Title: Horace S. Fries Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1921-1951

Creator:

• Fries, Horace Snyder, 1902-1951

Call Number: Mss 518

Quantity: 2.6 c.f. (7 archives boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Horace S. Fries, a Lawrence College and University of Wisconsin philosophy and psychology professor, who was a proponent of John Dewey's philosophy and interested in social planning, philosophy and democracy, and the ethics of science. Included is correspondence with John Dewey, Clarence A. Dykstra, Edwin B. Fred, Sydney Hook, Philip La Follette, David Lilienthal, Max Otto, and other University of Wisconsin professors and administrators; writings and speeches, including his Ph.D. dissertation, “The Development of Dewey's Utilitarianism”; a file on the Wisconsin State Government In-Service Training Apprenticeship Program which he supervised; and a file on “Vanguard,” an experiment in naturalistic religion based on Dewey's A Common Faith.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00518

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Horace Snyder Fries, philosophy and psychology professor and writer, was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, October 22, 1902. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison taking a Ph.B. in 1925, a Ph.M. in 1927, and a Ph.D. in 1934. His dissertation is titled, “The Development of Dewey's Utilitarianism.” Fries taught at Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin, from 1930 to 1937 and was assistant to the dean of the graduate school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, from 1937 to 1938. In 1948 he became a full professor in the Philosophy Department at Wisconsin.

Although Fries spent his entire professional life in academe, he firmly believed that philosophical ideas should be put to social use. Fries, like John Dewey, theorized that the experimental methods of science could be applied to social institutions and ethics to arrive at objective judgments on policies and values. Fries did much of his writing in the 1930s and 1940s during the rise of fascism and communism in Europe and his papers reveal his concern with using philosophical ideas to strengthen democratic institutions.

From 1938 to 1939, Fries attempted to put his philosophy to practical use by serving as the supervisor of the Wisconsin State Government In-Service Training Apprenticeship Program. The program was an experiment in improving government administration by selecting highly qualified students to prepare themselves for public service by working as apprentices in government offices. Fries was also interested in social planning at the national level. He contributed ideas to the Tennessee Valley Authority and corresponded with its director, David Lilienthal.

A major philosophical concern of Fries was the historic split between science and ethics in Western thought. He considered this division to be dangerous and many of his writings are attempts to demonstrate that science is not ethically neutral. Fries was critical of positivist philosophers who believed in the ethical neutrality of science and metaphysicians, whether they be “supernaturalists” like Jacques Maritain, or materialists like Karl Marx. Because of the tendency of traditional religions to assert that ethical matters are supernaturally prescribed, Fries could not accept them. He became involved in a campus religious group called “Vanguard” which was comprised of people who were dissatisfied with organized religions. Vanguard was described as a naturalistic approach to religion and it was based on ideas in John Dewey's book, A Common Faith.

Fries remained on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin until his death on September 21, 1951.

This collection consists of correspondence, writings, and a few speeches and lectures. Most of the material is related to Fries's philosophical interests; there is almost nothing related to his personal or family life. The papers are arranged in five series: Correspondence, Writings, Speeches and Lectures, Wisconsin State Government In-Service Training Program, and Vanguard.

CORRESPONDENCE (1921-1951) is divided into two parts as Fries himself had filed it. The first and larger part, correspondence with friends and colleagues, consists primarily of discussions about philosophical ideas and critiques of friends' and colleagues' articles and books. Correspondents include John Dewey, Clarence A. Dykstra, Sydney Hook, Governor Philip La Follette, David Lilienthal, Max Otto, and other well-known University of Wisconsin professors and administrators. There is one autographed letter from Albert Einstein. The correspondence with friends is arranged alphabetically by surname except those letters which contain first names only and which have been arranged alphabetically by first name and filed after the surnames. The “professional” correspondence has generally been kept in its original order which consisted of an alphabetical file usually arranged by the name of a firm or an institution but also by surname in some cases. A large portion of it consists of correspondence with publishing firms and universities but also includes some with Edwin B. Fred, Dean of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School.

The WRITINGS series (1923-1951) is divided into three categories. The first contains Fries's published and unpublished writings and correspondence with publishers. The arrangement is alphabetical by title with the correspondence related to each title immediately following. The second category consists of a small amount of material which Fries labeled “literary” works and which are arranged alphabetically by title. The third section is book reviews which are arranged by year of publication. Fries's chronological bibliography (in box 4, folder 1) provides a list of most of his reviews. Appendix I to this finding aid provides a list of the writings in this series.

The SPEECHES AND LECTURES series (1933-1941) is arranged alphabetically by title of speech or lecture. It includes speeches before the Parent-Teachers Association of Fort Atkinson, the Farmer-Labor and Progressive League, student groups, and unidentified organizations. The series does not appear to include classroom lectures. Appendix II to this finding aid provides a list of the speeches and lectures in this series.

The WISCONSIN STATE GOVERNMENT IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM series (1936-1940) consists of correspondence arranged alphabetically and an alphabetical subject file. Included are papers related to the selection of students for the program, students' reports on their experiences in the program, a published report by Fries that explains the purpose of the program, and papers concerning publicity.

