Max Black papers, [ca. 1927]-1988.
Collection Number: 14-21-2466

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Max Black papers, [ca. 1927]-1988.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
14-21-2466
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.
Creator:
Black, Max, 1909-1988.
Quanitities:
32 cubic feet.
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.

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Max Black papers, #14-21-2466. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Access Restrictions:

Access to Boxes 31-32 restricted to permission of donor.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Cornell University -- : Faculty.
Subjects:
Philosophy -- Study and teaching.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Box 1
Probability; Induction; Mss. (Past); Cornell University matters; Fellowships & Grants; Lectures; Publications, Society for Humanities
1940s-[1960s]
Box 2
Papers; Testimonials; reprints of his writings
1940s-[ ]
Box 3
Course files; Paper on Necessity; Alphabetical file A-Z; Notes A-P on various philosophical subjects
Box 4
Notes P-W on various philosophical subjects; Tractatus by Wittgenstein (notes and papers)
Box 5
Wittgenstein continued; Writing Projects (notes, course notes, arranged alphabetically A-S); Social Science (course notes, reprints, etc.)
Box 6
Course work, notes, drafts, papers, reprints on philosophical topics
1928-[1950s-1960s]
Box 7
Course work for systematics; Philosophy of Science course material; India (1962); Japan (1957); Philosophy of Education
[1960s]
Box 8
Reprints by others; Topics (notes and papers); Seminars (Past); Tarners Lecture
[1960s]-1978
Box 9
Logic
[1950s-1960s]
Box 10
Course material; Academic; reprints
[1960s]
Box 11
Bound typescript copies of papers by others; Logical Possibility by M.B. (bd. typsc.) - 2 cassettes
Box 12
Alphabetical Subject Files; Misc. I & J, Knowledge, Language, Literary Criticism, Logic, Measurement, Metaphors, Moore and "O"
[1970s-1980s]
Box 13
Subject Files continued, O-R: Observation, Paradoxes, Philosophy, Practical Reasoning, Probability, Rationality, Reasonable Rules, Russell
[1970s]
Box 14
Subject Files continued, S-W: Scholarly Responsibility, Sets, Should and Is, Technion Papers, Technology, University (Open), Verifiability
[1970s]
Box 15
Wittgenstein continued; Misc. in separate drawer, incl. Lord Ashby, Humbug
[1970s]
Box 16
Professional alpha file A-W incls i.e. C.U. Adult Univ.; Financial
[1970s-1980s]
Box 17
Professional alphabetical files I-W; Trips (old)
[1970s-1980s]
Box 18
Subject files; reprints of M. Black; India
[1970s-1980s]
Box 19
Typescripts Memoir of M.B. (Rosenbaum, interviewer); cassettes of lectures; notes
Box 20
Notes on philosophical subjects: incl. Tarners Lecture series
[1960s-1970s]
Box 21
Philosophical files incl. Tarners Lecture
[1970s-1980s]
Box 22
Alpha file: M-Skepticism, Science, Spare, "P"; course material
[1970s]
Box 23
Course material; Other Papers; Dromoland Papers, 1972
[1970s]
Box 24
Course material; notes and papers
[1960s]
Box 25
Alphabetical files: Correspondence A-D
[1970s]-1980s
Box 26
Alphabetical files: Correspondence E-L
[1970s]
Box 27
Alphabetical files: Correspondence L-R
[1970s]
Box 28
Alphabetical files: Correspondence S-Z
[1970s]
Box 29
Subject files, A-I: Aspen Colloquium, Communication; Determinism; Explanation; Goodman; Humanism; Humanities, Induction
[1970s]
Box 30
Humanities Science and Technology - Rockefeller Foundation, Correspondence and Proposals, Annual Reports
[1970s]
Box 30
Humanities Science and Technology - Annual Reports, Colloquia, Workshops
[1970s]
Box 30
NEH and NSF - Proposals, Grants and Correspondence
[1970s]
Box 30
Publications
[1970s]
Box 30
Max Black's Memoir, including original tape recordings from oral interview
1987
Box 31 Folder 1
Letters to Rosenbaum and Naomi Black
1961-1987
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 2
Letters to Michal
1931-1941, 1972, undated
Scope and Contents
With a few replies
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 3
Letters to Michal
1932-1941, 1957, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 4
Letters to Michal
1932-1936, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 5
Letters to Michal
1932-1945, 1961-1963
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 6
Letters from Michal
1931-1933, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 7
Letters from Michal (and Flossie)
1932
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 8
Daily Agendas
1932, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31 Folder 9
Daily Agendas
1955, 1967-1987, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes expense logs; notes; doodles
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 31
A Companion to Wittgenstein's 'Tractatus' by Max Black
1964
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 1
Diary
1954-1955
Scope and Contents
Written in examination books
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 2
Diary
1956
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 3
Diary
1957-1958
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 4
Diary
1959
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 5
Diary
1960
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 6
Diary
1961
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 7
Diary
1962
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 8
Diary
1963
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 9
Diary
1964
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 10
Diary
1965
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 11
Diary
1966
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 12
Diary
1967
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 13
Diary
1968
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 14
Diary
1969
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 15
Diary
1970
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 16
Diary
1971
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 17
Diary
1972
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 18
Diary
1973
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 19
Diary
1974
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 20
Diary
1975
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 21
Diary
1976
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 22
Diary
1977
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 23
Diary
1978
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 24
Diary
1979
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 25
Diary
1980
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 26
Diary
1981
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 27
Diary
1982
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 28
Diary
1983
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 29
Diary
1984
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 30
Diary
1985-1986
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 31
