Guide to the Papers of John Passmore

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MS 7613 et al

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Collection Summary

Creator
Passmore, John
Title
Papers of John Passmore
Date Range
1922 - 2004
Collection Number
MS 7613 et al
Extent
11.46 metres (68 MS Boxes;6 cartons;1 small carton;6 Folio Boxes;1 Folder)
Physical Facet
MS 7613: (51 ms boxes + 1 small folio box + 2 large folio boxes + 2 small phase boxes + 1 map folio + 2 packets)
Language of Materials
English
Repository
Special Collections (Manuscripts)

Introduction

Scope and Contents

The collection documents aspects of Passmore's career from the 1930s to 1997, and includes extensive series of correspondence (personal, professional and family), together with writings, reviews, conference papers, awards and invitations related to his various academic and writing activities. Also featured in the papers are photographs, articles and speeches, interviews by or about Passmore and papers relating to a conference celebrating his career.

The strength of the collection lies in the correspondence and writings. The correspondence dates back to the 1930s and the earliest stages of Passmore's career as a teacher and English lecturer. Amongst the correspondents are philosophers, editors, writers and academics from other disciplines including English, science, history and political science. The letters reflect Passmore's philosophical concerns and the important figures with whom he was associated. He maintained correspondence with Karl Popper, Bertrand Russell, John Anderson, Alan K.Stout, Gilbert Ryle and many other philosophers.

The extensive series of Passmore's writings reflect his huge output and demonstrate what he describes as a 'desire to always press beyond the boundaries of philosophy'. His shorter pieces written as lectures or for academic journals and newspapers demonstrate the eclectic nature of his interests, ranging from art, film and literature to environmental ethics, science and politics.

Conditions Governing Access

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1439378).

Conditions Governing Use

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred Citation

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of John Passmore, National Library of Australia, [class number, box number and series and/or file number]'.

Provenance

The philosopher John Passmore donated his papers to the National Library in two instalments in 1988 and March 1998 under the Taxation Incentive for the Arts Scheme, (renamed in 1997 as the Cultural Gifts Program.)

Finding Aid Source(s)

Please note: This finding aid may comprise or contain descriptive information provided by donors, researchers and/or volunteers.

Collection Retrieval Advice

Please note: each consignment in this collection has a separate box number sequence (i.e. there may be multiple Box 1s). Please cite the relevant Class number as well as the Box number when requesting retrieval of material from the collection.

Biographical Note

DateEvent
1914Born 9 September Manly, New South Wales
1918-28Attended Manly Public School
1929-30Attended Sydney Boys' High School
1931-34Studied at University of Sydney obtaining a Bachelor of Arts, first class honours in Philosophy and English literature
1934Publication of T. S. Eliot by the Literary Society, University of Sydney
1935-49Successively Tutor, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney
1936Married Annie Doris Sumner
1940Master of Arts, University of Sydney
1943Member, Social Science Research Committee, Australian National Research Council
1947-50Editor of the Australasian journal of philosophy
1950-54Professor of Philosophy at Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand
1951Publication of Ralph Cudworth by Cambridge University Press
1952Publication of Hume's intentions by Cambridge University Press
1953Member of the Institut International de Philosophe
1955Reader of Philosophy, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University
1956Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Humanities
1956-75Director of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1957Publication of A hundred years of philosophy by Duckworth and Co
1959Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University
1960Visiting Professor of Philosophy, Brandeis University
1961Publication of Philosophical reasoning by Duckworth and co
1965Awarded the Mackie Medal by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1965Publication of Introduction to Joseph Priestly by Collier Books
1967-70Visiting Scholar, Institute of Education, London
1970Publication of The perfectibility of man by Duckworth and Co
1971Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall, Cambridge, United Kingdom
1971Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
1974Publication of Man's responsibility to nature by Duckworth and Co
1974Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Science
1974-77President of the Australian Academy of Humanities
1975Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy
1976Gauss Lecturer, Princeton University; Gross Lecturer, Rutgers University
1977Chairman, Committee of Enquiry into German universities for the International Council for the Future of Universities
1978Publication of Science and its critics by Rutgers University Press
1978Publication of The philosophy of teaching
1978Visiting Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford
1978Dawes Hick Lecturer, British Academy
1979Foreign Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters
1980Publication of The philosophy of teaching by Duckworth and Co
1980Tanner Lecturer, Cambridge University
1980-82University Fellow in History of Ideas, Australian National University
1981Boyer Lecturer for the ABC, presenting a series of discussions on the limits of government
1983-94Visiting Fellow, History of Ideas, Australian National University
1983Comte Lecturer, London School of Economics
1985Publication of Recent philosophers by Duckworth and Co
1985-91Visiting Distinguished Professor and General Editor, Bertrand Russell Project, McMaster University, Canada (part-time)
1991Publication of Serious art by Duckworth and Co
1993Awarded the Order of Australia for his contribution to philosophy
1993Macrossan Lecture, University of Queensland
1995Visiting Fellow in History, Australian National University
1997Publication of Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian by Melbourne University Press
DateEvent
1914Born 9 September Manly, New South Wales
1918-28Attended Manly Public School
1929-30Attended Sydney Boys' High School
1931-34Studied at University of Sydney obtaining a Bachelor of Arts, first class honours in Philosophy and English literature
1934Publication of T. S. Eliot by the Literary Society, University of Sydney
1935-49Successively Tutor, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sydney
1936Married Annie Doris Sumner
1940Master of Arts, University of Sydney
1943Member, Social Science Research Committee, Australian National Research Council
1947-50Editor of the Australasian journal of philosophy
1950-54Professor of Philosophy at Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand
1951Publication of Ralph Cudworth by Cambridge University Press
1952Publication of Hume's intentions by Cambridge University Press
1953Member of the Institut International de Philosophe
1955Reader of Philosophy, Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University
1956Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Humanities
1956-75Director of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust
1957Publication of A hundred years of philosophy by Duckworth and Co
1959Professor of Philosophy, Australian National University
1960Visiting Professor of Philosophy, Brandeis University
1961Publication of Philosophical reasoning by Duckworth and co
1965Awarded the Mackie Medal by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
1965Publication of Introduction to Joseph Priestly by Collier Books
1967-70Visiting Scholar, Institute of Education, London
1970Publication of The perfectibility of man by Duckworth and Co
1971Visiting Fellow, Clare Hall, Cambridge, United Kingdom
1971Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
1974Publication of Man's responsibility to nature by Duckworth and Co
1974Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Science
1974-77President of the Australian Academy of Humanities
1975Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy
1976Gauss Lecturer, Princeton University; Gross Lecturer, Rutgers University
1977Chairman, Committee of Enquiry into German universities for the International Council for the Future of Universities
1978Publication of Science and its critics by Rutgers University Press
1978Publication of The philosophy of teaching
1978Visiting Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford
1978Dawes Hick Lecturer, British Academy
1979Foreign Member of the Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters
1980Publication of The philosophy of teaching by Duckworth and Co
1980Tanner Lecturer, Cambridge University
1980-82University Fellow in History of Ideas, Australian National University
1981Boyer Lecturer for the ABC, presenting a series of discussions on the limits of government
1983-94Visiting Fellow, History of Ideas, Australian National University
1983Comte Lecturer, London School of Economics
1985Publication of Recent philosophers by Duckworth and Co
1985-91Visiting Distinguished Professor and General Editor, Bertrand Russell Project, McMaster University, Canada (part-time)
1991Publication of Serious art by Duckworth and Co
1993Awarded the Order of Australia for his contribution to philosophy
1993Macrossan Lecture, University of Queensland
1995Visiting Fellow in History, Australian National University
1997Publication of Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian by Melbourne University Press

