Guide to the Baker Brownell (1887-1965) Papers, 1904-1965
- Identification12/1/3
-
Title
- Guide to the Baker Brownell (1887-1965) Papers
- Brownell, Baker (1887-1965) Papers
- LanguageEnglish
- Date1904-1965
- OriginationBrownell, Baker, 1887-1965
- Physical Description78.00
- RepositoryNorthwestern University Archives Deering Library, Room 110 1970 Campus Dr. Evanston, IL, 60208-2300 URL: http://www.library.northwestern.edu/archives Email: archives@northwestern.edu Phone: 847-491-3354
- AbstractBaker Brownell enjoyed a rich and varied career as a soldier, newspaper man, popular teacher and lecturer, prolific writer and minor power, and scholar concerned with the dynamics of both the "small community" and the larger "human community" of which it formed an important component. During his lifetime, much of which was spent as a member of the faculty at Northwestern, Brownell achieved a national reputation based upon both his recognized abilities as a lecturer and teacher and his distinctive philosophical views which were articulated through a literary outpouring that included several books and countless articles.
Other Information:
INDEX of prominent correspondents:
Chronological List:
Incoming Correspondence
Addams, Jane: May 3, 1923; Oct. 4, 1923; Jan. 30, 1924; Feb. 18, 1924; June 12, 1924; May 15, 1925; May 6, 1926; June 26, 1926; Aug. 4, 1926; Jan. 14, 1927; May 4, 1927; Aug. 7, 1927; Nov. 21, 1927; Nov. 24, 1927; Feb. 11, 1928; March 17, 1928; July 7, 1928; Jan. 9, 1929; July 22, 1929; July 27, 1929; Sept. 7, 1929; May 15, 1930; March 16, 1931; April 23, 1931; March 2, 1932
Adler, Mortimer
Apr. 6, 1935
Apr. 20, 1935
Sept. 12, 1935
Sept. 16, 1935
Jan. 20, 1937
Mar. 26, 1937
Apr. 8, 1937
Agar, Herbert
Feb. 20, 1937
Feb. 26, 1937
March 18, 1937
March 18, 1937
April 23, 1937
Aiken, George D.
Oct. 18, 1954
Anderson, Sherwood
Dec. 16, 1930
Jan. 15, 1931
June 5, 1931
(Other originals from this collection were given to the Newberry Library in Chicago, April 21, 1951 by Brownell)
Arnold, Thurman
Dec. 4, 1940
Benet, Wm. Rose
Oct. 21, 1927
Boas, Franz
Oct. 4, 1927
Brandeis , Louis D.
Jan. 29 , 1937
Buck, Pearl S.
April 3, 1943
Capper, Arthur
Dec. 9, 1916
Dec. 19, 1916
Feb. 6,1922
Case, Clifford P.
May 17, 1960
Cunningham, Glenn
May 27, 1960
Darrow, Clarence
May 7, 1924
May 27, 1925
Jan. 2, 1926
Nov. 12, 1926
Nov. 15, 1926
Nov. 18, 1926
Oct .29 , 1927
Nov. 6, 1927
Dec. 25, 1927
Feb. 15, 1928
March 19, 1928
March 24, 1928
May 4, 1928
May 6, 1928
Nov. 25, 1929
(Dec. 1926)
April 26, (1928?)
May 12, (1928?)
Jan. 16, (1929?)
Dec. 12, (1929?)
Dewey, John
May 16, 1923
Nov. 8, 1927
April 28, 1930
June 6, 1935
Feb. 25, 1937
July 14, 1941
April 1, 1946
March 29, 1950
May 1, 1950
May 16, 1950
Sept. 19, 1950
Sept. 29, 1950
Oct. 9, 1950
Oct. 17, 1950
Nov. 16, 1950
Nov. 7, 1950
Nov. 19, 1950
Dec. 19, 1950
Jan. 2, 1951
Jan. 3, 1951
Jan. 16, 1951
Feb. 1, 1951
April 24, 1951
Disney, Walt
Nov. 15, 1935
Doolittle, Dudley
June 13, 1916
Douglas, Paul H.
June 1, 1931
June 21, 1932
Nov.19,1932
Dec. 16, 1932
April 10, 1933
July 1, 1933
Nov. 14, 1933
Nov. 21, 1933
Dec. 5, 1933
April 18, 1935
April 3, 1937
April 16, 1937
May 26, 1939
April 12, 1948 (1925)
July 29, 1948
Nov. 26, 1948
Dec. 18, 1950
Dec. 16, 1954
Jan. 6, 1959
Jan. 15, 1959
Dubois, W.E.B.
May 1, 1932
June 1, 1932
Oct. 21, 1932
Dec. 21, 1932
Jan. 4, 1933
Jan. 6, 1933
Jan. 17, 1933
Einstein , Albert
Jan. 31, 1935
Ewett, Margery
March 6, 1923
(1925)
Fenton, Ivor D.
March 31, 1960
Fisher, Dorthy Canfield
March 7, 1951
Frank, Waldo
Oct. 25, 1927
Nov. 11, 1927
(Dec., 1927)
Jan. 18, 1928
March 21, 1928
March 28, 1928
Sept. 2, 1929
Gale, Zona
May 27, 1925
June 12, 1925
(1925)
Feb. 8, 1926
March 11, 1926
March 18, 1926
June 2, 1926
Sept. 5, 1926
Sept. 14, 1926
Sept. 17, 1926
Sept. 26, 1926
Nov. 26, 1926
Feb. 10, 1927
April 9, (1927?)
April 15, 1927
April 23, (1927?)
(April, 1927?)
May 8, 1927
May 13, 1927
May 17, 1927
July 17, 1927
Aug. 8, 1927
Oct. 27, 1927
Dec. 17, 1927
(1927?)
(March 1928)
April 16, 1928
(April, 1928)
July 19, 1928
Nov. 1, 1928
Dec. 7, 1928
Dec. 19, 1928
March 6, 1929
March 28, 1929
(March, 1929)
(March, 1929)
(June, 1929?)
Dec. 13, 1929
Jan. 31, 1930
May 16, 1930
Oct. 4, 1930
(Jan, 1931)
April 29, 1931
May 6, 1931
May 17, 1932
April 26, 1933
July 21, 1933
Oct. 7, 1933
Dec. 19, (1933?)
