Bertrand Russell Archives | McMaster University Library (original) (raw)
Russell Archive Landing page
Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was one of the foremost philosophers and public intellectuals of the 20th century. He contributed to a broad range of topics, from logic, epistemology, and the philosophy of mathematics to social and political thought. In particular, he was critical of many aspects of war, beginning with protests to the First World War and through to nuclear war, and the Vietnam War. It is many of these themes, especially those in which he championed "humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought" earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950.
Acquiring the Archives
In 1968, through the determined efforts of University Librarian, William Ready, and the financial support of the Government of Canada, the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, the Laidlaw Foundation, and McMaster alumnus Cyrus Eaton, McMaster University purchased the Bertrand Russell Archives–the funds received were used to support Russell's Peace Foundation. At the time, the Archives was considered one of the finest personal archives in the world and brought McMaster widespread international attention. Since then, the Archives have continued to grow and now include over 1,000 boxes of letters, manuscripts, photographs, and other documents, as well as over 3,000 volumes from Russell's personal library, and hundreds of other publications.
Russell's Archive
Russell's Archive
Starting points for accessing Bertrand Russell's archive.
A comprehensive description of the Russell Archives. This provides a complete overview of all the material in the archive. This is a good place to start if you want to get an idea of the archive as a whole.
BRACERS is a database of all Russell correspondence known to the Archives.
Russell's Library
Russell's Library
Along with Russell's papers, he also agreed to donate his personal library. In 1978, after the death of Edith, Countess Russell, approximately 3500 books were transported to Hamilton and reshelved in the order that Russell had them.
The collection spans many topics: religion, history, psychology, fiction, biography, and of course logic, philosophy, and mathematics. The collection is not complete, missing his beloved detective novels, and other tomes that drifted out of the collection through sale, divorce, moving, and the other challenges of life.
Many of the books contain marks of his ownership from marginalia, to pipe cleaners bookmarks, gift tags, and unfinished letters used as bookmarks.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
A gallery of significant people, places, and moments in Russell's life.
The 104 letters Russell wrote during his time at Brixton Prison in 1918.
Bertrand Russell as seen through the eyes of forty people who wrote to him. An excellent introduction to Russell and his life.
A detailed study of the many homes of Bertrand Russell.