Item Descriptions

Class MS 7613. Original consignment

Comprises lecture notes, reviews, cuttings, publications, translations, framed certificates, family letters and family history material. Correspondents include Bertrand Russell, Julian Huxley, Isaiah Berlin, Sir Mark Oliphant, Sir John Gorton, Sir Paul Hasluck, Alan Stout, Eugene Kamenka, Professor Sir Keith Hancock, Eric Partridge, Professor Gilbert Ryle, Ralph Cohen, Beatrice Davis, John Bell, Colin Haycroft, Hugh Stretton, Robyn Williams, Margaret Rose and Mervyn Horder.

Contained in 51 boxes, 5 fol. boxes.

Series 1. Correspondence, 1932-97

The first part of the series contains letters written by Passmore to his wife during his overseas trips. Most of the correspondence is original, with a smaller portion of photocopied letters in some of the files.

The writers, publishers, editors, philosophers and intellectuals whose correspondence is represented in this series include Bertrand Russell, John Gorton, Mervyn Horder, Horace Smith, Isiah Berlin, Gilbert Ryle, Karl Popper, Edwin Curley, Alan Stout, John Bell, Margaret Rose, Edward Shils, Keith Hancock, T. W. Bynum, P. H. Partridge and Dennis Grey.

The European correspondents include Walter A. Rosenblith, Paul Kurtz, Professor Nobuyuki, V. Schweinfurth, Hans-Joachim Zimmerman, M. Sancipriano, Carlo Giacon and Vernon Sternberg.

The chronological order in which Passmore kept his correspondence has been maintained as well as most of the original file titles.