(1933)
(1933?)
April 25, 1934
July 11, 1934
Jan. 14, 1935
Jan. 18, 1935
Jan. 26, 1935
Jan. 30, 1935
Dec. 27, 1935
June 11, 1936
(July 1936)
Aug. 4, 1936
March 12, 1937
Aug. 1, 1937
Sept. 30, 1938
Sept., 1938
Gardner, A.P.
Nov. 13, 1914
Garland, Hamlin
Jan. 18, 1923
Feb. 1, 1923
Jan. 19, 1924
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins
Oct. 24, 1927
Oct. 29, 1927
Dec. 3, 1927
Oct. 5, 1928
Hayden, Carl
June 1, 1960
Hicks, Granville
July 28, 1944
March 26, 1945
Sept. 4, 1945
Dec. 31, 1945
Jan. 30, 1946
Feb. 18, 1946
March 6, 1946
March 17, 1946
Aug. 7, 1946
Aug. 9, 1946
Nov. 14, 1946
Dec. 16, 1946
Jan. 10, 1949
June 20, 1949
March 12, 1950
May 24, 1950
June 6, 1950
Oct. 9, 1950
April 27, 1951
Feb. 19, 1952
March 24, 1952
Nov. 1, 1952
June 16, 1953
June 29, 1953
(1953)
May 14, 1954
Hill, Lister
April 28, 1960
Holland, Spessard L.
May 9, 1960
Hoover, Herbert
June 28, 1937
Howe, Louis
Jan. 6, 1934
Ickes, Harold
May 3, 1933
May 19, 1933
Kefauver , Estes
April 1, 1960
May 11, 1960
LaFollette, Philip F.
Feb. 26, 1932
June 12, 1933
Nov. 14, 1933
Nov. 17, 1933
April 21, 1934
July 12, 1934
Nov. 28, 1934
Dec. 5, 1934
Jan. 28, 1937
March 12, 1937
April 30, 1937
May 12, 1937
July 16, 1937
Feb. 17, 1938
July 6, 1938
Dec. 30, 1938
April 25, 1939
June 22, 1939
July 7, 1939
July 17, 1939
LaFollette , Suzanne
Dec. 31, 1927
Feb. 8, 1928
Feb. 9, 1928
Lawson, Victor F.
Jan. 8, 1921
Louis Lindsay, Elisabeth
(Mrs. Vachel)
April 28, 1930
MacDougall, Curtis D.
June 1, 1942
Jan. 26, 1948
July 8, 1948
MacDougall, Curtis D.
Jan. 25, 1961
March 2, 1961
March 31, 1961
Mackish, Archibald
n.d.
Markham, Edwin
April 11, 1932
Oct. 23, 1932
(1932?)
McCormick, Robert R.
May 9, 1933
July 7, 1933
Sept. 7, 1933
Sept. 22, 1933
Dec. 19, 1933
April 17, 1934
McCormick, Ruth Hanna
June 8, 1929
June 25, 1929
Jan. 3, 1930
Mencken, H.L.
May 23, 1941
May 31, (1941?)
June 24, 1941
Aug. 5, 1946
Monroe, Harriet
Nov. 5, 1915
May 29, 1917
July 18, 1917
Oct. 15, 1917
Nov. 26, 1917
Jan. 8, 1918
Feb. 8, 1918
Feb. 20, 1918
April 5, 1918
June 26, 1918
Oct. 28, 1918
Feb. 13, 1919
Aug. 23, 1919
Oct. 1, 1919
Oct. 8, 1919
Dec. 16, 1919
Aug. 14, 1920
Aug. 20, 1920
Dec. 6, 1920
Dec. 11, 1920
Dec. 13, 1920
Jan. 21, 1921
Nov. 7, 1921
Jan. 11, 1922
Jan. 27, 1922
March 7, 1922
March 9, 1922
April 3, 1922
April 17, 1922
July 8, 1922
July 20, 1922
Jan. 26, 1923
Feb. 28, 1923
March 31, 1923
April 11, 1923
May 1, 1923
Nov. 21, 1923
May 17, 1924
March 4, 1925
Dec. 1, 1926
Jan. 20, 1927
Jan. 24, 1927
May 4, 1927
July 11, 1927
Aug. 16, 1927
Aug. 20, 1927
April 16, 1930
(1930?)
Jan 5, 1931
Oct. 12, 1931
Oct. 15, 1932
Oct. 17, 1932
Jan. 6, 1933
Jan. 16, 1933
April 2, 1933
April 5, 1933
Oct. 25, 1933
March 16, 1934
April 30, 1934
April 18, 1935
Murray, James E.
July 16, 1945
April 29, 1946
May 9, 1946
June 3, 1960
Norris, George W.
June 17, 1935
Otto, Max
Aug. 31, 1927
Sept. 30, 1927
Oct. 14, 1927
Jan. 6, 1928
Jan. 31, 1928
Feb. 2, 1928
June 15, 1928
Sept. 3, 1928
Sept. 27, 1928
April 16, 1929
May 9, 1929
May 13, 1930
April 26, 1932
Oct. 10, 1932
April 12, 1933
June 27, 1933
Sept. 17, 1933
Sept. 1933
Oct. 5, 1933
(Oct. 1933)
March 30, 1934
April 3, 1934
April 19, 1934
March 25, 1935
July 16, 1935
Sept. 3, 1935
(1935?)
Jan. 3, 1938
Jan. 16, 1939
Jan. 30, 1939
April 18, 1939
May 20, 1939
Jan. 7, 1946
April 29, 1946
May 27, 1946
Nov. 6, 1946
Dec. 10, 1946
April 11, 1948
May 11, 1948.
Oct. 16, 1949
Nov. 14, 1949
Nov. 20, 1949
Nov. 30, 1949
(Nov., 1949)
Dec. 4, 1949
Dec. 9, 1949
Dec. 12, 1949
Feb. 11, 1950
June 28, 1950
July 31, 1950
Sept. 12, 1950
Sept. 20, 1950
Oct. 13, 1950
Jan. 30, 1951
March 2, 1951
March 23, 1951
April 9, 1951
July 6, 1951
Sept. 9, 1951
Oct. 18, 1951
(Oct. 1951)
Nov. 22, 1951
Dec. 8, 1951
(1951?)
