BRACERS Notes

Record no. Notes, topics or text
122803

A few of the letters have been entered individually. Many of the letters concern the publication of volumes of letters by BR and Feinberg's proposed book, Bertrand Russell in the USA. Correspondents include Anton Felton, Christopher Farley, Rayner Unwin, Harry Ruja, K. Blackwell, John G. Slater, Paul Edwards.

There are five files of correspondence in the box. File 1 contains letters from Edith Russell; those letters have been entered individually. It also contains newsclippings (mainly reviews of Bertrand Russell's America); South End Press catalogues; three b&w photographs and negatives of BR; an issue of Liberation and other materials. There are 10 files in total.

122804

The document is titled "Memorandum from Chris Farley re: Archives (further volumes of letters)". It contains BR's views on the publication of the Ottoline Morrell and Lucy Donnelly correspondences.

122805

Farley loans Feinberg BR's copy of William Shack, Art and Argyrol, from his library in Wales; he asks for it to be returned, but it is not in Russell's library at McMaster. Farley is unable to find Four Radical Teachers, a collection of published works, including some by BR.

122806

"The operative consideration seems to me to be the need to satisfy McMaster University that volumes [of letters] are in preparation."

122807

The letter concerns things to be taken into consideration with regard to volumes of letters by BR.

122808

The letter concerns things to be taken into consideration with regard to volumes of letters by BR.

122809

Publication of Bertrand Russell in the U.S.A. [BR's America] is discussed as well as copyright issues.

122810

"We are glad to tell you that the Portuguese edition of The Collected Stories of Bertrand Russell has now been published."

122811
122812

"The Italian edition of The Collected Stories of Bertrand Russell has now been published."

122813

A few of the letters have been entered individually. Many of the letters concern permissions for Bertrand Russell's America. Correspondents include Feinberg, Rayner Unwin, Harry Ruja, K. Blackwell, Lester Denonn, Paul Edwards, Scott Nearing, Daniel J. Bronstein, Philip P. Weiner, Valerie Eliot. Also in the file is a typescript of "Bertrand Russell, American Travels", 1924 and 1929.

122814

Blackwell wonders if Sotheby's was involved in the sale of parts of Russell's library in early 1965. Feinberg's pencilled reply is also on the letter. Sotheby's prepared a list sometime after 1966.

122815

Ruja lists errors in Bertrand Russell's America, vol. 1.

122816

"The Board of Higher Education of the City College of New York did not reverse its decision but confirmed it in a second vote demanded by Charles Tuttle. Paul Edwards was mistaken on this point." [CCNY.]

122817

You do not "trace the social consequences of the [CCNY] case such as the ensuing large-scale witch-hunt that came from the legislative investigation of public education in New York."

122818
122819

The letter concerns a "Bertrand Russell documentary biography".

122820

A few of the letters have been entered individually. The letters concern the publication of Bertrand Russell's America. Correspondents include: Ken Fleet, K. Blackwell, Richard Seaver, Nicholas Griffin, Christopher Farley and Rayner Unwin.

122821

Griffin hopes to have his review of Bertrand Russell's America for The Spokesman done that month.

122822

Unwin writes that Bertrand Russell's America will be published on 25 October 1973.

122823

"My researches into Haldeman-Julius have ground to a halt, though I am sure were my father alive you would get an earful of scandal judging from the reference that he makes in his autobiography to the gentleman in question."

122824

Folder of correspondence, file 5; a few of the letters have been entered individually. Most concern the publication of Bertrand Russell's America by South End Press in Boston, Mass. Correspondents include South End Press, Ken Fleet, Rayner Unwin and K. Blackwell.

122825

Barrows writes that Feinberg is right about the historical basis of the Cold War. "I myself was a victim of the red-scare in McCarthy's time."

122826

Dunham writes in detail about his memories of the Barnes affair.

He and his wife had the Russells to tea. "They talked about the abusive letters that Barnes had written them. 'Why,' said Patricia, 'he's almost as obscene as you Bertie.' (You may think you can't use this, but I hope you will: it was true banter.)" "When the dismissal came, Barnes made use of his henchmen, who were all henchwomen (an odd lot, mostly with bulldog faces), to abuse Russell in the press." Dunham thinks he did not do enough to help BR. "Russell wrote me, inquiring about a possible job at Temple. I didn't press for this as much as I should have."