General (Travel, Events of Note, etc.)
1950-1982
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 32
Estate, Memorial Service
1988-1990
Scope and Contents
Correspondence
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 33
Mabel Michal Black
1958, 1983-1987, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes medicine bills, vaccination record, passports, correspondence, death certificates
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 34
Assorted Correspondence
1977-1988, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes bills, receipts, permission letters, publishing letters
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 35
Letters
1931-1938, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 36
Letters - Margaret Macdonald
1932-1937
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 37
Personalia (Personal + Miscellaneous)
1911, 1953, 1974, 1985-1986, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains letter, infant lock of hair, copy of text, Mind Association members' addresses; letter from Mrs. Ashton Edwards; "philosopher + fish" quote
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 38
Naturalization Records
1931-1949, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes "alien registration receipt card," registration receipts, immigrant identification cards, identity cards, correspondence
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 39
Birth Certificates, etc.
1911, 1933-1949
Scope and Contents
Includes marriage registration, birth certificates, certificate of naturalization
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 40
Sir Misha Black
1974-1977
Scope and Contents
Correspondence; newspaper clipping of obituary
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 41
Documents - Miscellaneous
1931, 1948
Scope and Contents
Includes certificate of naturalization, an oath of allegiance
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 42
Rivka - Correspondence
1967
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 43
Max Black: Testimonials - Selected Copies
1931-1939
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 44
Willie (and Sylina) - Their Daughter, Elisabeth Halpern - Correspondence
1939-1940, 1977, 1993
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 45
"Perplexities" - Duplicates
1952, 1974, 1984-1986
Scope and Contents
Research papers
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 46
Cornell Press - Business '88
1970, 1987, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains argument for 'Perplexities,' text of "The 'Factual' and the 'Normative',"
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 47
England
1955
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence, bank notes, material related to King Alfred School
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 48
Japan: Photos, Letters, Visiting Cards
1957
Scope and Contents
Includes small notebook of Japanese phrases, daily logs, expense logs, dresses, passport info; envelope of newspaper clippings
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 49
Testimonials
1965
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence and letters of recommendation
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 50
Letters (Miscellaneous)
1966-1968, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes photo of Christopher + Felicity Gittenden (?) when they were children
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 51
KEEP (Assorted Documents)
1942-1955, undated
Scope and Contents
Correspondence; book lists; handwritten notes; flyer for "Special University Lectures in Philosophy" at the University of London
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 52
Gregory Vlastos
1986-03
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 53
Eric Ashby
1985-12-08
Scope and Contents
One letter
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 54
Alice Lazerowitz
1987-07-29
Scope and Contents
One letter
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 55
Raymond Klibansky
1987
Scope and Contents
Correspondence
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 56
Mark G. Singer
1969, 1977, 1983, 1987
Scope and Contents
Correspondence; copy of Life with Father, Life with Socrates by Virginia Wetherbee; copy of Are There Any Philosophically Interesting Questions in Technology?; includes two letters from Vicky, one is written on a Harvard College Library transaction card
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 57
M.B. Letters
1966-1978
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 58
Rosenbaum, P. + N.
1975-1980, undated
Scope and Contents
Correspondence; packet titled "Hints for Life in Jerusalem"
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 59
Posthumous Publication of Perplexities
1988-1989, undated
Scope and Contents
Correspondence; draft of foreword of text
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 60
Possible Posthumous Collection; Other "Lecturing and executive" staff
1988-1993, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 61
Estate: Mainly Permissions, etc.
1985-1996, undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 62
School Reports
1923-1926
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 63
Assorted Material
1924-1938, 1946-1956, 1982-1988, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes postcards, rent account summaries, loan and savings books; original envelope labeled "Odds and ends"
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 64
Photographs - Max and Michal Black
Undated
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 65
Photographs - Family and Travel
1948-1964, 1974-1986, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes undated note
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 66
Photographs - School and Family
1941, 1966-1973, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes correspondence from the National Endowment for the Humanities; photo negatives
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 67
Photographs - Seminars/Lectures and Leisure Time
1966, 1974, undated
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Restricted
Box 32 Folder 68
Photographs - Assorted
1952-1966, undated
Scope and Contents
A photo of Ludwig Wittgenstein
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 69
Photographs - Assorted
1970-1983, undated
Scope and Contents
Photo negatives
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32 Folder 70
Miscellaneous
1952, 1961, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes pages from Picture Post on various philosophy professors, newspaper clipping of philosopher Bertrand Russell, pictures of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Albert Einstein, and Emir Abdullah, a Mother's Day card (?)
Access restrictions apply
Restricted
Box 32
Dialectica-International review of philosophy of knowledge
1990
Scope and Contents
Vol. 44, memorial issue
Access restrictions apply
Restricted