April 5, 1952
July 2, 1952
Feb. 9, 1953
Feb. 22, 1953
Nov. 14, 1953
Dec. 23, 1953
Feb. 18, 1954
April 2, 1954
April 20, 1954
April 21, 1954
*Outgoing correspondence from Baker Brownell
Pepper, Claude
Aug. 15, 1939
Pillion, John R.
May 6, 1960
Ransom, John Crowe
Jan. 23, 1937
Feb. 1, 1937
April 14, 1937
Rhodes, John J.
June 2, 1960
Richberg, Donald R.
June 1, 1931
Aug. 3, 1931
Dec. 10, 1931
Dec. 15, 1931
Dec. 18, 1931
May 4, 1933
May 20, 1933
Aug. 30, 1933
Jan. 3, 1934
Jan. 5, 1934
Jan. 25, 1934
April 19, 1934
April 25, 1934
Dec. 20, 1934
Jan. 17, 1935
Roosevelt, Eleanor
June 15, 1934
Oct. 26, 1954
Roosevelt, Theodore
Nov. 20, 1914
Ross, E.A.
Nov. 11, 1914
April 30, 1923
Feb. 11, 1924
May 21, 1925
Feb. 16, 1926
May 6, 1926
Nov. 19, 1926
March 4, 1927
Aug. 8, 1927
Russell, Bertrand
Jan. 21, 1924
Feb. 11, 1924
Feb. 14, 1924
Feb. 26, 1924
April 3, 1924
April 14, 1924
May 23, 1927
*June 7, 1927
Oct. 6, 1927
Feb. 6, 1928
Dec. 4, 1929
April 4, 1939
April 17, 1939
Saarinen, Eliel
July 26, 1924
Sandburg, Carl
July 22, 1922
June 3, 1930
Dec. 2, 1931
(Feb. 1938)
March 17, 1938
Aug. 23, 1938
(1938?)
Jan. 28, 1952
Sanger, Margaret
March 5, 1937
March 10, 1937
March 11, 1937
March 31, 1937
April 16, 1937
April 21, 1937
April 22, 1937
April 23, 1937
April 29, 1937
June 3, 1937
June 17, 1937
Santayana, George
May 5, 1934
Dec. 26, 1939
April 4, 1940 (tms copy)
Sarett, Lew
*(1923)
Oct. 10, 1929
April 27, 1931
April 10, 1934
(1953?)
Saule, George
Jan. 18, 1928
March 7, 1928
May 15, 1928
June 4, 1928
July 10, 1928
Dec. 26, 1928
Sikes, Bob
Jan. 27, 1941
May 27, 1960
Sinclair, Upton
June 28, 1932
Spectorsky, A.C.
Sept. 30, 1942
Oct. 5, 1942
Oct. 12, 1942
Nov. 11, 1942
Nov. 13, 1942
Dec. 11, 1942
Dec. 17. 1942
Dec. 29, 1942
March 25, 1943
Steffens, Lincoln
May 26, 1934
Taber, John
May 6, 1960
Taft, Robert A.
March 13, 1939
Tallmadge, Thomas E.
July 29, 1931
March 31, 1932
May 12, 1932
June 1, 1932
Oct. 14, 1932
March 9, 1933
July 23, 1935
Sept. 9, 1935
Sept. 12, 1935
Oct. 8, 1935
Nov. 19, 1935
Nov. 27, 1935
Dec. 19, 1935
Tate, Allen
Nov. 3, 1936
Feb. 4, 1937
Feb. 10, 1937
Feb. 28, 1937
Thomas, Elbert D.
April 27, 1949
Thomas, Norman
March 11, 1932
April 8, 1932
May 6, 1932
June 13, 1932
June 15, 1932
May 18, 1933
Dec. 21, 1933
April 24, 1934
May 16, 1934
Jan. 4, 1935
June 2, 1936
June 9, 1936
June 15, 1936
June 1, 1936
July 14, 1936
Aug. 12, 1936
Aug. 26, 1936
April 27, 1937
May 13, 1937
May 24, 1937
June 1, 1937
June 9, 1937
June 16, 1937
July 2, 1937
July 8, 1937
July 12, 1937
July 16, 1937
Dec. 1, 1942
Thompson, Dorothy
April 5, 1937
Tietjens, Eunice
May 16, 1923
Tugwell, R.G. (Rexford Guy)
June 9, 1934
June 16, 1934
Dec. 28, 1937
Wallace, Henry A.
Feb. 18, 1935
April 12, 1935
April 15, 1935
April 18, 1935
April 20, 1935
April 26, 1935
May 3, 1935
May 6, 1935
May 25, 1935
Jan. 3, 1936
June 8, 1936
June 12, 1936
June 16, 1936
June 17, 1936
June 18, 1936
June 19, 1936
June 26, 1936
June 30, 1936
Aug. 7, 1936
March 18, 1937
March 25, 1937
June 14, 1937
July 2, 1937
Aug. 6, 1940
March 29, 1941
Jan. 22, 1942
Aug. 12, 1943
Aug. 2, 1944
Wheeler, Burton K.
Feb. 8, 1936
Feb. 18, 1936
April 11, 1936
May 7, 1946
Whitehead, Alfred North
Feb. 8, 1937
Wilder, Thornton
April 4, 1934
Willkie, Wendell
May 6, 1940
Wright, Frank Lloyd
(Incoming Corres.)