"In the fall of 1932, I took a seminar at Harvard with Alfred North Whitehead, in the course of which he made one or two jests about Russell: e.g. 'Russell is always telling us what we can never know."

When Dunham told BR he had had Whitehead as a teacher, BR asked: "Did you understand him?" The letter ends with Dunham's thoughts on BR's influence.

122827

Dunham writes about his dismissal from Temple University. BR's intervention on his behalf was not successful.

"I have steadily believed that Russell did much to keep us all alive during and after the Cuban crisis of 1962."

122828

Ogden writes about her interest on the impact that Russell had "on Chinese intellectual thought".

122829

BR will arrive in London on 11 Nov. 1966 and stay for a few days. His appointments are piling up.

[This was BR's last trip to London.]

122830

BR looks forward to meeting with Felton at Hasker Street on the morning of 17 November 1966.

122831

"In future it will be best if our agreement is altered only with my written approval concerning any specified item for the Archives."

122832

Felton will send BR the draft of The Observer article.

122833

The letter discusses various ramifications with regard to the sale of BR's archives. The Observer article is also mentioned. The letter also exists in draft form.

122834

With regard to the embargo BR writes: "I do not wish any items which are by, to, from or about the following persons to be made public during my lifetime or theirs."

There is also a photocopy of this letter with "about" underlined and a question mark in the margin.

122835

Felton responds to BR's letter of 16 March (record 122834) with regard to the embargo. He asks that BR consider removing Ottoline Morrell from the embargoed list because of "enormous social significance". Very personal letters could still be embargoed.

122836

With regard to the embargo: "It is more difficult to ensure, in over 1000,000 items, that there is no brief mention of any of these people in what are, apparently, innocent letters between other people."

122837

BR writes in response to Felton's letter of 30 March 1967 (record 122836): "I agree with all you have to say. If we run into difficulties with anyone from now on, about anything in the Archives, we can always fall back upon a private apology and—if necessary—the imposition of a further embargo. But I very much hope that such a course will be quite unnecessary."

122838

"I enclose herewith the whole of the introductory section to the catalogue of your Archives."

122839

Farley writes on BR's behalf, pointing out changes to be made to the introductory section of the Archives catalogue.

122840

Felton asks for BR's help in identifying a manuscript [the ms. of "Theory of Knowledge"]. There is also a draft of this letter, by K. Blackwell. BR did not reply. When Blackwell went to Plas Penrhyn the next month or so, he asked BR about it. He responded that it would take some time to think back that far, and left it at that. (K.B., 4 March 2016)

122841

Farley writes on behalf of BR in identifying the manuscript:

"He says that the work contains many inaccuracies, which is why it was never published. It was, in fact, abandoned and BR is anxious that it remain that way. The whole theory of knowledge which the manuscript discusses was very considerably revised and later published in a different form." BR is unable to put a precise date on its composition.
 

122842
122843
122844
122845
122846
122847

This appears to be an insertion for an anecdote about Ravenna, G.P. Gooch and Procopius.

122848

"Moreton Hall bills".

122849

BR has mislaid Smith's letter of Nov. 10 and accompanying sketch.

122850

BR encloses "a short statement of my hopes for the coming year", found in dictated form above this letter.

122851

BR agrees to be one of Ayer's referees for the Chair of Logic at Oxford.

122852

BR is glad Lloyd is taking an active part in CND.

122853

BR sends 3 cheques for deposit: $10, $5, and £5.0.5.

122854

BR is in agreement but cannot spare the time for Larson's unspecified project.

122855

BR needs to hear "the other side" of the membership question.

122856

"Send Cox and Millward letter".

122857

BR does not know enough to comment on Wokes' interesting thesis about B12 (the vitamin).

122858

BR does not agree that a decimal system vs. one based on 12 fingers "has any relation to harmony and discord in human affairs."

122859

BR finds McClenathan's point of view "thoroughly congenial".

122860

BR asks whether their proposal is affected by Stuart Robertson's death.

122861

The Catalogue of Archives 1 is being printed. 300 copies will be printed of which 200 will be bound. So far, 90 copies have been ordered. A list of illustrations forms part of the letter.

122862

BR is pleased with the selection of illustrations for the Archives 1 catalogue. They are "well chosen and entirely meet with my approval."

