Gustavus Watts Cunningham letters, 1911-1944.
Collection Number: 14-21-796

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Gustavus Watts Cunningham letters, 1911-1944.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
14-21-796
Abstract:
Incoming correspondence from fellow philosophers, including forty-seven letters from Richard Burdon, Viscount Haldane, in which he discusses the philosophical systems of Hegel and Kant, comments on Cunningham's studies of Hegel and Henri Bergson, and on the writings of Bergson, Bernard Bosanquet, Francis Herbert Bradley, John Dewey, Albert Einstein, Alfred North Whitehead, and others. Reference is also made to world events.
Creator:
Cunningham, Gustavus Watts, 1881-1968
Quanitities:
67 items.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Professor of Philosophy, Middlebury College, 1908-1917, and the University of Texas, 1917-1927; chairman of the Sage School of Philosophy and Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy at Cornell, 1927-1949.
(Cornell University Ph.D. 1908)

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Incoming correspondence from fellow philosophers, including forty-seven letters from Richard Burdon, Viscount Haldane (1856-1928), in which he discusses the philosophical systems of Hegel and Kant, comments on Cunningham's studies of Hegel and Henri Bergson, and on the writings of Bergson, Bernard Bosanquet, Francis Herbert Bradley, John Dewey, Albert Einstein, Alfred North Whitehead, and others, and refers to World War I, in particular the condition of the French army, the situation in Russia in 1917, and the presence of American troops in Europe, to his wartime posts in the British government, and to his meeting (1919) with Woodrow Wilson; five letters from Herbert Wildon Carr, mainly concerning the views and writings of Hegel, Bergson, and Benedetto Croce; one or two letters each from Henry Rutgers Marshall, Stewart A. McDowell, Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison, and George H. Sabine; three letters from James E. Creighton, discussing the "absolute problem," Cunningham's critique of a recently published book by Bosanquet, presumably The Meeting of Extremes in Contemporary Philosophy, administrative matters at both Texas and Cornell, and the decline of the "solid studies that promote discipline of mind," the pitfalls of early specialization, and the "tremendous importance of getting a few general critical ideas into the heads of college graduates"; and single letters from William A Hammond, John Laird, T.V. Smith, and Frank Thilly, on personal and professional matters.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Gustavus Watts Cunningham letters, #14-21-796. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Haldane, R. B. Haldane, 1st Viscount (Richard Burdon Haldane), 1856-1928.
Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831.
Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804.
Bergson, Henri, 1859-1941.
Bosanquet, Bernard (Date of work: 1848-1923..)
Bradley, F. H. (Francis Herbert), 1846-1924.
Dewey, John, 1859-1952.
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955.
Whitehead, Alfred North, 1861-1947.
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924.
Carr, Herbert Wildon, 1857-1931.
Croce, Benedetto, 1866-1952.
Marshall, Henry Rogers, 1852-1927.
McDowell, Stewart A.
Seth Pringle-Pattison, A. (Andrew), 1856-1931.
Sabine, George Holland, 1880-1961.
Creighton, James Edwin, 1861-1924.
Hammond, William A.
Laird, John, 1887-1946.
Smith, Thomas Vernor, 1890-1964.
Thilly, Frank, 1865-1934.
Cornell University. Department of Philosophy
Cornell University -- : Faculty.
University of Texas. Department of Philosophy
Subjects:
Philosophy, Modern.
World War, 1914-1918.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Scope and Contents
All the material in the collection may not be covered by this guide.
Series I. Letters
1911-02-11-1930-09
Box 1
Sabine, George H. (b.1880-d.1961)
1911-02-11
Scope and Contents
To Cunningham, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont. Suggests several persons for Cunningham to send his thesis to: Bosanquet, A. S. Pringle-Pattison, Henry Jones. Comments on pragmatism and its giving way to realism. TLS, 1 pc. & en. Also 1944 letter.