Personal correspondence, 1932-82 (File 1) - Box 1
Personal correspondence, 1950s-86 (File 2) - Box 1
Correspondence between John, Annie and Helen Passmore, 1970 (File 3) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1943-83 (File 4) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1943-87 (File 5) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1948-77 (File 6) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1948-86 (File 7) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1953-87 (File 8) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1959-84 (File 9) - Box 1
Correspondence, 1960-89 (File 10) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1960-94 (File 11) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1963-93 (File 12) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1965-87 (File 13) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1978-87 (File 14) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1977, 1982-88 (File 15) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1981-94 (File 16) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1982-83 (File 17) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1990 (File 18) - Box 2
Correspondence, 1991 (File 19) - Box 3
Correspondence, 1992 (File 20) - Box 3
Correspondence, 1993 (File 21) - Box 3
Correspondence, 1994 (File 22) - Box 3
Correspondence, 1995 (File 23) - Box 3
Correspondence, 1996 (File 24) - Box 3
Correspondence, 1997 (File 25) - Box 4
American correspondence: 1963-80 (File 26) - Box 4
Canadian correspondence: 1964-79 (File 27) - Box 4
British correspondence, 1967-79 (File 28_29) - Box 4
Italian correspondence, 1971-79, French correspondence, 1974-76 (File 30) - Box 4
German correspondence, 1973-78, Belgian correspondence, 1974 (File 31) - Box 4
Israeli correspondence, 1974-78 (File 32) - Box 5
Japanese correspondence, 1975-76 (File 33) - Box 5
Correspondence with Professor Richard Hare, Wolfgang Brezuka, Karl Popper, Gilbert Ryle and Julian Huxley, 1948-84 (File 34) - Box 5
Correspondence with Sir Karl Popper, 1949-79 (File 35) - Box 5
Correspondence with Professor Gilbert Ryle, 1949-66, and Professor Dennis Grey, 1949-53 (File 36) - Box 5
Letters from Bertrand Russell, Isiah Berlin and Sir Keith Hancock, 1950-83 (File 37) - Box 5
Correspondence with Professor Perce Partridge, 1954-68 (File 38) - Box 5
Correspondence with Dr Ronald Butler, 1956-65 (File 39) - Box 5
Correspondence with Professor Maurice Mandelbaum, 1959-65, and Professor T. W. Bynun, 1968 (File 40) - Box 5
Correspondence with Louis Greenspan and Eugene Kamenka, 1961-93 (File 41) - Box 6
Correspondence with Dr P. G. Kuntz, 1965-68 (File 42) - Box 6
Correspondence with Dr Franz Keil, Dr A. F. Griaznov and Professor J. Claude Pigeut, 1975-92 (File 43) - Box 6
Correspondence regarding requests for assistance, including letters from Dr J. Franklin, Yehuda Elkana and J. William Forgie, 1976-92 (File 44) - Box 6
Correspondence, 1979-92 (File 45) - Box 6
Correspondence with A. J. Youngson, I. G. Ross, Russel Ward, Eugene Kamenka and Paul Bourke, 1980-92 (File 46) - Box 6
Correspondence with Eugene Kamenka, Margaret Rose, Brian Kennedy and Robyn Williams, 1984-94 (File 47) - Box 6
Correspondence with Professor Brian Crittenden, Professor Peter Jones and H. J. McCloskey, 1985-91 (File 48) - Box 6
Correspondence with Eugene Kamenka, Ralph Elliott, R. M. Hare, 1988-93 (File 49) - Box 6
Correspondence relating to Passmore's academic appointments, 1935-86 (File 50) - Box 6
Correspondence relating relating to Passmore's application for a Lectureship in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, 1938-44 (File 51) - Box 7
Correspondence with the University of Otago, 1949-54 (File 52) - Box 7
Correspondence with organisations, 1953-87 (File 53) - Box 7
Correspondence with the Carnegie Corporation regarding study grants, 1954-59 (File 54) - Box 7
Correspondence with the Australian National University, 1957-86 (File 55) - Box 7
Correspondence with Brandeis University, 1958-62 (File 56) - Box 7
Correspondence with the University of St Andrews and the University of Chicago, 1962-70 (File 57) - Box 7
Correspondence with the University of Hawaii, 1966-76 (File 58) - Box 7
Correspondence regarding lecture tours in Japan, 1967-84 (File 59) - Box 7
Correspondence with the International Union of History and the Philosophy of Science, 1968-78 (File 60) - Box 8
Correspondence with overseas academics, 1974-84 (File 61) - Box 8
Correspondence with the Australian Academy of Science, 1975-79 (File 62) - Box 8
Correspondence with the International Council on the future of the University, 1975-83 (File 63_64) - Box 8
Correspondence with the Institut International de Philosophie, 1976-83 (File 65) - Box 8
Correspondence with the Australian Academy of Humanities, 1976-77 (File 66) - Box 8
Correspondence with the ABC regarding programs on which Passmore was a panel member. These include 'A battle against bewitchment' and 'Australian universities', 1977-87 (File 67) - Box 8
Correspondence regarding Passmore's writings on philosophy and education, 1978-79 (File 68) - Box 8
Correspondence with overseas academics, 1983-87 (File 69) - Box 8
Correspondence relating to refusal of academic postings, 1959-87 (File 70_71) - Box 9
Greeting cards, n.d (File 72) - Box 9
Invitations, n.d (File 73) - Box 9

Series 2. Correspondence with publishers, 1942-94

The series chiefly comprises a series of letters between Passmore and Duckworth and Co with whom he had a lengthy and productive association that began with the publication of One hundred years of philosophy. Passmore also enjoyed a good working relationship with the University of Melbourne Press which published a number of his early works, including Reading and remembering (1942).

Also filed here are letters exchanged between Passmore and a number of academic journals including Quadrant, New literary history, History and theory, Journal of philosophy and Arts international. As well as submitting articles for publication, Passmore regularly contributed book reviews, and edited work by other writers.

Among the editors, publishing staff and academics whose correspondence is represented in this series are Ralph Cohen, Colin Haycroft, Deborah Blake, Peter Hume, Barbara Perkins, Beatrice Davis, Alan Stout, James Fitzsimmons, Colin Hayes, Carl C. Hempel, Valerie Willey, Michael Dover, Peter Hopkins, Brian Southam, Hugh Stretton, Warren Hogan and Mervyn Horder.

Correspondence with Melbourne University Press regarding Reading and remembering and Talking things over, 1942-64 (File 1_2) - Box 9
Correspondence with Cambridge University Press, 1949-54 (File 3) - Box 9
Correspondence with publishers regarding One hundred years of philosophy, 1952-68 (File 4) - Box 9
Correspondence with Gerald Duckworth and Co, 1956-81 (File 5) - Box 10
Correspondence with editorial staff of The philosophical review, 1957-66 (File 6) - Box 10
Correspondence, 1959-62 (File 7) - Box 10
Correspondence with various publishers including Cambridge University Press and Rutgers University Press, 1959-79 (File 8) - Box 10
Correspondence with various publishers including Crowell-Collier Publishing Company and the Journal of the history of ideas, 1959-76 (File 9) - Box 10
Correspondence with publishers regarding Philosophical reasoning, 1961-69 (File 10) - Box 10
Correspondence with Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961-73 (File 11) - Box 10
Correspondence with History and theory, 1962-77 (File 12) - Box 10
Correspondence with various publishers, including drafts by Passmore of entries for encyclopaedias, 1962-77 (File 13) - Box 11
Correspondence with the Journal of philosophy, including a reprint of an article by Passmore, 1963-66 (File 14) - Box 11
Correspondence regarding The perfectibility of man, 1968-71 (File 15) - Box 11
Correspondence with various publishers, 1968-82 (File 16) - Box 11
Correspondence with the Dictionary of Scientific Biography, including a manuscript of an article on Hume, 1969-74 (File 17) - Box 11
Correspondence with Encounter, 1970-74 (File 18) - Box 11
Correspondence with J. M. Dent and the Arts Council, 1971-79 (File 19) - Box 11
Correspondence with Arts international, 1972-73 (File 20) - Box 11
Correspondence with Longman Australia, 1972-76 (File 21) - Box 12
Correspondence with Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1972-78 (File 22) - Box 12
Correspondence with various publishing houses including Gerald Duckworth and Co, the University of London Press and Quadrant, 1972-87 (File 23) - Box 12
Correspondence with New literary history, 1973-75 (File 24) - Box 12
Correspondence regarding Man's responsibility to nature, 1973-79 (File 25) - Box 12
Correspondence with various publishers, 1977-92 (File 26) - Box 12
Correspondence with Quadrant, 1978-86 (File 27) - Box 12
Correspondence with various publishers; extended correspondence with Duckworth's regarding the publication of Serious art, 1979-94 (File 28) - Box 12

Series 3. Family papers and correspondence, n.d

This series mainly comprises correspondence between John Passmore and Ruby Passmore regarding his research into the Passmore family history.