122863

Farley replies on BR's behalf to Feinberg's letter of 5 December to BR. BR is "delighted with the catalogue and grateful for your kind words in The Times. He is particularly sorry not to write to you personally at the present time lest he be thought to be ungrateful for the magnificent catalogue, but hopes to write at a later date."

Regarding Volume 2 of the Autobiography, Farley notes what changes BR has agreed to and what is still under consideration. "A revised version" of the acknowledgements "is being posted to you separately."

"With reference to your letter of December 1 to Malcolm Barnes of Allen and Unwin, BR does not agree to the suggestion in your third paragraph."

122864

"I have tried further to get some compliment slips signed by BR in connection with the catalogues, and I regret to say that I have failed completely."

122865

BR writes with regard to the Archives 1 catalogue: "You have clearly done a most thorough job of work, and the catalogue is beautifully produced. Please convey my gratitude to all concerned."

122866

BR writes with regard to the Archives 1 catalogue: "… I am delighted with the result. It is a most impressive document, and I congratulate you on your achievement."

122867

"I understand from Chris Farley that you are satisfied with the progress we have been making towards the sale of the Archives."

"I am writing to ask for your confirmation that to the best of your knowledge and belief and quite apart from all publishing and newspaper and magazine contracts, so far as you are aware you have not given copyright in your letters to anyone. This is quite separate to the assignment to the Foundation in November 1966."

122868

"We are anxious to make one enquiry about the letters in the archival material assigned to the Foundation by you. Are there amongst these letters any of which you no longer hold the copyright?"

122869

BR is replying to Felton's letter of 20 March (record 122867):

"I write to confirm that to the best of my knowledge and belief and as far as I am aware I have not given copyright in my letters to anyone. I have written to the Foundation today confirming similarly...." See record 122868.

122870

"I was pleased to see a copy of the letter to you from Professor Ready dated March 13, and feel confident that under him the Archives would be well cared for and put to good use."

122871

"It was a great pleasure to see you again yesterday. Although the Canadian man was not very forthcoming about the future of the Archives, I did welcome the opportunity to tell you how much I have appreciated all your work over the past eighteenth months."

122872

BR tells Felton:

"I attempted today to obtain on the telephone your information and advice about the story in The Observer, but you could not be reached. As you may imagine, I read the story with the greatest distaste, and felt that I had no alternative but to issue a statement, a copy of which I enclose."

Also enclosed is a list of questions.

The statement reads: "I was surprised to read the derogatory story in The Observer today concerning my Archives, which appears almost throughout to suggest my only interest is in making money. In fact the Archives will not put an extra penny into my pocket."

K. Blackwell had added a note to the file: "BR's statement of 31 March 1968 did not appear in [the next issue of] The Observer on 7 April."

122873

This is a detailed reply to BR's letter of 31 March and enclosed questions with regard to the story in The Observer. "I cannot tell you how personally distressed I am that the happy conclusion to our last eighteen months work has become overshadowed by this...."

122874

Feinberg encloses a notice from the Times Literary Supplement, 4 April 1968, re the Archives 1 Catalogue. The notice is not present.
 

122875

"As you will know, Mr. Black proposes to charge approximately £1,000 for his work in connection with the sale of the Archives. At first sight, this appears to me quite preposterous."

122876

This letter is a reply to BR's letter of 10 April 1968 (record 122876). "May I suggest that Chris Farley ask Mr. Black for a more detailed analysis of the work done." Felton notes that Jack Black did a great deal of work and that the charges are probably fair.

122877

Farley writes that BR is satisfied with Felton's letter of 11 April (record 122876) and asks that Jack Black of Heald Johnson be paid for his services.

122878

"We are looking again at the correspondence with governments and heads of state because some of it is rather delicate and we may have to advise McMaster University about this. I understand Mr. Blackwell has been told already of our concern." There are only 42 copies of the Archives 1 catalogue unsold. BR wonders if he could have another copy.

122879

A copy of the Archives 1 Catalogue is enclosed (not present).

122880

BR notes that the Archives 1 catalogue is now sold out and he "was interested to see the list of some of the institutions which have bought copies." Following this letter are photocopies of two introductions to the Archives 1 catalogue.