The VANGUARD series (1943-1944) consists of papers related to a campus, non-denominational, religious group referred to as “an experiment in religion.” Included is a mailing list, summaries of meetings, statement of principles and goals, and student papers expounding on this “naturalistic” religion. The arrangement is alphabetical by subject.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Mrs. Horace Fries, Madison, Wisconsin, 1962. Accession Number: M62-1

Processing Information

Processed by William Cunningham and Joanne Hohler, April 1980.

	Series: Correspondence
	Friends and Colleagues
Box   1 Folder   1	Ackoff-Appleby, 1927, Oct-1951, Mar, undated
Box   1 Folder   2	Aronson, 1937, Oct-1942, Oct
Box   1 Folder   3	Baker-Bixler, 1934, Sep-1951, Mar, undated
Box   1 Folder   4	Bode-Buschman, 1935, Aug-1951, May
Box   1 Folder   5	Cameron-Curti, 1928, Jan-1951, Apr, undated
Box   1 Folder   6	Dewey, 1933, Dec-1951, Apr
Box   1 Folder   7	Dorner-Dykstra, 1933, Nov-1950, Dec
Box   1 Folder   8	Einstein-Fung, 1928, Oct-1951, Apr
Box   1 Folder   9	Garrison-Groves, 1934, Jul-1951, Apr
Box   1 Folder   10	Hamers-Herrick, 1934, Oct-1951, Apr, undated
Box   2 Folder   1	Herrick-Hunter, 1928, Sep-1951, Apr
Box   2 Folder   2	Ingraham-Kallen, 1939, Nov-1951, Mar
Box   2 Folder   3	Kans-Lundberg, 1928, Feb-1950, Sep, undated
Box   2 Folder   4	McConnell-McGilvary, 1928, Jul-1946, Feb
Box   2 Folder   5	Manchester-Noyes, 1927, Sep-1950, Dec
Box   2 Folder   6	Olds-Oliver, 1935, Aug-1951, Apr
Box   2 Folder   7	Otto, 1928, Jan-1950, Jul, undated
Box   2 Folder   8	Otto-Pierard, 1931, Apr-1951, Dec, undated
Box   2 Folder   9	Pierard-Sears, 1943, Sep-1950, Oct, undated
Box   2 Folder   10	Sharp, 1930, Feb-1937, Sep, undated
Box   3 Folder   1	Shoemaker-Thayer, 1934, Jul-1951, Jul, undated
Box   3 Folder   2	Thompson-Tsuru, 1933, Sep-1951, May
Box   3 Folder   3	Vivas-Wriston, 1921, Apr-1951, Jan
Box   3 Folder   4	Al-Walker, 1927-1951, undated
	Professional
Box   3 Folder   5	Alfred A. Knopf-Fred, 1930, Aug-1947, Dec
Box   3 Folder   6	Glicksman-Larrabee, 1930, Dec-1949, Jan
Box   3 Folder   7	Macmillan Co.-Ross, 1932, Jun-1947, Nov
Box   3 Folder   8	Saturday Review-Yale University Press, 1930, May-1949, Dec
	Series: Writings	⇧
Box   4 Folder   1	Bibliography
Box   4 Folder   2	A-C, 1942, undated
Box   4 Folder   3-5	D, 1934-1943, Nov, undated
Box   4 Folder   6	E-F, 1937, Mar-1943, Jan, undated
Box   4 Folder   7-9	F, undated
Box   4 Folder   10	F-H, 1934, Dec-1943, May, undated
Box   4 Folder   11	I-L, 1929-1951, Apr
Box   5 Folder   1	M, 1936, Nov-1946, Jan, undated
Box   5 Folder   2	N, 1930, Mar-1931, Dec
Box   5 Folder   3	N-O, 1937, Dec-1947, Jan, undated
Box   5 Folder   4	O, 1923, Jan-1946, Apr, undated
Box   5 Folder   5	O-P, 1933, June-1951, May, undated
Box   5 Folder   6	R-S, 1937, Dec-1944, Jan, undated
Box   5 Folder   7	S-T, 1933-1947, Jan, undated
Box   6 Folder   1	T-W, 1931, Apr-1949, Apr, undated
Box   6 Folder   2	“Literary” Works, 1935, undated
Box   6 Folder   3-4	Book Reviews, 1929-1950
	Series: Speeches and Lectures	⇧
Box   6 Folder   5	A-P, 1933-1945, Sep, undated
Box   6 Folder   6	R-W, 1938-1941, undated
	Series: Wisconsin State Government In-Service Training Program	⇧
	Correspondence
Box   6 Folder   7	Dykstra (University President), 1938, June-1939, Jan
Box   6 Folder   8	Garey, 1938, Jan-June
Box   6 Folder   9	Gaus, 1938, May-1940, July, undated
Box   6 Folder   10	Prospective Student Trainees, 1937, Aug-1939, July
Box   6 Folder   11	Miscellaneous Correspondence and Papers, 1936, Dec-1940, Apr, undated
Box   6 Folder   12	Apprenticeship Reports, 1938, July-1939, June
Box   7 Folder   1	Public Service Scholarship Contracts, 1938, Feb-Aug, undated
Box   7 Folder   2	Publicity, 1937, Jan-1940, Mar, undated
Box   7 Folder   3	Published Report, 1939-1940, Mar
Box   7 Folder   4	Radio Interview, 1939, Aug
Box   7 Folder   5	Research Project, 1939, July-1940, May, undated
	Series: Vanguard	⇧
Box   7 Folder   6	Mailing List, B-Z, undated
Box   7 Folder   7	Meetings, 1943, Mar-Nov, undated
Box   7 Folder   8	Principles and Goals, 1943, May-1944, May, undated
Box   7 Folder   9	Student Papers, 1943, May, undated