Also filed here are photocopies of birth certificates and wills; copies of the Sydney Morning Herald dating back to 1831; copies of letters dating from the 1820s; letters from Passmore to Mrs J. Richards, a researcher; and notes on the Royal Staff Corps. (3 files and 1 folio)

Family papers and correspondence (File 1_3) - Box 13
Family papers and notes (folio) (File 4) - Folio 52

Series 4. University of Sydney, 1932-97

Passmore attended the University of Sydney as a student and lecturer from 1931 to 1949. It was during this time he took philosophy classes with Professor John Anderson and encountered the student Free Thought Society. His university contemporaries included Judith Wright, A. D. Hope, Donald Horne and James McAuley. He graduated in 1934 with a double first, and lectured in literature and philosophy.

John Anderson took up the post of Challis Professor at the University of Sydney in 1927, a position he held until his retirement in 1958. Throughout this period a group of students at the University of Sydney called themselves 'Andersonians' after their teacher. Based on his doctrines, they established themselves as radical critics of governments, authorities and establishments, attacking religion, patriotism and repression, advocating freedom of thought and enquiry.

This series chiefly comprises handwritten and typed drafts of lectures given by Passmore as tutor, lecturer and senior lecturer of philosophy at the University of Sydney. The topics range from Elizabethan plays and poetry to propaganda, metaphysics and sophistry. Other files document Anderson's writings; correspondence between Anderson and Passmore after Passmore took up an appointment at Otago University in New Zealand; newspaper cuttings following the controversy surrounding Anderson's exercise of free speech outside the lecture room; and several drafts of an article by Passmore on his former teacher.

Selections from Martial (edited for use of Latin classes at the University of Sydney), 1922 (File 1) - Box 13
Handwritten thesis on ethics, 1937 (File 2) - Box 13
Lecture notes for Elementary logic, 1940 (File 3) - Box 13
Lecture notes for Modern philosophy, 1941 (File 4) - Box 13
Lecture notes for the discussion course Critical thinking, 1944-45 (File 5) - Box 14
Lecture notes for Plato's later dialogues, 1944-45 (File 6_7) - Box 14
Lecture notes on Hume, 1945 (File 8) - Box 14
Typed lecture notes for Modern philosophy, 1945 (File 9) - Box 14
Lecture notes on Descartes and Locke, 1945 (File 10) - Box 14
Lecture notes on approaches to literary criticism, 1946 (File 11) - Box 14
Lecture notes on metaphysics, 1946 (File 12) - Box 15
Lecture notes on the ethics of G. E. Moore, 1946 (File 13) - Box 15
Lecture notes on approaches to literary criticism, 1946; a guide to study at university level written by Passmore, 1946 (File 14) - Box 15
Lecture notes for Propaganda and propaganda analysis, 1947 (File 15) - Box 15
Lecture notes for Social philosophy, 1947 (File 16) - Box 15
Lecture notes on philosophy, n.d (File 17_18) - Box 15
Lecture notes on 'Introduction to Philosophy', n.d (File 19) - Box 16
Lecture notes for Philosophy I, n.d (File 20) - Box 16
Lecture notes for Ethics, n.d (File 21) - Box 16
Lecture notes on methodology and values, n.d (File 22) - Box 16
Lecture notes on Hume, n.d (File 23) - Box 16
Lecture notes on morality, logic and sophistry, n.d (File 24) - Box 16
Thesis on 'Hume and his predecessors', n.d (File 25) - Box 17
Writings by John Anderson, 1932-37 (File 26) - Box 17
Newspaper cuttings on John Anderson and Alan K. Stout, 1943-78 (File 27) - Box 17
Letters from John Anderson to Passmore, 1952-76 (File 28) - Box 17
Correspondence between Passmore and Alan K. Stout regarding the John Anderson Testimonial Fund Committee, 1958-97 (File 29) - Box 17
Copy of entry on John Anderson from The Greats: the 50 men and women who helped to shape modern Australia, n.d (File 30) - Box 17
Program for John Anderson's commemoration lecture, 1977; correspondence regarding Bill O' Neill's article on Anderson, 1977-78 (File 31) - Box 18
Handwritten draft of an unpublished article written by Passmore on John Anderson, n.d (File 32) - Box 18

Series 5. The Bertrand Russell Project, 1974-97

Bertrand Russell's large collection of correspondence and unpublished writings were purchased by McMaster University in 1968. The project to publish these writings began in 1969 under the incentive of the University Librarian, Dr William Ready. The goal was to publish 'a complete, reliable, critical annotated edition' of Russell's shorter writings and unpublished book manuscripts between 1888 and his death in 1970.

Passmore was invited to join the Editorial Board as Visiting Professor in 1983, accepting with some misgivings the position of General Editor in 1985. The project was affected by ongoing disputes between members of the editorial board and the university administration. Passmore eventually published an article detailing his dissatisfaction with the internal politics.

This series comprises correspondence between Passmore and academics working on the Project including Dr Nick Griffin (editor), Dr Kenneth Blackwell (Russell archivist), Dr Alasdair Urquhart (editor), Dr John Slater (editor) and Dr Richard Rempel (editor); a long series of letters between Passmore and Dr Louis Greenspan, the Director of the Editoral Project; newpaper cuttings, pamphlets and articles on the project.