May 7, 1931
Feb. 26, 1932
April 1, 1932
March 7, 1932
May 2, 1933
July 1, 1933
July 21, 1933
Aug. 14, 1933
Aug. 28, 1933
Nov. 21, 1933
Dec. 1, 1933
Dec. 6, 1933
Feb. 5, 1933
March 9, 1934
March 30, 1934
April 20, 1934
July 16, 1934
Aug. 6, 1934
Jan. 30, 1934
Feb. 14, 1935
April 16, 1935
April 18, 1935
April 20, 1935
April 28, 1935
May 10, 1935
May 11, 1935
May 16, 1935
Aug. 6, 1935
Aug. 16, 1935
Sept. 6, 1935
Dec. 16, 1935
Feb. 24, 1936
July 24, 1936
Aug. 18, 1936
Oct. 10, 1936
Dec. 30, 1936
Feb. 14, 1937
March 5, 1937
April 11, 1937
April 24, 1937
May 22, 1937
July 6, 1937
July 22, 1937
Aug. 11, 1937
Aug. 13, 1937
March 22, 1939
April 1, 1939
(Outgoing Correspondence)
May 2, 1931
May 13, 1931
Feb. 29, 1932
May 4, 1932
May 11, 1932
May 28, 1932
April 6, 1932
June 3, 1932
June 11, 1932
Oct. 8, 1932
March 27, 1933
April 12, 1933
April 17, 1933
April 24, 1933
May 1, 1933
May 8, 1933
July 6, 1933
Sept. 18, 1933
Feb. 11, 1934
Feb. 19, 1934
March 21, 1934
March 28, 1934
April 18, 1934
Feb. 11, 1935
April 10, 1935
May 8, 1935
May 13, 1935
Sept. 4, 1935
Aug. 10, 1936
Aug. 17, 1936
Sept. 12, 1936
Dec. 7, 1936
Feb. 1, 1937
Feb. 10, 1937
March 1, 1937
March 3, 1937
March 17, 1937
March 29, 1937
April 5, 1937
April 19, 1937
April 26, 1937
April 28, 1937
May 12, 1937
May 19, 1937
May 21, 1937
June 21, 1937
July 1, 1937
July 20, 1937
Aug. 12, 1937
March 22, 1939
Wyatt, Edith Franklin
Nov. 10, 1927
Jan. 9, 1928
Sept. 10, 1928
Baker Brownell enjoyed a rich and varied career as a soldier, newspaper man, popular teacher and lecturer, prolific writer and minor power, and scholar concerned with the dynamics of both the “small community” and the larger “human community” of which it formed an important component. During his lifetime, much of which was spent as a member of the faculty at Northwestern, Brownell achieved a national reputation based upon both his recognized abilities as a lecturer and teacher and his distinctive philosophical views which were articulated through a literary outpouring that included several books and countless articles.
He became particularly identified with an impassioned concern for the preservation of a rapidly vanishing “grass roots” America together with all of its attendant values. In connection with his teaching duties, literary projects, and “small community” field investigations, he had occasion to correspond widely and frequently with a wide variety of individuals, many of whom were quite prominent in their respective areas of expertise.
He was born in St. Charles, Illinois on December 12, 1887, the fifth of six children of Eugene A. Brownell and Esther Burr Baker Brownell. He married Helena Maxwell in 1916, whom he later divorced, and married Adelaide Howard in 1933. He had one son, Eugene Howard Brownell, who was born on September 9, 1939.
Brownell grew up in St. Charles, Illinois, where he graduated from St. Charles High School. He later attended five universities - the University of Washington (1906-1907); Northwestern University (1907-1909); Harvard University (1909-1913); Tuebingen University (1912-1913) and Cambridge University, England (1913). While at Harvard Brownell took classes with Josiah Royce and George Santayana, and met William James, who had already retired from Harvard. He received a B.A. in philosophy from Northwestern in 1910, after completing his last year of undergraduate work at Harvard. He received a master’s degree in philosophy from Harvard in 1911. In 1912-1913 as a recipient of the James Walker Traveling Fellow in Philosophy (awarded by Harvard), he attended Tuebingen University in Germany and Cambridge University, where he became acquainted with Bertrand Russell.
Upon his return from Europe in 1913 Brownell worked as a cub reporter for the Chicago Tribune. From 1914-1917 he lived in Emporia, Kansas where he was an instructor in English at the Kansas State Normal College and edited journal Teaching. He served as an enlisted man and officer, first in the United States Army, then the U.S. Navy and then the National Guard between 1916 and 1926. He served both in the Mexican Border Campaign and World War I. He began writing poetry during this period, which was published in such magazines as Poetry, The Dial and The New Republic. From 1919-1920 Brownell was an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Idaho. Returning to Chicago in 1920, he worked until 1921 as an editorial writer for the Chicago Daily News.
In 1921 Brownell joined the Northwestern University faculty as a lecturer in editorial writing. From 1922-1925 he served first as associate professor, then Professor of Journalism. Brownell held an appointment as Professor of Contemporary Thought in the School of Journalism from 1925-1934, and in the College of Liberal Arts, 1934-1947. He served as chairman of the Department of Contemporary Thought from 1927-1937. He held an appointment as Professor of Philosophy from 1947-1953 when he became Emeritus Professor of Philosophy.
Brownell’s course in Contemporary Thought, one of the first of its kind in the United States, was intended to help students organize fragments of their educational experience into an intelligible whole. It consisted of weekly lectures by prominent individuals with expertise in natural sciences, biology, psychology, sociology, history, economics, art, religion and philosophy. Brownell believed that the “human community” was breaking down in part because students and others did not understand that life itself was fragmented. By helping students integrate their educational experiences, Brownell believed he was helping to mitigate the demise of the small community. In 1926 Brownell published The New Universe, which enumerated his beliefs, and in 1929 he edited a twelve volume series entitled Man and His World, which included 60 lectures that had been given in his Contemporary Thought course.
During the 1930's Brownell became acquainted with Arthur E. Morgan, chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority, and edited Morgan’s book, The Small Community. From 1936-1939 he served as an agricultural advisor to the United States Department of Agriculture. As a supervising editor for Harper & Brothers during the 1940's, he edited several books that were designed to integrate various fields of specialized knowledge.
In addition to his long and distinguished connection with Northwestern, Brownell was also a visiting lecturer at other universities including the University of Kansas City, the University of Chicago, the University of Wisconsin, and the Garrett Biblical Institute.
Baker Brownell also traveled extensively. Among his trips were a tour of the Galapagos Islands and an expedition to Cocos Island as the guest of his friend Commander E.F.MacDonald, Jr., the Chairman of the Zenith Corporation; a six month sojourn in the interior of Guatemala; a summer in Tahiti; a trip to Isle Royale, Michigan as a member of the Isle Royale Archeological Expedition; and various cruises in the Caribbean.
