Lindley J. Stiles (1913-2008) Papers

Description: Boxes 1-46

The Lindley J. Stiles Papers, comprising forty-six boxes, are arranged in nine subseries including: biographical and personal materials, general correspondence, reference and research files, speeches, articles and poems, publications, course files, student files, and recommendations. The papers span the year from 1953 through 1979 although their bulk covers the period 1966-1979. The papers very thoroughly document Stiles' personal activities, his professional interests and accomplishments, and his relationships with colleagues and students. To a lesser extent the papers document curricular planning, research, and teaching within Northwestern's School of Education. Finally, the papers reflect national developments in educational research, teacher training, public school curricular development, and education for scientific literacy. There is very little documentation of Stiles' work at either the University of Virginia or the University of Wisconsin. Researchers interested in Stiles' career at Wisconsin should consult the Stiles Papers held by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives.

The papers' small amount of biographical and personal materials include vitae, newspaper clippings, press releases, a few appointment calendars, and some correspondence pertaining to jobs offered to Stiles.

The general correspondence comprising four boxes spans the years from 1955 through 1979. Also included is a small amount of material from 1953. The correspondence mainly concerns Stiles' professional activities but it also illuminates his personal interests and family life. Arranged chronologically, it should be consulted in conjunction with related material in other subseries.

The reference and research files fill over fourteen boxes and constitute the largest portion of the papers. Most materials date from the mid-1960s but a sizeable amount of earlier materials are also included. Materials in the files pertain generally to Stiles' many professional activities and consulting experiences. His relations with close friends and colleagues are well documented as is his work on behalf of Northwestern University and the School of Education.

The speeches files comprising about three and one-half boxes include hundreds of drafts and typewritten or published addresses delivered by Stiles.

Articles and poems fill over two boxes. Included are drafts, copies, and reprints of hundreds of Stiles' briefer writings. Stiles adapted or revised many of his articles and poems from speeches and vice versa.

The publications files comprising about twelve boxes constitute the second largest component of the papers. They span the years from 1955 through 1978 and include correspondence and related materials pertaining to many books and portions of books authored by Stiles. Also included are drafts of some of Stiles' more recent publications as well as unpublished manuscripts. Drafts of articles, reprints, and correspondence relating to Stiles' "Policy and Perspective" column for the Journal of Educational Research and correspondence between Stiles and the Dodd, Mead, and Ginn publishing houses appear here.

The course files comprising about two and one-half boxes relate to courses taught by Stiles at the University of Hawaii in 1960 and at Northwestern University from 1967 through 1978. The files include correspondence, syllabi, reading lists, class rosters, grade sheets, course evaluations, a few student papers, and miscellaneous teaching materials.

The student files total about six boxes and include materials mainly pertaining to graduate students in the School of Education directed or examined by Stiles. Folders are arranged according to student surname; typically they include: correspondence, dissertation proposals, examination questions, written doctoral qualifying examinations, and summaries of oral examinations. Also included is a small amount of general administrative materials pertaining to graduate students and a few folders of correspondence between Stiles and some of his undergraduate advisees. Records in the Students series may contain sensitive materials; consultation with University Archivist required prior to use.

Letters of recommendation written by Stiles comprise about one and one-half boxes and span the years from 1966 through 1978. Correspondence, mainly from students requesting recommendations, is interspersed throughout the files. They may be used only with permission of the University Archivist.

Addition

The typescript copies of two speeches given by Stiles in May 1982 have been added to the series. Entitled "Religion and the Schools: What's Ahead" and "Religion in the Schools: Scope of the Problem," the speeches have been filed in Box 22, Folder 5. Two pieces of correspondence pertaining to these speeches have been added to the series at Box 5, Folder 7.