Proposal for funding the Bertrand Russell Project Editorial Board, 1974 (File 1) - Box 18
Correspondence with Carl Spader, Richard A. Rempel, John G. Slater and David Pears, 1980-83 (File 2) - Box 18
Correspondence with John W. Yolton, Alwyn Berland, Nick Griffin and Alvin A. Lee, 1984 (File 3) - Box 18
Correspondence with A. Berland, Andrew W. Brink and Nick Griffin, 1985 (File 4) - Box 18
Correspondence with Gregory H. Moore, Kenneth Blackwell, Leslie J. King and Louis Greenspan, 1986 (File 5) - Box 19
Correspondence with Louis Greenspan, Leslie J. King, Gregory H. Moore, R. E. Tully, Nick Griffith and Bill Stratton, 1987 (File 6) - Box 19
Correspondence with Kenneth Blackwell, Leslie J. King, Gregory H. Moore, R. A. Rempel, Bill Stratton and John G. Slater, 1988 (File 7) - Box 19
Correspondence, 1989-93 (File 8) - Box 19
Copy of article written by Passmore on the Project: Editing Russell's papers: a fragment of institutional history, 1994 (File 9) - Box 19
Correspondence with Louis Greenspan, Evan Simpson and John G. Slater regarding Passmore's article, 1994-95 (File 10) - Box 19
Newspaper cuttings and brochures on Bertrand Russell and the Project, 1994-97 (File 11) - Box 19
Correspondence with Louis Greenspan, Nick Griffin, Garry Pinard and Alasdair Urquhart, 1994-97 (File 12) - Box 19

Series 6. Writings by Passmore, 1933-98

In addition to lecturing, from early in his career Passmore was a regular contributor of articles and reviews to a number of Australian and overseas newspapers and academic journals. The majority of the writings are articles written for academic journals or lectures, some of which were later published. Passmore wrote extensively on the philosophy of environmental politics, education, aesthetics and the imagination. He was an outspoken critic of deficiencies in secondary and tertiary education in Australia throughout his life and expressed strong views on Australia's role in Asia.

This series includes handwritten drafts and typescripts including lectures notes, reviews, articles and typed draft chapters on his youth and adolescence which were to eventually form his autobiography Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian. Also included are a series of draft writings on the connection between art, aesthetics and morality that formed the basis for Serious art.