Box 1
Pringle-Pattison, Andrew Seth (b.1891-d.1919)
1911-06-20
Scope and Contents
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses some of Hegel's concepts. Comments on Cunningham's book. AIS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane, Richard Burdon (b. 1856 - d. 1928)
1913-12-26
Scope and Contents
28 Queen Annes Gate, S. W. England. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discuss Cunningham's book Thought andReality in Hegel's System. The relationship of reality to Hegel's phenomenology. AlS, 1 pc., 2 calling cards & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1914-01-25
Scope and Contents
Windsor, Castle, London, Englalnd. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Thanks Cunningham for his letter. Mentions (Thomas Henry, b.1836 - d. 1882) Green's Book Prolegomena to Ethics. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1914-03-16
Scope and Contents
28, Queen Annes Gate, London S. W., England. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Comments on Francis Herbert Bradley's book Essays on Truth and Reality. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1914-04-09
Scope and Contents
Cloan, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Comments on Pringle-Pattison's reactions to Cunningham's book on Hegel. Mentions Bradley's Essays on Truth and Reality. ALS, 1pn. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1914-05-21
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Hopes he has received a book he sent and that Cunningham will come to England soon. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1914-10-02
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Comments on a paper he has just read by Bergson, based on a study of Kant, and on the war situation. ALS 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1915-01-20
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Thanks him for a paper on Bergson. Comments on Phaenomenologie. Discusses Cunningham's interpretations of Hegel. Encourages Cunningham to write a new book on philosophy. Comments on the war and his work in the Foreign Office. ALS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Carr, Herbert Wildon (b.1857-d.1931)
1915-01-25
Scope and Contents
10 More's Garden, Cheyne Walk, S. W., London, England. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses two Papers of Cunningham's which he had received, dealing with Duration and Finality in regard to Bergson's works. Refers to Lucretius' idea that besides the atoms there must be the void. TLS, 2pcs. & en.
Box 1
Carr
1915-2-15
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Is reading Cunningham's book on Hegel with much interest. TLS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1915-03-21
Scope and Contents
London.. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Is opposed to revision of Cunningham's last book. Suggests rather a new book on nature of reality, which would lead to untrodden ground and would involve interpreting Hegel detachedly. Prophesies that the new American school will absorb the new realists and Bergson alike. In regard to the war, he comments, that Germany must not be crushed, but must be purfied. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1915-06-04
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Is glad to hear that Cunningham is seriously thinking about a new book. Explains why he is presently out of the government. ALS, 1pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1915-08-09
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, n.p. Comments on his presently held political views and past goals. Has just returned from France and discusses the army there. Says he is delving more deeply into realism. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1915-10-17
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Is writing an address for the Aristotelian Society on the new realism and objective realism. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Carr
1915-11-06
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses the need of supplementary ideas to Bergson's doctrine of intuition. Mentions Benedetto Croce's works in this connection. ALS, 1pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1915-11-24
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, n.p. covering note. ALS, 1 pc.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-01-13
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Tells of a lecture he gave in Glasgow about New Realism and Bradley's doctrine of the finite center. Had visited with Pringle-Pattison. He is to return to London and politics shortly. The English are determined to win the war. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-05-07
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Glad to have book on Bergson. Has been thinking about the genesis of the New Realism. Reading has impressed him with fact that the whole of modern philosophy exhibits a struggle for emancipation from the category of substance. Says Leibnitz did not succeed, but paved way for Kant. Enlarges upon the New Realism as a final protest against the view of mind as substance. Discusses Hegel at length in this connection. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Carr
1916-06-11
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Is happy that Cunningham has published the Philosophy of Bergon. He is studying Benedetto Croce's works, especially his ideas on intuition. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-06-16
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Had attended memorial service for Lord Kitchener. Comments of Cunningham's book on Bergson. Discusses creative finalism and the concept of the absolute. Quotes several German passages from Hegel's Phaenomenologie. ALS, 2 pcs.
Box 1
Pringle-Pattison
1916-07-23
Scope and Contents
Edinburgh. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Comments on Cunningham's work on Bergson. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-08-08
Scope and Contents
To Cunningham, Middlebury. Wildon Carr is to review Cunningham's book. He is working on educational problems and military matters for the government. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
McDowell, Stewart A.
