Summary Information
Theodore Herfurth Papers
1894-1950
- Herfurth, Theodore, 1872-1950
Wis Mss PL
0.4 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers relating to Herfurth's historical study of the bronze plaque celebrating academic freedom presented to the University by the Class of 1910. Correspondence with participants in the five-year controversy over the memorial includes letters from F. Ryan Duffy and other student leaders relating to their efforts to have the plaque accepted by the regents, their achievement of the goal in 1915, and the way in which presentation of the plaque was connected with progressive politics and with the issue of academic freedom raised by the visit of Emma Goldman to the campus in 1910. Copies of letters from Charles Van Hise to Lincoln Steffens, 1908-1909, and information on Steffens' role in the selection of the motto are included, as well as letters from the regents to members of the Class of 1910, a typescript of source materials collected by Herfurth on the issue, and a manuscript article entitled “Sifting and Winnowing.”
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-wis000pl ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
About 1942, Theodore Herfurth, class of '91, prominent insurance man and benefactor to the University of Wisconsin, undertook as a hobby an investigation of the origin and history of the “sifting and winnowing” bronze plaque, a memorial gift of the Class of 1910, which now rests on the wall in the loggia of Bascom Hall. Mr. Herfurth's primary interest was to establish the true authorship of the statement, “Whatever may be the limitations which trammel inquiry elsewhere, we believe the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.” In the process of gathering the facts, records, correspondence, reminiscences, excerpts from newspapers, and other sources, Herfurth brought together a modest collection of material relative to the influence of the progressive spirit of the 1910-1915 on the University of Wisconsin Regents, faculty, administrators, and students.
Mr. Herfurth's story was published in 1949; upon his death in the following year, the material he gathered for his investigation became the property of the Archives.
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains many typewritten copies of manuscript items, the originals of which exist elsewhere. There is material relative to the famous “Heresy Trial” of Professor Richard T. Ely, economist and political scientist; most of it is excerpts from and references to newspapers. There is some material relative to anarchist Emma Goldman, her visit to Madison in 1910, and the ramifications of the visit. There is information about Professor Edward A. Ross, famous sociologist, and his connection with the Goldman incident and with bringing Parker Sercombe, of Chicago, to lecture at the University. There are some copies of Charles Van Hise-Lincoln Steffens correspondence. The bulk of the material deals with the efforts of the leaders of the Class of 1910 to get their class gift, the bronze “sifting and winnowing” plaque, posted in a prominent place on the campus after the Board of Regents rejected it in 1910. There is also one folder of references to and excerpts from newspapers dealing with the above subjects.
Arrangement of the Materials
The collection is arranged in strict chronological order, 1894-1950. In gathering his materials, Herfurth corresponded with the living participants in the above mentioned affairs; they in turn, sent him letters written in the period in which he was interested, and also gave him accounts of the events. No attempt was made to group the letters written in 1915 by members of the Class of 1910 with the letters they wrote to Herfurth 25-30 years later.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by the Herfurth Estate, August, 1950, and by the University of Wisconsin Archives, March, 1959.
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