Brownell resided in Montana from 1944-1947 where he directed a community service project, the Montana Study, which was jointly sponsored by the Humanities Division of the Rockefeller Foundation and the University of Montana, though initially financed by the Rockefeller Foundation. The Montana Study entailed a program of teaching and field studies in American culture that emphasized the western region of the United States. Brownell's book, The Human Community, published in 1950, is based upon the Montana Study. Brownell, supported by grants from the Rockefeller Foundation and Northwestern University, continued his community service work in others areas until 1951.
Brownell also served as the first director of the Division of Area Services at Southern Illinois University from 1952-1954, and organized the Department of Community Development at Southern Illinois, which was initiated to help revitalize many communities in southern Illinois. In 1958 Brownell published The Other Illinois, which was based upon his work at Southern Illinois University.
Brownell retired from academic and administrative work in 1954, but continued writing. He spent the remaining years of his life in Fairhope, Alabama, where he died on April 5, 1965.
-
Names
- Medill School of Journalism--Faculty
- Addams, Jane, 1860-1935
- Adler, Mortimer Jerome, 1902-2001
- Brownell, Baker, 1887-1965
- Darrow, Clarence, 1857-1938
- Dewey, John, 1859-1952
- Douglas, Paul H. (Paul Howard), 1892-1976
- Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963
- Gale, Zona, 1874-1938
- Hicks, Granville, 1901-1982
- La Follette, Philip Fox, 1897-1965
- McCormick, Robert Rutherford, 1880-1955
- Monroe, Harriet, 1860-1936
- Otto, Max Carl, 1876-
- Richberg, Donald R. (Donald Randall), 1881-1960
- Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970
- Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967
- Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966
- Santayana, George, 1863-1952
- Simms, Ruth Hanna McCormick, 1880-1944
- Tallmadge, Thomas E. (Thomas Eddy), 1876-1940
- Wallace, Henry A. (Henry Agard), 1888-1965
- Wheeler, Burton K. (Burton Kendall), 1882-1975
- Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959
-
Subject
- Community life--United States--Study and teaching (Higher)
- Journalism--Study and teaching (Higher)--Illinois--Evanston
The Baker Brownell Papers were donated by his widow Mrs. Adelaide Brownell in 1969.
Elizabeth Pessek, assisted by Sally Etheridge and Sarah Good, June 1977.
The Baker Brownell Papers comprise seventy-eight boxes arranged in eight major categories: biographical material; financial and legal records; correspondence; materials pertaining to Brownell's teaching career; conference and convention material; writings; research files; and miscellaneous notes. The most important components of the collection include the thirty-nine boxes of Brownell's correspondence and the twenty-one boxes of material relating to his literary endeavors, organized under the general rubric of "writings." The present arrangement was imposed upon the collection because much of Brownell's original arrangement was neither clearly discernable nor conducive to easy access by researchers.
I. Biographical Materials, Boxes 1-3
The Biographical Materials encompass a broad variety of items including a personal profile of Brownell written by a student who often waited on him in the faculty cafeteria. Also included are various autobiographical materials, including a Northwestern University Golden Reunion hard given to Brownell in 1960; Who's Who entries; faculty questionnaires; a folder of newspaper clippings (1912-1965), including obituaries; press releases, programs, membership cards, awards, certificates, grade reports; newspaper clippings relating to the Brownell family and Brownell's acquaintances, and three folders of Brownell's appointment calendars (1911-1954).
Seven folders of genealogical materials reflect Brownell's interest in family genealogy. Several letters (1837-1896) and manuscripts trace his parents' descent from a pre-revolutionary English lineage that included the Burr, Edwards, Beecher, Foote and Percy families. Also included is a folder of Brownell's sister's (Mrs. George Wilcox) applications for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and two folders of genealogical research done by Brownell and Mrs. Wilcox.
The Brownell family papers include one folder of personal materials, including cancelled checks and a land patent; a folder of Adelaide Howard Brownell’s papers, inc1uding her lecture notes, and a folder of Helena Maxwell Brownell's papers, containing typescripts of a number of her writings.
II. Financial and Legal Records, 3-5
The Financial and Legal Records include Brownell’s bank account books; a folder of correspondence regarding his teaching appointments and several folders containing bills and receipts (1907-1961); royalty statements from his publishers and publishing contracts; and one box of book orders, invoices and related correspondence.
III. Correspondence, Boxes 5-43
The Correspondence, 1904-1968, consists of 43 boxes of both incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing letters. Brownell was a prolific correspondent who regularly wrote to his family, friends, colleagues, publishers, and students. The correspondence, which is arranged chronologically by day, reflects all facets of Brownell's diverse career - his early studies and travel in Europe, his teaching, research and literary interests, his involvement in "small community'' projects in Montana and at Southern Illinois University, and his interests and activities during his retirement years.
Correspondence between a number of Brownell's relatives, including Lulu B. Wilcox and Etta Wilcox; and Lulu Wilcox and Mrs. Eugene A. Brownell together with several letters to Adelaide Howard Brownell from George Santayana have been integrated into the collection.
The correspondence falls into three general periods: Brownell’s pre-Northwestern career, (1904-1921); his association with Northwestern University, (1921-1953); and his post-Northwestern career, (1953-1965).
Correspondence: 1904-1921
There is considerable correspondence during this period between Brownell and several of his relatives, and with a number of publishers and editors to whom he submitted verse, such as Harriet Monroe of Poetry, and the editors of The Dial and The New Republic. Also included is a substantial amount of correspondence with Harry F. Harrington, Director of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
In addition, smaller amounts of correspondence exist with professional colleagues, officials of the Fisk Teachers Agency, and representatives of the United States Army and Navy.
A few letters written during World War I reflect Brownell's views on economic and political questions. Several of his letters, for example, concern the women's suffrage amendment.
Correspondence: 1922-1953
Much of the correspondence from this period consists of relatively mundane letters inviting various public figures, writers, artists, educators, scientists, and others to lecture in Brownell's Contemporary Thought classes.
A substantial amount of correspondence exists with Eugene MacDonald, president and founder of Zenith Corporation, concerning Brownell and MacDonald's cruise to the Galapagos Islands aboard the “Mizpah." Brownell also corresponded extensively with Ralph Borsodi, founder of The School of Living in Suffern, New York; his first Wife, Helena Maxwell Brownell, who lived abroad in France and Germany; Lamar Warrick, his assistant in the Department of Contemporary Thought; Dean Ralph Heilman of Northwestern's School of Commerce; and Carl Beecher, a colleague at Northwestern.