1916-08-20
Scope and Contents
5 KingsgateStreet, Winchester, England. To Cunningham, Middlebury. He comments on Bergson's work and its incomplete and unfinishable nature. Discusses the work in which he, himself, is involved. ALS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-08-21
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses several points Cunningham has made in his book about Bergson. Mentions Roy Sellar's book as being interesting. ALS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-09-18
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses the synthesis of reason. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
McDowell
1916-10-01
Scope and Contents
Winchester. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Will wite a criticism on Bradley as soon as he rereads the book. McDowell wrote two books: Evolution and the Need of Atonement and Evolution and Spiritual Life. ALS, 1 pc. & En.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-10-15
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses Kant's ideas of truth. Is to confer with a commission on the Dardanelles operation. Mentions a book, The Vindication of Great Britain by Harold Seglre(?). ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Carr
1916-11-06
Scope and Contents
107 Church Street, Chelsea, London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Notice of change of address. TLS, 1 pc.
Box 1
Haldane
1916-11-26
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses Seglre's(?) book and Subject-Object Relations. Refers to Erdmann's book Leib und Seele. ALS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Marshall, Henry Rutgers
1917-02-27
Scope and Contents
Century Club, 7 West 43rd Street, New York, New York. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Comments on Cunningham's book on Bergson. Refers to Bergson's book Freedom of the Will. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1917-03-16
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Mentions recent events in Russia. Discusses Pringle-Pattison's new book The Idea of God. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1917-05-27
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses the need for peace in the world. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1917-07-27
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Middlebury. Discusses the meaning of coherence and idealism. Mentions that he is on a secret committee that is concerned with establishing new governmental organizations. Mentions problems of Russia and Greece. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1917-09-19
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, University of Texas, Austin, Texas. Comments on Cunningham's decision to go to Texas. Refers to a book entitled Organism and Environment. Mentions Pringle-Pattison's recent book. About the Russian situation and the condition of the French army. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1917-12-10
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, n.p. Has just finished a study of Bradley and comments on it. Mentions the Russian collapse. ALS, 1 pc.
Box 1
Haldane
1918-03-21
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Discusses the current state of affairs. Mentions Prince Lichnowsky as confirming earlier impressions he had of Russia. Was visited by Pringle-Pattison. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1918-07-03
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Describes the situation on the French front. Is sending him a copy of a philosophical paper he had witten. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1918-09-16
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Comments on the activities of the American forces in Europe. Mentions that Lord Grey and the Archbishop of Canterbury had visited him. Discussion of degrees of realities. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1919-01-02
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Describes Woodrow Wilson's reception in England and his meeting the President. Discusses a ook he is writing and a few problems he's having. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1919-10-09
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. He's working on his book on degrees in knowledge and reality. Mentions recent railroad strike. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1919-12-04
Scope and Contents
Cloan, Auchterarder, Perthshire. To Cunningham, University of Texas. Much more to be worked out on relation of knowledge to reality. Is pure old controversy between idealism and realism is about to be superseded. Is difficult to work on book because of pressure of political business. Has had to write a book on prewar diplomacy and military preparations: says the books of Admiral [von] Tirpitz and Bethmann-Hollweg have forced him to speak. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1920-04-08
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Feels teaching gives one time to write and study as well. He is quite busy with government work. Says that philosophy and physics are in a state of transition. Mentions Bosanquet's Philosophical Theory of the State. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1920-09-10
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. Refers to Einstein and his theories. Hopes to finish book but still has to contend with public duties. Mentions Einstein's book on relativity and Whitehead's Concept of Nature. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1921-05-11
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Will send a copy of his book The Reign of Relativity. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Creighton, James Edwin (b.1861-d.1931)
1921-08-14
Scope and Contents
Ithaca, N.Y. To Cunningham, Texas. Discusses the problems of the University of Texas is having with the state legislature in regard to appropriations for the University. Mentions that Livingstone Farrand is to be the new President of Cornell and discusses his background. Asks Cunningham to write a review of Haldane's book and recounts a meeting he had with him. A discussion of the nature of reason. TLS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1921-08-29
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Is involved with the idea of mathematical physics and the new quantum theory. Is working on a portion of address he is to deliver at the University of Dublin which he plans to include in a volume entitled Philosophical Significance of Humanism. Lord Grey is visiting. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1922-02-22
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Has read Professor Dewey's book. His will be published soon. Discusses the fundamental character of knowledge. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Creighton
1922-06-26
Scope and Contents
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. To Cunningham, Texas. Discusses Cunningham's ideas on a book for introductory philosophy. Emphasizes the importance of philosophical knowledge to a college graduate in avoiding the pitfalls that seem to accompany specialization. Comments on the critique Cunningham had written of a book, apparently the Meeting of Extremes in Contemporary Philosophy (1921) [See The Philosophical Review, XXXI, pp.495-510, 593-598] KJ.
