Guide to the Max Black Papers,
[ca. 1927]-1988.

Collection Number: 14-21-2466

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
E. Engst, N. Dean
Date completed:
April 1989
EAD encoding:
Martin Heggestad, March 2004

© 2003 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Max Black papers, [ca. 1927]-1988.
Collection Number:
14-21-2466
Creator:
Max Black, 1909-
Quantity:
32.0 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Correspondence, files, and a manuscript.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Professional papers include correspondence, subject files, and files relating to his work with the Science, Technology, and Society program at Cornell. Also, manuscript of Black's book Rational Choice, the Prisoner's Dilemma.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Philosopher, Professor of Philosophy at Cornell University.
Max Black received two doctoral degrees from the University of London. He taught at the University of London from 1936 to 1940 and at the University of Illinois from 1940 to 1946. He joined the faculty at Cornell in 1946, becoming the Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy in 1954. In 1965, Black became the first director of Cornell's Society for the Humanities, a position he held until 1971. Since 1971, he was a member of the Cornell program on Science, Technology and Society and academic head of its Unit on Humanities, Science and Technology. His first publication was a discussion of Jeremy Bentham's theory of definition. He has written numerous works on philosophical subjects, including books on mathematics, Wittgenstein, and the nature of the university.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Professional papers include correspondence, subject files, and files relating to his work with the Science, Technology, and Society program at Cornell. Also, manuscript of Black's book Rational Choice, the Prisoner's Dilemma.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Black, Max, 1909-1988
Cornell University--Faculty.

Subjects:
Philosophy--Study and teaching.
Philosophers.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Access Restrictions:
Box 31 is restricted to permission of donor.
Cite As:
Max Black papers, #14-21-2466. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
CONTAINER LIST

Date
Description
Container
1940s-[1960s]
Probability; Induction; Mss. (Past); Cornell University matters; Fellowships & Grants; Lectures; Publications, Society for Humanities
Box 1
1940s-[ ]
Papers; Testimonials; reprints of his ritings
 Box 2
Course files; Paper on Necessity; Alphabetical file A-Z; Notes A-P on various philosophical subjects
Box 3
Notes P-W on various philosophical subjects; Tractatus by Wittgenstein (notes and papers)
Box 4
Wittgenstein continued; Writing Projects (notes, course notes, arranged alphabetically A-S); Social Science (course notes, reprints, etc.)
Box 5
1928-[1950s-1960s]
Course work, notes, drafts, papers, reprints on philosophical topics
Box 6
[1960s]
Course work for systematics; Philosophy of Science course material; India (1962); Japan (1957); Philosophy of Education
Box 7
[1960s]-1978
Reprints by others; Topics (notes and papers); Seminars (Past); Tarners Lecture
Box 8
[1950s-1960s]
Logic
 Box 9
[1960s]
Course material; Academic; reprints
 Box 10
Bound typescript copies of papers by others; Logical Possibility by M.B. (bd. typsc.) - 2 cassettes
Box 11
[1970s-1980s]
Alphabetical Subject Files; Misc. I & J, Knowledge, Language, Literary Criticism, Logic, Measurement, Metaphors, Moore and "O"
Box 12
[1970s]
Subject Files continued, O-R: Observation, Paradoxes, Philosophy, Practical Reasoning, Probability, Rationality, Reasonable Rules, Russell
Box 13
[1970s]
Subject Files continued, S-W: Scholarly Responsibility, Sets, Should and Is, Technion Papers, Technology, University (Open), Verifiability
Box 14
[1970s]
Wittgenstein continued; Misc. in separate drawer, incl. Lord Ashby, Humbug
Box 15
[1970s-1980s]
Professional alpha file A-W incls i.e. C.U. Adult Univ.; Financial
Box 16
[1970s-1980s]
Professional alphabetical files I-W; Trips (old)
Box 17
[1970s-1980s]
Subject files; reprints of M. Black; India
 Box 18
Typescripts Memoir of M.B. (Rosenbaum, interviewer); cassettes of lectures; notes
Box 19
[1960s-1970s]
Notes on philosophical subjects: incl. Tarners Lecture series
Box 20
[1970s-1980s]
Philosophical files incl. Tarners Lecture
 Box 21
[1970s]
Alpha file: M-Skepticism, Science, Spare, "P"; course material
Box 22
[1970s]
Course material; Other Papers; Dromoland Papers, 1972
Box 23
[1960s]
Course material; notes and papers
 Box 24
[1970s]-1980s
Alphabetical files: Correspondence A-D
 Box 25
[1970s]
Alphabetical files: Correspondence E-L
 Box 26
[1970s]
Alphabetical files: Correspondence L-R
 Box 27
[1970s]
Alphabetical files: Correspondence S-Z
 Box 28
[1970s]
Subject files, A-I: Aspen Colloquium, Communication; Determinism; Explanation; Goodman; Humanism; Humanities, Induction
Box 29
Unprocessed material
 Box 30-33