There is also a small amount of correspondence between Brownell and various editors and publishers such as George Soule of The New Republic, and representatives of W.W. Norton & Co., the Abingdon Press, Charles Scribners, Henry Holt & Co. and the Macmillan Company. Brownell also corresponded with Walter Dill Scott, Northwestern's President; Addison Hibbard, Dean of Northwestern's College of Liberal Arts; and Colonel Robert McCormick of the Chicago Tribune.
Additionally the correspondence includes letters of recommendation for students and colleagues, and exchanges with readers of Brownell's published writings. Much of the correspondence in the 1940's was generated as a result of Brownell's duties as supervising editor for Harper & Bros. and concerns various literary projects by such individuals as: Morris Llewellyn Cooke, Philip Murray; Frank Knight, Thornton W. Merriam, Ralph Borsodi, O.E. Baker, M.L. Wilson, Paul H. Douglas, Leon Green, Ernest O. Melby, Charles M. MacConnell, T.V. Smith, Leonard D. White, H.G. Wells and Eugene MacDonald.
A substantial amount of correspondence concerns the Montana Study Project and other experimental projects involving the "small community", funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. Included is correspondence with David Stevens and John Marshall of the Rockefeller Foundation and Ernest O. Melby, Chancellor of the Montana University System, who had previously been Dean of the School of Education at Northwestern.
There is a large amount of correspondence with Arthur E. Morgan, chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority and later President of Antioch College.
In 1937 Frank Lloyd Wright and Baker Brownell co-authored a book entitled Architecture and Modern Life, which occasioned an exchange of correspondence between Wright and Brownell including invitations to visit Wright's home at Taliesin in Wisconsin. Attached to a letter from Wright dated February 24, (1936?) is a three page typescript by him entitled "Sweetness and Light"--a commentary on modern youth.
A small amount of correspondence exists with Northwestern University Professor of Journalism Curtis D. MacDougall and Senator Paul H. Douglas (D-Illinois) regarding the 1948 Illinois Senatorial campaign. Brownell also corresponded with the writer A.C. Spectorsky, Franklyn B. Snyder, President of Northwestern, Henry Wallace, Granville Hicks, John Chancellor and Robert Gard. A small amount of correspondence also exists between Brownell and one of his students, Lauren Wispe, who was serving time in a Chicago prison for draft evasion.
Correspondence: 1953-1965
Much of the correspondence generated during this period concerns Brownell's association with the Area Services Division of Southern Illinois University.
Brownell also corresponded with Ordway Tead, Charles B. Fahs of the Rockefeller Foundation, T.V. Smith, Lloyd Wendt, Granville Hicks, John Chancellor and Robert E. Gard during this period.
IV. Course Materials, Boxes 44-52
Brownell's Course Materials are arranged chronologically. The first two boxes contain notebooks and papers from courses in philosophy, logic, ethics, botany and English, which Brownell took from Professors Bliss Perry, Santayana and Royce at Harvard. One folder contains Brownell's assignments (1909-1911) for a philosophy class, along with typed comments by George Santayana. Included in this section are several of Brownell's diaries, dating from 1909-1915 which contain notes for his doctoral dissertation, poetry, philosophical writings and a European travel journey. Also included are folders of news briefs and editorials written by Brownell's students and other materials from writing courses which Brownell taught at Kansas State Normal School and the University of Idaho.
The most comprehensive body of materials in this section pertains to Brownell's Contemporary Thought course. They include class descriptions, notes by Brownell for Contemporary Thought lectures, original drafts of his lectures, and bound lecture syllabi and outlines. There is also a folder of programs which list speakers for each course session.
In 1926 Northwestern and radio station WMAQ sponsored Brownell's “The New Universe” radio lectures. Programs and typescripts of his lectures are included in this section.
In the 1940’s Brownell directed the Council on the Future, comprised of 25 Northwestern faculty members and administrators, each one with an undergraduate research student, who were brought together to contemplate the probable nature of civilization as it would develop in the future. Bound volumes of class outlines and lectures generated by the Council are included in this section.
Other course-related materials in this section include outlines, booklists , syllabi, and miscellany from various philosophy, writing and literature courses, short courses and summer courses taught by Brownell at Northwestern, the University of Utah, the University of Kansas City, Garrett Biblical Institute, the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin; three folders of student papers and exams; newsclippings, 1930-1937, relating to the Contemporary Thought course; and teachers grade books, 1923-1953, for all of the courses taught by Brownell.
V. Conferences and Conventions Material
The Conference and Conventions Materials which comprise two boxes are arranged chronologically. Brownell participated in several conferences as a speaker, consultant, or member of a panel and the materials in these boxes include outlines, manuscripts and typescripts of his speeches, transcripts of discussions, agendas, programs, reports and other miscellaneous materials.
Also included in this section are six folders of Brownell’s lecture materials, arranged chronologically, including radio talks and addresses; and four folders containing reports, minutes, notes and other materials for The College in the Hills, The School of Living and other institutions with which Brownell was associated.
VI. Writings
The Writings Section includes 21 boxes of outlines and notes for articles and books; initial and subsequent drafts of articles and books; annotated carbon copies of transcripts; and copies of his published works. His writings are arranged alphabetically by keyword title of each article or book. Within each folder, the material is generally arranged in the following sequence: notes, outlines, manuscripts, and typescripts, all in the chronological order of their preparation, followed by carbon copies and published works, if extant. If the title of a work had been changed, it is filed under its published title. Copies of books authored by Brownell have been separated from the collection and are shelved with the "Faculty Collection" located in the University Archives reading room.
Brownell kept careful records of all of his manuscripts, usually dating each revision. Brownell also kept a “Manuscript Record" from 1917-1923 in which he recorded each piece he wrote by title, noting where he submitted it, the date it was returned or accepted for publication and the amount of payment received.
Brownell’s intellectual curiosity and imagination are evident both from the diversity of his interests and the various media which he utilized to convey his ideas. He wrote plays, fables, poetry, and narrative prose fiction in addition to more academically-oriented articles and books. Brownell also reviewed, edited and commented upon works submitted to him by his colleagues, and wrote editorials for major newspapers. He kept copies of published and unpublished editorials he wrote for the Chicago Tribune from 1919 to 1921, many of which are critically annotated.
