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Lewis White Beck papers

 Collection
Identifier: A.B39

Biographical / Historical

Lewis White Beck (September 26, 1913–June 7, 1997) was born in Griffin, Georgia, and was awarded a bachelor's degree from Emory University in 1934. He earned his master's degree (1935) and doctorate (1937) from Duke University.

Beck joined the Rochester faculty in 1949 as professor of philosophy and chair of the two-person department. He was named Burbank Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy and remained chair until 1966, also serving as associate dean and dean of the graduate school. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1963.

The philosophy doctoral program gained international recognition under his guidance. Beck also started the department’s undergraduate council and was the first recipient of the University’s Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Beck was a Guggenheim fellow, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Council of Learned Societies. He also served on the National Endowment for the Humanities Council. (Source: University of Rochester Currents, September 14, 1998)

Scope and Contents

Papers contain typescripts with manuscript corrections and additions for his Philosophic Inquiry (1952), A Commentary of the Critique of Practical Reason (1958), and Six Secular Philosophers (1960). Also included is a Xerox copy of the typescript with manuscript corrections for his Early German Philosphy (1969). A 1960 manuscript draft of The Actor and the Spectator is accompanied by the later revised typescript (1974).

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1952-1974

Language of Materials

English

Extent

3 box(es)

Access

The Lewis White Beck papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.edu

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Professor Beck in 1960, 1965, 1969, and 1975.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Lewis White Beck Papers, A.B39, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Genre / Form

Occupation

Topical

Title
Lewis White Beck papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid created by RBSCP staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA