Guide to the Theodore Meyer Greene Papers, 1935-1969
Series M013.5, Correspondence, restricted until 2045. All other series carry no restrictions.
Cite as: Theodore Meyer Greene Papers, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine
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Theodore Meyer Greene was born on January 25, 1897 in Constantinople, Turkey. He obtained his A.B. degree in Philosophy at Amherst College in 1918, and he received his Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh in 1924. Awarded honorary degrees by seven colleges, Dr. Green became an honorary member of Bowdoin's Class of 1968 and an honorary graduate of the College. He began his teaching career at Forman Christian College at the University of India, Punjab, in 1919, after which he joined the Princeton University faculty in 1923, teaching there as professor of philosophy for 22 years. In 1958-1959 he studied in India under a Ford Foundation grant. He also taught as a visiting professor at various other colleges, including Yale University, Rice Institute, New Asia College, Scripps College. He was Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Bowdoin College during the years of 1966-1969, after which he became involved with Bowdoin's Senior Center; he acted as an advisor to seniors and resided with his wife at the Senior Center while at Bowdoin. Dr. Greene's works include The Arts and the Art of Criticism and Moral, Aesthetic, and Religious Insight, as well as numerous other books and journal articles. He was survived by two daughters from his first marriage.
The collection, ranging from 1935 to 1969, consists of various published writings, class lectures and notes, formal lectures, writings and research related to Dr. Greene's "Indian Dialogues," correspondence with students, and miscellaneous ephemera. The published writings include mostly journal articles on topics including philosophy, aesthetics, and the role of religion in education. His class lectures and notes cover similar material, but they also include notes on existentialism and ethics. His formal lectures chiefly address the role of Christianity in education and the philosophy of art. Several interviews from Dr. Greene's study in India and two editions of his Indian dialogues are included.
Published writings, consisting of 18 journal articles and papers published between 1935 and 1966 on topics such as the importance of spirituality in education, general philosophy, and philosophy of art.
Arranged alphabetically by title.
No restrictions.
"Anxiety and the Search for Meaning" from The Texas Quarterly v.2 no.3 (1958)
"The Art of Responsible Conversation" from The Journal of General Education v.VIII no.1 (1954)
"Beauty in Art and Nature" from The Sewanee Review v.LXIX no.2 (April-June, 1961)
"Christianity, Culture, and Academic Integrity" from The Christian Scholar v.XXXVI no.3 (Sept., 1953)
"A Critical Examination of Mr. Stace's Solipsism" from The Journal of Philosophy v.XXXII no.8 (April 11, 1935)
"Life, Value, Happiness" from The Journal of Philosophy v.LIII no.10 (1956)
"Man's Experience of Reality" from The Emory University Quarterly v.XXII no.2 (Summer, 1966)
"The Middle Road..." from Yale Scientific (March, 1953)
"The Necessity for Spiritual Revival" from The Sewanee Review (1944)
"On Going to College" - articles with annotations
"The Ontological Dimension of Experience" from Thought v.XXIX no.114 (Autumn 1954)
"A Philosophical Appraisal of..." from Pacific Historical Review v.XXVI no.2 (May, 1957)
"Philosophy and the Life of the Spirit" from The Christian Scholar v.XXXVIII no.1 (March, 1955)
"The Philosophy of Life Implicit in Faulkner's The Mansion" from Univ. of Texas... v.2 no.4 (1961)
"The Problem of Meaning in Music..." from The Journal of Aesthetics... v.V no.4 (June, 1947)
"Religion and Modern Science..." from The Yale Scientific Magazine v.XXIII no.5 (Feb., 1949)
"Religious Perspectives of College Teaching"
"Selections from Kant" - Appendix
Greene's class lectures and notes, including about 500 pages about art and philosophy, and about philosophers such as Beyson, Bosanquet, Descartes, Dewey, Kant, Matchette, Plato, Rockwell, and Miriam Drucker and Jack Nelson.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
No restrictions.
Aesthetics notes
Art - "Analysis of a Work of Art"
Art - "Hegel: Introduction to the Philosophy of Fine Art"
Beyson lectures
Descartes lectures
Ethics lectures (1 of 4)
Ethics lectures (2 of 4)
Ethics lectures (3 of 4)
Ethics lectures (4 of 4)
Ethics lectures - Dewey
Ethics lectures - Kant
Existentialism notes (1 of 2)
Existentialism notes (2 of 2)
Existentialism notes - Quinnipiac College Matchette lectures (1951)
Philosophy lectures
Philosophy lectures - Athens
Philosophy lectures - Bosanquet
Philosophy lectures - Kant
Philosophy lectures - Plato
Philosophy lectures - various
Philosophy of Art
Philosophy of Art - Old Lectures
Philosophy - "A Philosopher's View of the Hazards and Resources of..."
Philosophy - "Must Philosophers Disagree?"
Philosophy - "Western Philosophy in Eleven Stages"
"Moral Obligation", a seminar
Rockwell lectures (1953)
"The Arts in Our Society"
Miriam Drucker and Jack Nelson notes
"The Nature of Moral Obligation", a Senior Seminar (1968)
"Reason, Intuition, Faith" - U.S.C. (Feb. 19, 1957)
"Tillich - Courage to Be"
Twenty-four of Greene's formal lectures, given between 1940 and 1966, including conference lectures and convocation addresses on the following topics: the role of spirituality, faith, and religion (particularly Christianity) in education and life; philosophy of art; and, morality.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
"Toward an Honorable World", Wilson College (Oct. 12, 1940)
"The Christian Liberal Arts College in the Postwar World" (April 17, 1944)
"Some Academic Illustions", Western College Associate (Nov. 10, 1945)
"The Basic Tenets of a Liberal Christian Theology", The 1949 Reinecker Lectures, Virginia Theological Seminary (1949)
address given at the Bard Symposium (Feb., 1952)
"Redeeming the Average Way" (Sept. 12, 1952)
"The Challenge of Our Times", Remsen Bird Lectures, Occidental College (1954)
"The Rationality of the Christian Faith", John Herschel Morron Lecture Series (1954-1955)
"The Surface and Substance of Education", Scripps College Convocation (1955)
"The University and the Community", M.D. Anderson Lectures (Jan., 1956)
"Psychiatric 'Concern' and Hebraic-Christian 'Love'" (Dec. 1956)
"The Quality of Scholarship", address to Phi Beta Kappa, Emory University (Dec. 2, 1965)
"The Wisdom of Humility", Investiture (1965)
address given at the SIASG Convention (April 15, 1966)
"Art as the Vehicle for Religious Worship," n.d.
"Beauty in Art and Nature," n.d.
"Certain Philosophical Considerations on the Art of Music," n.d.
"A Faith to Live By in Our Time" (3 lectures), n.d.
"The Hallmarks and Criteria of a Vital and Valid Faith," n.d.
"Man, In the Twilight, Need Not Falter," n.d.
"Psychiatric 'Concern' and Hebraic-Christian 'Love'" from The Nature and Needs of Personhood, n.d.
"Some Implications of a Vital Christian Faith," n.d.
"Whitehead's Theology," n.d.
segment of a convocation[?] lecture, n.d.
Contains five notebooks of interviews from Dr. Greene's study in India, as well as copies of the table of contents, introduction, conclusion, and appendices to the "Indian Dialogues." Also included are typescript copies of "Indian Dialogues I" and "Indian Dialogues II," and one research-related item on Indian handicrafts.
Arranged by material type.
No restrictions.
Interviews I, "Indian Dialogues"
Interviews II, "Indian Dialogues"
Interviews III, "Indian Dialogues"
Interviews IV, "Indian Dialogues"
Interviews V, "Indian Dialogues"
"Indian Dialogues," Table of Contents, Introduction, Conclusion, Appendices
"Indian Dialogues," Contents, Introduction
"Indian Dialogues," Conclusion (1 of 2)
"Indian Dialogues," Conclusion (2 of 2)
"Indian Dialogues I," (1 of 4)
"Indian Dialogues I," (2 of 4)
"Indian Dialogues I," (3 of 4)
"Indian Dialogues I," (4 of 4)
"Indian Dialogues II," (1 of 3)
"Indian Dialogues II," (2 of 3)
"Indian Dialogues II," (3 of 3)
"Indian Handicrafts," research material
The correspondence, 1954 to 1969, consists mainly of letters from students pertaining to recommendations and graduate school acceptances. Also included are personal letters from colleagues and students, as well as a number of business letters about upcoming lectures and publications. Two early 20th-century photographs of "Maine wilderness" and the Greene family are included.
Arranged chronologically.
Restricted until 2045.
[May 12, 1954 - Jan. 27, 1968]
[March 2, 1968 - Nov. 12, 1968]
[Nov. 15, 1968 - Jan. 7, 1969]
[Jan. 9, 1969 - March 20, 1969]
[no date]
Correspondence restricted until 2045.
Contains: return cards from letters of recommendation sent by Dr. Greene, notes and clippings for research purposes, an American Philosophical Association member list (including Dr. Greene's name), reviews of "Moral, Aesthetic, and Religious Insight," a typescript lecture by Arthur Sewell with notes written by Dr. Greene, and a number of Dr. Greene's house blueprints.
No restrictions.
Return cards for reference letters (1967-1969)
Notes and clippings for research
American Philosophical Association Member List with reference and handwritten notes (1962)
Reviews of "Moral, Aesthetic, and Religious Insight"
Typescript lecture by Arthur Sewell with handwritten notes
House blueprints