VII. Research Files
Brownell’s Research Files include materials related to his two major research projects, the Montana Study (1944-1947) and his investigation of community life in southern Illinois (1952-1954). The Montana Project files include clippings, budgets, field research notes, progress reports and a scrapbook. The Montana Project resulted in publication of Life in Montana (1954), and The Human Community (1950). The Area Services Project at Southern Illinois University, which resembled the Montana Study in its focus on the importance of art and leisure activities in a small community, resulted in the publication of Life in Southern Illinois (1953) and The Other Illinois (1958).
VIII. Miscellaneous Notes, Boxes 77-78
Brownell's extensive Reading and Miscellaneous Notes reflect both his diverse intellectual interests and activities and his conscientiousness as a scholar and teacher. He attempted, for example, to systematically read and annotate the classics. The final section of the collection includes both his notes on books he reviewed and critiqued, and his notes on a wide range of topics related to his research and teaching.
The Baker Brownell Papers comprise seventy-eight boxes arranged in eight major categories: biographical material; financial and legal records; correspondence; materials pertaining to Brownell's teaching career; conference and convention material; writings; research files; and miscellaneous notes. The most important components of the collection include the thirty-nine boxes of Brownell's correspondence and the twenty-one boxes of material relating to his literary endeavors, organized under the general rubric of "writings." The present arrangement was imposed upon the collection because much of Brownell's original arrangement was neither clearly discernable nor conducive to easy access by researchers.
I. Biographical Materials, Boxes 1-3
The Biographical Materials encompass a broad variety of items including a personal profile of Brownell written by a student who often waited on him in the faculty cafeteria. Also included are various autobiographical materials, including a Northwestern University Golden Reunion hard given to Brownell in 1960; Who's Who entries; faculty questionnaires; a folder of newspaper clippings (1912-1965), including obituaries; press releases, programs, membership cards, awards, certificates, grade reports; newspaper clippings relating to the Brownell family and Brownell's acquaintances, and three folders of Brownell's appointment calendars (1911-1954).
Seven folders of genealogical materials reflect Brownell's interest in family genealogy. Several letters (1837-1896) and manuscripts trace his parents' descent from a pre-revolutionary English lineage that included the Burr, Edwards, Beecher, Foote and Percy families. Also included is a folder of Brownell's sister's (Mrs. George Wilcox) applications for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution and two folders of genealogical research done by Brownell and Mrs. Wilcox.
The Brownell family papers include one folder of personal materials, including cancelled checks and a land patent; a folder of Adelaide Howard Brownell’s papers, inc1uding her lecture notes, and a folder of Helena Maxwell Brownell's papers, containing typescripts of a number of her writings.
II. Financial and Legal Records, 3-5
The Financial and Legal Records include Brownell’s bank account books; a folder of correspondence regarding his teaching appointments and several folders containing bills and receipts (1907-1961); royalty statements from his publishers and publishing contracts; and one box of book orders, invoices and related correspondence.
III. Correspondence, Boxes 5-43
The Correspondence, 1904-1968, consists of 43 boxes of both incoming correspondence and copies of outgoing letters. Brownell was a prolific correspondent who regularly wrote to his family, friends, colleagues, publishers, and students. The correspondence, which is arranged chronologically by day, reflects all facets of Brownell's diverse career - his early studies and travel in Europe, his teaching, research and literary interests, his involvement in "small community'' projects in Montana and at Southern Illinois University, and his interests and activities during his retirement years.
Correspondence between a number of Brownell's relatives, including Lulu B. Wilcox and Etta Wilcox; and Lulu Wilcox and Mrs. Eugene A. Brownell together with several letters to Adelaide Howard Brownell from George Santayana have been integrated into the collection.
The correspondence falls into three general periods: Brownell’s pre-Northwestern career, (1904-1921); his association with Northwestern University, (1921-1953); and his post-Northwestern career, (1953-1965).
Correspondence: 1904-1921
There is considerable correspondence during this period between Brownell and several of his relatives, and with a number of publishers and editors to whom he submitted verse, such as Harriet Monroe of Poetry, and the editors of The Dial and The New Republic. Also included is a substantial amount of correspondence with Harry F. Harrington, Director of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
In addition, smaller amounts of correspondence exist with professional colleagues, officials of the Fisk Teachers Agency, and representatives of the United States Army and Navy.
A few letters written during World War I reflect Brownell's views on economic and political questions. Several of his letters, for example, concern the women's suffrage amendment.
Correspondence: 1922-1953
Much of the correspondence from this period consists of relatively mundane letters inviting various public figures, writers, artists, educators, scientists, and others to lecture in Brownell's Contemporary Thought classes.
A substantial amount of correspondence exists with Eugene MacDonald, president and founder of Zenith Corporation, concerning Brownell and MacDonald's cruise to the Galapagos Islands aboard the “Mizpah." Brownell also corresponded extensively with Ralph Borsodi, founder of The School of Living in Suffern, New York; his first Wife, Helena Maxwell Brownell, who lived abroad in France and Germany; Lamar Warrick, his assistant in the Department of Contemporary Thought; Dean Ralph Heilman of Northwestern's School of Commerce; and Carl Beecher, a colleague at Northwestern.
There is also a small amount of correspondence between Brownell and various editors and publishers such as George Soule of The New Republic, and representatives of W.W. Norton & Co., the Abingdon Press, Charles Scribners, Henry Holt & Co. and the Macmillan Company. Brownell also corresponded with Walter Dill Scott, Northwestern's President; Addison Hibbard, Dean of Northwestern's College of Liberal Arts; and Colonel Robert McCormick of the Chicago Tribune.
Additionally the correspondence includes letters of recommendation for students and colleagues, and exchanges with readers of Brownell's published writings. Much of the correspondence in the 1940's was generated as a result of Brownell's duties as supervising editor for Harper & Bros. and concerns various literary projects by such individuals as: Morris Llewellyn Cooke, Philip Murray; Frank Knight, Thornton W. Merriam, Ralph Borsodi, O.E. Baker, M.L. Wilson, Paul H. Douglas, Leon Green, Ernest O. Melby, Charles M. MacConnell, T.V. Smith, Leonard D. White, H.G. Wells and Eugene MacDonald.