Note

This list includes published and unpublished articles and several book-length manuscripts all contained in the Writings series.

• Against the Neo-Thomists: In Defense of the Angelic Doctor
• Art and Knowledge: Ancient and Modern
• Art and the Citizen-Scientist
• Can Science Be Unified Humanistically?
• Catholicism versus Democracy: Comment on a Faux Pas
• Causation in Broad's “Mind and its Place in Nature”
• Communication
• Cultural Function of Art Relative to the Conceptualization of Novel Problems
• Democracy and Science
• Democratic Socialism
• Development of Dewey's Utilitarianism
• Dewey's “Hedonism”
• Dialectics of “Experience”
• Divorce of Psychology from Philosophy
• Education for Democratic Administration: A Challenge to Adult Education
• Ethical Objectivity Through Science
• Ethics of Philosophy: A General survey of Philosophy in History
• Facts
• Foundations of Experimental Planning
• Function of Philosophy
• Functions of Whitehead's God
• Government Venture in Education
• Historical Background of Ethical, Scientific Dualism
• House Divided
• Humanism and Agnosticism
• Humanism in Matthew Arnold
• Identity Versus Similarity
• Idols or God
• In Defense of Naturalism
• In Defense of Wordsworth
• In Dispraise of Life
• In Reply to Mr. Krutch
• Individuality, Science, and Art
• In-Service Training: Method and Opportunity
• Is the Psi-Function Description Complete: A Layman's Questions
• Issue Concerning Universals
• John Dewey's Philosophy
• John Dewey's Theory of Method
• Logical Simplicity: A Challenge to Philosophy and to Social Inquiry
• Marxism, Communism, and the Party of Intelligence
• Mechanism and its Alternatives
• Method in Social Philosophy
• Method of Proving Ethical Realism
• Methodological Consideration
• Mr. Broad's Analysis of the Perceptual Situation
• Mr. Vivas's Analysis of “The Esthetic Judgment”
• Natural Science and the Foundations of Freedom: An Operational Approach
• Naturalistic Basis of Psychology for Psychologists
• Naturalistic Dynamics of the Human Organism
• Naturalistic Humanism
• Needed, an Educational Experiment
• New Bottles for Old Wine
• Nihilism
• Of Men and Destiny
• On an Instrumentalist Logic
• On Dogmatism
• On Hedonism
• On Managerial Responsibility
• On the Logic of Logic
• On the Meaning of Culture
• On the Meaning of Mysticism
• On the “Mystery” of Public Administration
• On the Origin of Communication
• On the Problem of the Function of Logical Simplicity or Unity in Experimental Inquiry
• On the Unification of Science
• On the Unification of Theory and Practice
• On the Unity and Ethical Neutrality of Science
• On Value: A Prolegomenon
• Other Worldliness: Insult to God
• Perception and Value Inquiry
• Philosopher Engineers
• Philosophy in History: A General Survey
• Physics: A Viscious Abstraction
• Problem in Meaning
• Recent Wisconsin Legislation in the Field of Education
• Relations Among the Sciences
• Research In the Social Sciences and Humanities and the Special Fund of the Graduate School
• Science and the Foundations of Freedom
• Science and the Good
• Science, Causation, and Value
• Science, Ethics, and Democracy
• Scientific Aims and Materials
• Scientific Problemization
• Significant Activity
• Sin and the Irrational
• Sober Reflections
• Social Change
• Social Planning
• Society and the Future of Social Science
• State Democracy
• Student Activities
• Teacher's Formulation of Effective Educational Aims
• Theory of Government In-Service Training
• Third Approach to Epistemology
• Towards a Naturalistic Religion
• Towards Democratic Public Administration: A Challenge To Our Wisconsin Citizens and Schools
• Uncertainty Principle

Note

These items are all contained in the Speeches and Lectures series.

• Academic Retreat
• Age of Science
• Dewey School
• Educational Foundations of Social Planning
• Environmental Influences and Intellectuality
• On Some Aspects of the Philosophy of the Progressive Movement
• On the Philosophy of the Progressive Movement
• Organized Labor and Democracy
• Principles Underlying the New Education
• Program
• Progressive Movement in Wisconsin
• Right for Right's Sake
• Science and Aspiration
• Science and Religion
• Social Science and Value
• Thinking: A Talk to College Students
• Why a Philosophy of Life?