Handwritten draft of Passmore's English honours thesis, 'The influence of 17th century poetry on modern poetry', 1933 (File 1) - Box 20
Handwritten drafts of lectures on T. S. Eliot, delivered to the Australian English Association, 1930s (File 2) - Box 20
Drafts of English papers completed in Passmore's English honours year, including 'Is Marlowe a poet rather than a dramatist?' (File 3) - Box 20
Handwritten draft on one of Passmore's first lectures on Gilbert Keith Chesterton (File 4) - Box 20
Background material for talks edited by A. E. Mandre and researched by Passmore for a series called 'Words are dangerous', 1942 (File 5) - Box 20
Drafts of talks (some in script format) of a series of discussions broadcast on ABC radio: 'The tyranny of fashion', 'What are the practical uses of philosophy?'and 'Are the universities open to talent?', 1942-44 (File 6) - Box 20
Draft review of R. G. Collingwood's An autobiography, 1940 (File 7) - Box 20
Draft review of writings on Harold R. Smart, James A. Perkins, Bertrand Russell and D. J. O'Connor, 1947-64 (File 8) - Box 20
Talkabout discussion group, 1947 (File 9) - Box 20
Handwritten draft of 'Problems', later delivered at the Amsterdam Conference, 1948 (File 10) - Box 21
Draft reviews of writings by Norman Malcolm (including 'Ludwig Wittgenstein') and Karl Popper, 1949-77 (File 11) - Box 21
Handwritten lectures on Descartes, 1951 (File 12) - Box 21
Typed draft of Hume's intentions, 1952 (File 13) - Box 21
Handwritten draft of 'Intentions', delivered at Oxford University, 1955 (File 14) - Box 21
Handwritten notes on 'Wittgenstein theory of science in TLP', 1955 (File 15) - Box 21
Handwritten lecture on 'Interpretation' presented at the Australian National University, 1954 (File 16) - Box 21
Draft on Moore and Russell which later appeared as chapter 9 in One hundred years of philosophy, 1954 (File 17) - Box 22
Typed copy of 'Ludwig Wittgenstein', 1958 (File 18) - Box 22
Handwritten drafts of 'The history of philosophy' and 'Invention and knowing', 1960 (File 19) - Box 22
Biographical notes written on George Edward Moore, 1962 and Henry More, 1971 (File 20) - Box 22
Drafts of several lectures on education: 'Education and criticism', and a copy of the paper 'History today' as it appeared in Teaching history, 1968 (File 21) - Box 22
Several drafts of 'The malleability and predictability of eighteenth-century thought', 1965 (File 22) - Box 22
Drafts of 'Philosophy and aestheticism' and several unpublished papers on aesthetics, 1966 (File 23) - Box 22
Draft of 'History today', 1968 (File 24) - Box 22
Cutting of published copy of 'Paradise now: the logic of the new mysticism and Postscript: paradise lost', 1970 (File 25) - Box 22
Clear copies of lectures delivered at an Oxford seminar in 1970: 'The purposes of Hume's treatise', 'Mind and body' and 'Ethics and social science', 1970 (File 26) - Box 23
Draft of 'The revolt against science', the second Oscar Mendelsohn lecture, 1972 (File 27) - Box 23
Handwritten draft of a poem by Passmore, 'Poems of a blind woman', 1972; handwritten draft of 'Should we preserve the wild?', 1973 (File 28) - Box 23
Typed draft of 'Have we a duty to posterity?', included as a chapter in Man's responsibility to nature, 1974 (File 29) - Box 23
Drafts of 'Reflections on Gilbert Ryle's collected papers', published in the Australian journal of philosophy, 1974 (File 30) - Box 23
Draft of 'Science and human aspiration', 1975 (File 31) - Box 23
Draft of 'The making of an Australian philosopher', 1975 (File 32) - Box 23
Final draft of 'G. F. Stout's editorship of Mind (1892-1920)'published in Mind, 1976 (File 33) - Box 23
Typed draft of 'The ecology of the arts', published in Quadrant, 1976 (File 34) - Box 23
Handwritten draft of 'Hume and the ethics of belief', which appeared in David Hume: Bicentenary papers, 1977 (File 35) - Box 23
Typed clear draft of 'Hostility to science', 1978 (File 36) - Box 24
Draft of 'Locke and the ethics of belief', 1978 (File 37) - Box 24
Copy of published version of 'Why philosophy of science?', 1979 (File 38) - Box 24
Draft of 'Our responsibility to the future', an address given to Geelong Grammar School, 1980 (File 39) - Box 24
Drafts of 'The limits of government', written for the ABC Boyer Lectures (including three cassettes), 1981 (File 40) - Box 24
Copy of 'Quality and equality reconsidered', 1981 (File 41) - Box 24
Typed draft of 'Academic freedom and moral responsibility', 1982 (File 42) - Box 24
Typed final draft of 'The relevance of history to the philosophy of science', 1982 (File 43) - Box 24
Draft review of 'Ecological ethics and politics' by H. J. McClosky. Later published in The Age, 1983 (File 44) - Box 24
Typed draft of 'Art and morality', delivered as the Comte Memorial Lecture to the London School of Economics, 1983 (File 45) - Box 25
Published copy of Passmore's review in Scientific American of 'The career of philosophy: from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment', 1983 (File 46) - Box 25
Draft of 'The mysterious case of Charles Darwin', and a letter to Passmore from Margaret Rose, 1983 (File 47) - Box 25
Typed drafts of 'Why philosophy of science?' Included in a publication on Hume called Science under scrutiny, 1983; Draft of 'Academic ethics' which appeared in the Journal of applied philosophy, 1984 (File 48) - Box 25
Draft of 'Nature, intellect and culture', delivered to the World Conference of Philosophy, 1983 (File 49) - Box 25
Published copy of 'A moral tale' in the Times higher education supplement, July 1984 (File 50) - Box 25
Two unpublished papers delivered at the Japanese symposium 'Responsibility to natural sciences - science, man and culture II'. Typed drafts of 'Morality and the natural environment' and 'Ecological issues in the 21st century', 1984 (File 51) - Box 25
Typed draft of 'Predictability and some preliminary observations', 1985 (File 52) - Box 25
Draft of 'Natural or engineered environment', delivered at the Environmental Awareness course held by the Institution of Engineers Australia, 1985 (File 53) - Box 26
Typed draft of Recent philosophers, 1985 (File 54) - Box 26
Typed draft of 'Narrative and events', published in History and theory, 1987 (File 55_56) - Box 26
Script dialogue for a televised discussion on the BBC program 'The first philosophers', 1987 (File 57) - Box 26
Typed draft of 'Enthusiasm, fanaticism and David Hume', 1987 (File 58) - Box 26
Draft of article 'The black paper on government' published in The Age and The Canberra Times, 1988 (File 59) - Box 26
Drafts of 'Cultural universals', including a published Spanish translation, 1988-90 (File 60) - Box 27
Drafts of 'Enthusiasm and fanaticism' delivered at the Social Philosophy Conference in Montreal, 1989 (File 61) - Box 27
Preface to the Chinese translation to One hundred years of philosophy; draft of 'The limits of moral responsibility' published in Fukushima, 1990 (File 62) - Box 27
Typed draft of 'Humanism and environmentalism', published in Free enquiry, 1990; typed clear draft of 'Environmentalism', n.d (File 63) - Box 27
Draft and final copy of 'Cleverness is not enough', 1990 (File 64_65) - Box 27
Drafts of lectures on aesthetics, developing ideas later explored in Passmore's book Serious art. Lectures include 'Painting, truth aesthetics and feeling' and 'The ontological status of the work of art', 1990s (File 66) - Box 27
Drafts of chapter notes of Serious art, n.d (File 67) - Box 28
Drafts of synopsis for Serious art; cuttings of reviews by Peter Coleman, Sebastian Gardner and Paul Atroskenko, 1991 (File 68) - Box 28
Drafts of 'Serious art and autonomy', published in the Journal of aesthetic education, 1992 (File 69) - Box 28
Rough draft of 'Modernism and preservation', 1992 (File 70) - Box 28
Typed drafts of 'The preservationist syndrome', 1992 (File 71_72) - Box 28
Draft of 'Europe in the Pacific'; copy of Stephen Frost's responding paper 'Broinowski versus Passmore: a dialogue of our times', 1993 (File 73_74) - Box 28
Drafts of 'Reply to my critics', 1993 (File 75) - Box 29
Drafts of 'Impressions of Germany' and a copy of the book Images of Germany in which it later appeared, 1993; drafts of 'Anti-science', n.d (File 76) - Box 29
Draft and published copy of Worlds apart: Australia 1933 and Australia 1993, 1993 (File 77) - Box 29
Draft of 'The end of philosophy', which formed part of the Australian National University public lecture series. Later published in the Australian journal of philosophy, 1994 (File 78) - Box 29
Clear draft of 'Demarcating philosophy', 1994 (File 79) - Box 29
Review of The philosophical papers of Alan Donagan, 1994 (File 80) - Box 29
Review for History and theory, 1997; drafts of 'My intellectual development' and 'Nasty, brutish and short' and copies of articles on education published in The Age, 1997 (File 81) - Box 29
Drafts of 'Rational economics', 'Education and markets', 'Economics and morality' and 'The need for diversity'. Final versions appeared in The Australian, 1997 (File 82) - Box 29
Drafts of 'Fanaticism, toleration and philosophy', delivered at the Tampere conference in Finland, 1998 (File 83) - Box 30
Typed drafts of the introductory chapters to Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian, 1990s (File 84) - Box 30
Typed drafts of chapters 1-4, 6-8 and 10 of Memoirs of a semidetached Australian (File 85_89) - Box 30, 31
Complete final draft of Memoirs of a semidetached Australian, n.d (File 90_91) - Box 31
Correspondence with the University of Melbourne Press regarding Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian, 1996-97 (File 92) - Box 31
Reviews of Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian, 1997-98 (File 93) - Box 32
Drafts and cuttings of reviews written by Passmore, n.d (File 94) - Box 32
Handwritten drafts of two unpublished papers, 'Mind and body' and 'Explanations', n.d (File 95) - Box 32
Handwritten lecture notes on Aristotle, n.d (File 96) - Box 32
Handwritten draft of 'Is there a problem with personal identity', n.d (File 97) - Box 32
Handwritten speech delivered to the Australian Association for Logic, n.d (File 98) - Box 32
Typed draft of 'Philosophy in the last decade', delivered to the Australian Academy of Humanities, n.d (File 99) - Box 32
Typed draft of 'Hume's philosophy of belief', published in G. P.Moriee: David Edinburgh, 1977 (File 100) - Box 33
Typed/handwritten drafts of two unpublished articles, 'Space and art' and 'Philosophy, technology and the quality of life', n.d (File 101) - Box 33
Typed draft of 'The place of argument in metaphysics', a revised paper delivered at the Thirteenth International Congress of Philosophy, 1963 (File 102) - Box 33
Typed/handwritten drafts of three unpublished articles, 'On bad examples', 'Balancing' and 'The task of secondary schools', n.d (File 103) - Box 33
Handwritten draft of 'Scientific thinking and the humanities', n.d (File 104) - Box 33
Typed copy of 'Experimenting with life', delivered to the Forensic Medical Seminar, Sydney, n.d (File 105_106) - Box 33
Copies of an addresses on philosophy delivered to undergraduate students at the Australian National University, n.d; typed draft of 'Historiography of science', n.d (File 107_108) - Box 34
Draft of 'Seventeenth-century philosophers of science', later delivered to scientists at a conference at the Australian National University, n.d (File 109) - Box 34
Handwritten draft of an article on Karl Popper, n.d (File 110) - Box 34
Handwritten draft of 'The motion picture as an art form', n.d (File 111) - Box 34
Unpublished lectures on civil justice delivered to the Virginian Institute of Economists, n.d (File 112) - Box 34
Handwritten draft of 'Ethics and social science; typed draft of 'Laws and inference licences', n.d (File 113) - Box 34
Draft of 'History and theory in philosophy', n.d (File 114) - Box 35
Draft of 'Self and others', n.d (File 115) - Box 35
Typed/handwritten drafts of 'The rebuttal of perception statements', n.d (File 116) - Box 35
Handwritten drafts of two unpublished articles, 'Ryle's procedure on the concept of mind' and 'The consistency of censors', n.d (File 117) - Box 35
Typed draft of 'Art and morality', n.d (File 118) - Box 35
Handwritten draft of 'Theory of science', n.d (File 119) - Box 35
Typed draft of 'The philosophy of graduate education', n.d (File 120) - Box 36
Typed draft of 'Scientific thinking: the humanities and education', n.d (File 121) - Box 36
Draft and final copy of 'Australian philosophy or philosophy in Australia?', n.d (File 122_123) - Box 36
Published copy of 'Civil justice and its rivals', n.d (File 124) - Box 36
Drafts of 'Comments on the higher education policy statement'; including 'Level playing fields', 'General and professional education in universities' and 'How to become president of a banana republic', n.d (File 125) - Box 36
Handwritten and typed drafts of 'Descartes', n.d (File 126) - Box 37
Typed draft of 'The academic and the world at large', n.d (File 127) - Box 37
Handwritten and typed drafts of 'Hume', n.d (File 128) - Box 37
Notes for papers on John Leslie Mackie and P. H. Partridge, n.d (File 129) - Box 37
Typed draft of 'Man and nature: some ethical problems', n.d (File 130) - Box 37
Draft of 'The role of scientific method', n.d (File 131) - Box 37
Added 28.3.2000: 'Dobell and Anderson; contrasting lives', 1999 (File [unnumbered]) - Box 37?
Added 28.3.2000: 'Dobell looks at John Anderson', n.d. (File [unnumbered]) - Box 37?
Added 28.3.2000: ABC talk on Dobell, 1999 (File [unnumbered]) - Box 37?