A substantial amount of correspondence concerns the Montana Study Project and other experimental projects involving the "small community", funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. Included is correspondence with David Stevens and John Marshall of the Rockefeller Foundation and Ernest O. Melby, Chancellor of the Montana University System, who had previously been Dean of the School of Education at Northwestern.
There is a large amount of correspondence with Arthur E. Morgan, chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority and later President of Antioch College.
In 1937 Frank Lloyd Wright and Baker Brownell co-authored a book entitled Architecture and Modern Life, which occasioned an exchange of correspondence between Wright and Brownell including invitations to visit Wright's home at Taliesin in Wisconsin. Attached to a letter from Wright dated February 24, (1936?) is a three page typescript by him entitled "Sweetness and Light"--a commentary on modern youth.
A small amount of correspondence exists with Northwestern University Professor of Journalism Curtis D. MacDougall and Senator Paul H. Douglas (D-Illinois) regarding the 1948 Illinois Senatorial campaign. Brownell also corresponded with the writer A.C. Spectorsky, Franklyn B. Snyder, President of Northwestern, Henry Wallace, Granville Hicks, John Chancellor and Robert Gard. A small amount of correspondence also exists between Brownell and one of his students, Lauren Wispe, who was serving time in a Chicago prison for draft evasion.
Correspondence: 1953-1965
Much of the correspondence generated during this period concerns Brownell's association with the Area Services Division of Southern Illinois University.
Brownell also corresponded with Ordway Tead, Charles B. Fahs of the Rockefeller Foundation, T.V. Smith, Lloyd Wendt, Granville Hicks, John Chancellor and Robert E. Gard during this period.
IV. Course Materials, Boxes 44-52
Brownell's Course Materials are arranged chronologically. The first two boxes contain notebooks and papers from courses in philosophy, logic, ethics, botany and English, which Brownell took from Professors Bliss Perry, Santayana and Royce at Harvard. One folder contains Brownell's assignments (1909-1911) for a philosophy class, along with typed comments by George Santayana. Included in this section are several of Brownell's diaries, dating from 1909-1915 which contain notes for his doctoral dissertation, poetry, philosophical writings and a European travel journey. Also included are folders of news briefs and editorials written by Brownell's students and other materials from writing courses which Brownell taught at Kansas State Normal School and the University of Idaho.
The most comprehensive body of materials in this section pertains to Brownell's Contemporary Thought course. They include class descriptions, notes by Brownell for Contemporary Thought lectures, original drafts of his lectures, and bound lecture syllabi and outlines. There is also a folder of programs which list speakers for each course session.
In 1926 Northwestern and radio station WMAQ sponsored Brownell's “The New Universe” radio lectures. Programs and typescripts of his lectures are included in this section.
In the 1940’s Brownell directed the Council on the Future, comprised of 25 Northwestern faculty members and administrators, each one with an undergraduate research student, who were brought together to contemplate the probable nature of civilization as it would develop in the future. Bound volumes of class outlines and lectures generated by the Council are included in this section.
Other course-related materials in this section include outlines, booklists , syllabi, and miscellany from various philosophy, writing and literature courses, short courses and summer courses taught by Brownell at Northwestern, the University of Utah, the University of Kansas City, Garrett Biblical Institute, the University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin; three folders of student papers and exams; newsclippings, 1930-1937, relating to the Contemporary Thought course; and teachers grade books, 1923-1953, for all of the courses taught by Brownell.
V. Conferences and Conventions Material
The Conference and Conventions Materials which comprise two boxes are arranged chronologically. Brownell participated in several conferences as a speaker, consultant, or member of a panel and the materials in these boxes include outlines, manuscripts and typescripts of his speeches, transcripts of discussions, agendas, programs, reports and other miscellaneous materials.
Also included in this section are six folders of Brownell’s lecture materials, arranged chronologically, including radio talks and addresses; and four folders containing reports, minutes, notes and other materials for The College in the Hills, The School of Living and other institutions with which Brownell was associated.
VI. Writings
The Writings Section includes 21 boxes of outlines and notes for articles and books; initial and subsequent drafts of articles and books; annotated carbon copies of transcripts; and copies of his published works. His writings are arranged alphabetically by keyword title of each article or book. Within each folder, the material is generally arranged in the following sequence: notes, outlines, manuscripts, and typescripts, all in the chronological order of their preparation, followed by carbon copies and published works, if extant. If the title of a work had been changed, it is filed under its published title. Copies of books authored by Brownell have been separated from the collection and are shelved with the "Faculty Collection" located in the University Archives reading room.
Brownell kept careful records of all of his manuscripts, usually dating each revision. Brownell also kept a “Manuscript Record" from 1917-1923 in which he recorded each piece he wrote by title, noting where he submitted it, the date it was returned or accepted for publication and the amount of payment received.
Brownell’s intellectual curiosity and imagination are evident both from the diversity of his interests and the various media which he utilized to convey his ideas. He wrote plays, fables, poetry, and narrative prose fiction in addition to more academically-oriented articles and books. Brownell also reviewed, edited and commented upon works submitted to him by his colleagues, and wrote editorials for major newspapers. He kept copies of published and unpublished editorials he wrote for the Chicago Tribune from 1919 to 1921, many of which are critically annotated.
VII. Research Files
Brownell’s Research Files include materials related to his two major research projects, the Montana Study (1944-1947) and his investigation of community life in southern Illinois (1952-1954). The Montana Project files include clippings, budgets, field research notes, progress reports and a scrapbook. The Montana Project resulted in publication of Life in Montana (1954), and The Human Community (1950). The Area Services Project at Southern Illinois University, which resembled the Montana Study in its focus on the importance of art and leisure activities in a small community, resulted in the publication of Life in Southern Illinois (1953) and The Other Illinois (1958).
VIII. Miscellaneous Notes, Boxes 77-78
Brownell's extensive Reading and Miscellaneous Notes reflect both his diverse intellectual interests and activities and his conscientiousness as a scholar and teacher. He attempted, for example, to systematically read and annotate the classics. The final section of the collection includes both his notes on books he reviewed and critiqued, and his notes on a wide range of topics related to his research and teaching.