Box 1
Haldane
1922-07-12
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Refers to articles by an unknown philosopher and comments on certain problems posed therein. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1922-08-24
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Comments on Bosanquet's article in The Philosophical Review. He's been working on his book. Mentions Hegel's Encyclopedia Logic, also Goethe's Philosophic aur Seinen Werken by Max Herracker. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Creighton
1922-11-27
Scope and Contents
Ithaca, New York. To Cunningham, Texas. A discussion of the Absolute Question. Hopes he will come back East for a visit. Further reference to Bosanquet. TLS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1923-09-26
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Glad to hear that Cunningham had been back to Ithaca for a while. Discusses Bosanquet's article. Mentions his interest in mathematical physics and a visit to Cambridge in that connection. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1924-03-02
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Enjoyed Cunningham's article in The Philosophical Review on Bosanquet and finds himself in agreement with his points. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1925-01-08
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Has just read Cunningham's Problems of Philosophy. Discusses it and suggests firms in England that might publish it. Mentions that he led the opposition in the House of Lords. He also presides over the hearing of appels for the different parts of the Empire to the Supreme Tribunal in London. Comments on his bachelorhood. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1925-02-25
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Has written the introduction for the English edition of Cunningham's book. Describes his general daily scehule in London. Comments on the difference between mathematics and philosophy. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1925-10-28
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Thanks him for a copy of his Lectures on the Problems of the Mind. Mentions a new book by John Dewey, Experience and Nature, and discusses some of the points he makes in it. Is having trouble with the writing of his own book. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Thilly, Frank (b.1865-d.1934)
1926-05-28
Scope and Contents
9 East Avenue, Ithaca, New York. To Cunningham, Texas. Refers to a previous letter and understands Cunningham's position. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Laird, John (b.1887-d.1934
1926-08-31
Scope and Contents
Milestone House, Blackwater, Hampshire, England. To Cunningham, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Hopes he is enjoying the Congress of Philosophy at Harvard. Says his trip home was pleasant. Hampshire is a lovely area. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1926-09-20
Scope and Contents
Perthshire. To Cunningham, Texas. Comments on an article of Cunningham's on Bosanquet. Is sending a copy of his book. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Laird
1926-10-17
Scope and Contents
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland. To Cunningham, Texas. Scotland is having lovely weather. He broke his toe. There is a coal shortage. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1926-12-03
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunnington, Texas. Would like him to send any reviews of his book that might be published in the U.S.A. Is quite busy. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1927-01-17
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. He hopes Cunningham will accept the position at Cornell. His book, Pathway to Reality, has come out in a new volume. Discusses a series of lectures to be delivered at Oxford relating to metaphysics. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Hammond, William Alexander (b.?-d. 1938)
1927-01-18
Scope and Contents
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. To Cunningham, Texas. Is glad to hear that Cunningham has accepted a position at Cornell. TLS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Haldane
1927-04-11
Scope and Contents
London. To Cunningham, Texas. Is happy to hear that he is going to Cornell. Hopes he will continue to study and write. ALS, 1 pc. & en.
Box 1
Smith, T. V. (b.1890-d.?)
1927-07-17
Scope and Contents
Syracuse, N. Y. To Cunningham, Texas. Had just visited Cornell and discourses on its beautiful scenery and the feeling of closeness he had to Cunningham there at his Alma Mater. TLS, 2 pcs. & en.
Box 1
Miscellaneous
1930-05-1930-09
Scope and Contents
Receipts, vouchers, and tickets to the Seventh International Congress of Philosophy held in Oxford, England. 7 pcs. & en. NAE - 1964-12, 1965-01,1972-04 KJ