Series 7. Reviews, 1948-96

A comprehensive selection of reviews on Passmore's work. It includes notices for some of Passmore's most influential works including One hundred years of philosophy, The perfectibility of man and Man's responsibility to nature.

Miscellaneous reviews, 1945-80 (File 1) - Box 37
Miscellaneous reviews, 1981-92 (File 2) - Box 37
Reviews of One hundred years of philosophy and Hume's intentions, 1952-54 (File 3) - Box 37
Reviews of One hundred years of philosophy, 1957-77 (File 4_5) - Box 37
Reviews of The perfectibility of man, 1970-74 (File 6_7) - Box 38
Reviews of Man's responsibility to nature, 1974 (File 8) - Box 38
Reviews of Science and its critics, 1978-79 (File 9) - Box 38
Reviews of Justice, edited by Eugene Kamenka; includes a chapter by Passmore, 1979 (File 10) - Box 38
Reviews of The philosophy of teaching, 1980-83 (File 11) - Box 38
Miscellaneous reviews, 1981-82 (File 12) - Box 38
Reviews of other philosophical works, with reference to Passmore's writings, 1985 (File 13) - Box 38
Letters to Passmore in response to his lecture 'Educating for the 21st century', n.d (File 14) - Box 38

Series 8. Printed Material, 1936-98 - Box 39-43

This series contains published copies of Passmore's writings; copies of overseas translations of several books; copies of Nation Review, Quadrant, The Times Literary Supplement, Encounter, Meanjin quarterly, History and theory, the Australian journal of politics and history, Report on the German universities, Journal of philosophy and Free thought (4 boxes)

Series 9. Conferences, 1948-93

This series consists mainly of programs, invitation lists, publications, brochures and copies of speeches from the conferences attended by Passmore throughout his academic career.

