted from use; please use consultation copies in Folder 18.


Box 4 Folder 20 Reinhold Niebuhr Ordination Gift Bible, 1913