One, dated 16 March 1967, contains the text as published. The signature, while undoubtedly genuine, does not match the one used in the catalogue.

The second one, unsigned, titled "Second Draft", is a one-line joke: "These papers are worth £1,000,000. Pay up!"

122881

Felton writes about the advantages for transferring the Library with the Archives. There are three copies of this letter, one of which has handwritten changes. There are also handwritten notes in preparation for writing the letter.

122882

BR asks if his library could remain with Edith throughout her lifetime. Failing this, he suggests that the "scientific and technical section" remain at Plas Penrhyn "during my lifetime, and the literature" remain "during my wife's lifetime."

122883

Felton agrees with BR's suggestion in his letter of 3 April (record 122882) that the library be divided.

122884

This letter is an expansion of Felton's letter of 10 April (record 122883) with regard to BR's library. There is also a draft version of this letter, handwritten notes by Christopher Farley, and a typed note by Farley about the letter.

122885

"I was pleased to receive from Chris Farley confirmation that you do not wish to divide your library, that it is to remain with you at Plas Penrhyn throughout your lifetime and be sold with the Archives subject to this condition." Felton wants to send someone [it was Blackwell; see record 99236] to Plas Penrhyn to "make a fuller inventory of your library than that made by Sotheby's."

122886

The memo concerns the arrangement of BR's Archives. It is in file 5 along with progress reports, 12 Sept.-22 Nov. 1966, salary reports, and a classification document.

122887

The contents of this file concern the insurance of BR's Archives, 1961-1968. There are typed lists of materials to be insured.

122888

"It would be helpful if you could confirm that there is no further material by, from or about Dora and Patricia which we do not know about, as BR is confident that that would be the most certain way to land the Archives into difficulties."

122889

"The Russells have drawn my attention to the proposed sale of the papers of J.L. Garvin". Farley asks for information "about how this sale is being conducted."

122890

Enclosed typescript: "'The essential difference between Ramsay MacDonald and Wilson is that Ramsay did bad things in order to stay in power, whereas this man stays in power in order to do bad things.'—Bertrand Russell, March 26, 1967." BR is referring to Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

122891

"Many thanks for your letter of 11 July concerning BR's Nobel Prize money." "BR asks me to thank you for it and to say that it is not necessary to do anything further."

122892

"Would you kindly explain to Miss Dadlez of the Foreign Rights Department of Allen and Unwin Ltd. that Lord Russell does not wish to autograph any books?"

122893

The letter concerns the publishing correspondence in the Archives, recent and possibly delicate. (There is no reason why K. Blackwell should not see the Allen & Unwin correspondence concerning him, Farley says.)

122894

"As you know, BR would like the Archives to be as complete as possible." Three suggestions are made to increase the content of the Archives.

122895

"Thanks so much for coming here [Plas Penrhyn] today. BR was delighted to see you after all your labours, and says that he plans to write to you tomorrow. He was rather surprised that Weatherall [Frank Weatherston, McMaster's lawyer, who went in William Ready's place] knew so little of the University's intentions." "He resorted to entertaining us all. ('They must think I'm in my anecdotage'.)"

See record 121536 for Weatherston's account of his visit to Plas Penrhyn.

122896

The letter was dictated on 1 July. "Thank you for telephoning about the interest shown by The Daily Express about the new question to be put in the House of Commons by Sir John Parker." Not all the letters in file 7 have been entered.

122897

De Jong lists letters from BR to Sylvia Pankhurst, Emma Goldman, Miss Everard, Alex Berkman and Emma Goldman to BR, of which he is sending photocopies to Feinberg from the International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam.

Other letters in this file have not been entered.

122898

"B.R. has suddenly raised the question of seeing the catalogue before he writes an introduction!" Most of the documents in this file concern the production of the Archives 1 catalogue.

122899
122900

Unwin has looked through the Archives 1 catalogue and noticed a number of items that might be published in book form.

122901

He wants to acquire BR's papers. [Schoenman replied, with another letter from Gotlieb.]

122902

Schoenman sent this letter to several university academics on the same date. In addition to Goodman at Harvard, his letters went to Dana Scott, University of California; Carl Hempel, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences; Robert Goheen, Princeton; Willard Quine, Harvard. The letters announce that the archives of BR are getting ready for sale. The letters are also entered into BRACERS.