Some files also include correspondence between Passmore and conference organisers, mainly concerned with administrative matters such as scheduling, speech topics and accommodation.

Tenth International Congress of Philosophy, 1948 (File 1) - Box 44
Conference programs, 1951-91 (File 2_3) - Box 44
Humanities seminars on the eighteenth century, 1963, 1970 (File 4) - Box 44
Thirteenth Congress International de filosofia, 1963 (File 5) - Box 44
Theodore Fink Memorial Service in Australian Education, 1965 (File 6) - Box 45
International Congress for logic, methodology and philosophy of science, 1967 (File 7) - Box 45
Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia conference, 1971,1977 (File 8) - Box 45
Conferences, 1973, 1993 (File 9_10) - Box 45
World Congress of Philosophy on law and social philosophy, 1975, 1981 (File 11) - Box 46
The World Institute for Advanced Phenomenological research and learning, 1976-78 (File 12) - Box 46
The Language Atlas of the Pacific Area Project, held by the Australian Academy of Humanities, 1973-75 (File 13) - Box 46
The 46th ANZAAS Congress on 'Science, government and the people, 1975 (File 14) - Box 46
Invitations to conferences, 1976-92 (File 15_16) - Box 46
International Council on the future of the universities, 1977 (File 17) - Box 47
Conference on Passmore's contribution to philosophy, held at the Australian National University, 1982 (File 18) - Box 47
Environmental Awareness Conference, 1986 (File 19) - Box 47
Various conferences held by the Institut International de Philosophie, 1987-94 (File 20) - Box 47
Hume Society conferences, 1988-91 (File 21) - Box 47
Symposium on the Green paper on higher education, 1988 (File 22) - Box 47
The Ninth Fukushima International Seminar: 'Ethics of a new age', 1990 (File 23) - Box 48
Alpbach Seminar: 'We humans, changing perceptions', 1993 (File 24_25) - Box 48

Series 10. Newspaper cuttings, 1951-80s

This series comprises four files of newspaper cuttings covering highlights of Passmore's career including the Boyer Lectures and his involvement with the Bertrand Russell Project. A number of the articles cover his position on issues such as the protest movement in the 1960s and the anti-science movement.

Newspaper cuttings on the ABC Boyer Lectures, 1981 (File 1) - Box 48
Interviews, 1957-84 (File 2) - Box 48
Newspaper cuttings from McMaster Courier, ANU reporter, Times higher education supplement and the National Times, 1981-91 (File 3) - Box 48
Newspaper cuttings, 1950-1980s (folio) (File 4) - Folio 52

Series 11. Photographs, 1960s-80s

Photographs of Passmore; several taken by a photographer from Melbourne University Press, 1980s (File 1) - Box 48
Framed photographs of Passmore, Gilbert Ryle and John Anderson during Ryle's 1956 visit to Australia (folio) (File 2) - Folio 52
Framed photograph of members of the British Academy, 1967 (folio) (File 3) - Folio 52

Series 12. Awards, 1975-93

Correspondence and papers relating to Convocation, McMaster University, 1989 (File 1) - Box 49
Correspondence relating to Passmore receiving the Order of Australia, 1992-93 (File 2) - Box 49
Framed certificates of the British Academy and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia; doctorates from the University of Wollongong, University of Sydney, the Australian National University and McMaster University; Order of Australia certificate and program , 1989-93 (folios) (File 3_9) - Folio 53, 54

Series 13. Interviews, 1958-92

Newspaper cuttings of interviews on Passmore, 1958-89 (File 1) - Box 49
3 cassettes of an interview with Passmore conducted by the Oral History Program at the Australian National University, n.d; video recording of an interview with Passmore conducted by the media program at the University of Canberra, 1992 (File 2) - Box 49

Series 14. Miscellaneous, 1940-90

Copies of study leave reports, n.d (File 1) - Box 50
General activities, 1988 (File 2) - Box 50
Resumé detailing Passsmore's career and publications, 1940-82 (File 3) - Box 50
Passmore's curriculum vitae to 1987 Passmore's curriculum vitae to Jan. 2000 (Added 28.3.2000) 'Passmore's pessimistic notes' (Added 28.3.2000) Computer disk containing 28.3.00 Addition (File 4) - Box 50
J.A. Passmore (June 1999). Passmore Life and Works. Dobell & Anderson. ABC - Dobell notes. Passmore notes. (Item NLA.MS-DM000066) - Digital-Carriers-Box 2
1 item, 3.5 inch floppy disk VERBATIM, 3.5 inch floppy disk
Advertisements for several lectures given by Passmore on art and morality, n.d.; copy of a speech by John Kerr with reference to a paper given by Passmore, 1990 (File 5) - Box 50
Cuttings, letters, invitiations and programs relating to friends of the Passmore family (File 6_7) - Box 50
British passport and ration book (File 8) - Box 50
List of people to send offprints of various publications to, 1958; 1965-66 (File 9) - Box 51
Copy of Karl Popper's article 'Scientific reduction of the essential incompleteness of all science', 1974 (File 10) - Box 51
Framed copy of bookplate (folio), 1940s (File 11) - Folio 55

Class Acc04_171. Consignment added 2004

Comprises further papers documenting Passmore's creative and intellectual work as a philosopher.

Contained in 14 boxes, 6 cartons, 1 small carton, 1 fol. box.

Class Acc04_257. Consignment added 2004

Comprises files of drafts, letters, press cuttings, pamphlets, publications, business cards and a diary kept by Mrs A.D. Passmore documenting her husband's illness, death and funeral service.

Contained in 1 box.

Class Acc05_018. Consignment added 2005

Comprises letters, drafts, lectures, articles, photographs, postcards, press cuttings, obituaries and brochures.

Contained in 1 box.

Class Acc05_072. Consignment added 2005

Comprises papers relating to Passmore, including his funeral, material relating to Mrs A.D. Passmore, tapes of broadcasts Passmore made, and a passport and business cards he had specially printed for dealings with Japanese businessmen.

Contained in 1 box.


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