Skip to main content

David Joravsky (1925-2020) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 11/3/16/24

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The David Joravsky papers fill thirteen boxes and are arranged into six categories: biographical materials; correspondence files; materials relating to Joravsky's service on behalf of Northwestern University; non-Northwestern teaching files; materials pertaining to scholarly organizations; and publications, research, and grant applications files.

Biographical materials are arranged topically within a small number of folders.

The correspondence files fill nearly two boxes and span the period 1966-2001. Most files found here contain letters, both incoming and outgoing, relating to specific correspondents. The files are arranged alphabetically by correspondents' surnames. A few topically organized files are scattered across the arrangement. Items within folders are chronologically arranged.

The bulk of the series, nine boxes, is comprised of materials concerning Joravsky's work on behalf of Northwestern University. These are divided into the following subcategories: committee files organized alphabetically by committee name. Of particular significance are files relating to the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Science and Technology and to the Promotion and Tenure Committee; curricular files pertaining to courses taught by Joravsky. These are arranged sequentially by course number. A number of student papers and curricular items not related to specific courses are found at the end of this subcategory; items on Northwestern graduate students in History are arranged alphabetically by surname within folders. These are followed by a folder of recommendation letters; History Department administrative files are arranged by topical headings and relate largely to guest lectures, colloquia, seminars, and fellowships; and files on History Department job applicants. Materials on applicants for the 1992 opening in the history of science and medicine are arranged at the beginning of this subcategory. A few files on applicants for other department positions are arranged at the end.

Non-Northwestern teaching files concern courses taught by Joravsky mainly at Columbia and Brown. The files include mostly hand-written notes. Some syllabi and examinations are included as well.

Materials pertaining to scholarly organizations are foldered by name of association with files then arranged alphabetically. Typically the contents of these files are associated with Joravsky's attendance at a professional conference or his publication in a scholarly journal.

Publications, research, and grant applications files feature reprints of articles published in journals as well as notes relating to these articles. In addition, grant paperwork can be found in this category. Proposals and recommendations to fund work on The Lysenko Affair and Russian Psychology: A Critical History are found here. Folders are arranged alphabetically by keyword of article title, by name of funding agency, or by topical heading.

Dates

  • 1949-2001

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Teaching files, hiring files, and recommendations are restricted; consultation with University Archivist required prior to use. Files relating to the work of the various Promotion and Tenure Committees on which Joravsky served may be used only with the written permission of the Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored at a remote campus location and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Extent

13.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The David Joravsky papers fill thirteen boxes and are arranged into six categories: biographical materials; correspondence files; materials relating to Joravsky's service on behalf of Northwestern University; non-Northwestern teaching files; materials pertaining to scholarly organizations; and publications, research, and grant applications files. The bulk of the series, nine boxes, is comprised of materials concerning Joravsky's work on behalf of Northwestern University.

Arrangement Note

The David Joravsky papers are arranged into six categories: biographical materials; correspondence files; materials relating to Joravsky's service on behalf of Northwestern University; non-Northwestern teaching files; materials pertaining to scholarly organizations; and publications, research, and grant applications files.

Method of Acquisition

Donated to the University Archives by David Joravsky on August 6, 2001 (Accession #01-128).

Separated Materials

Approximately one and one-half linear feet of duplicate and extraneous materials were discarded.

Processing Information

Meghan Courtney; August-September, 2006.

Title
Guide to the David Joravsky (1925-2020) Papers
Author
Meghan Courtney
Date
01/08/2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635