Kallen, Horace M. - Personal, 1955-1963

Correspondence with Professor Horace M. Kallen. Professor Konvitz comments on Cornell, its library, and academic administration (October 11, 1962). Kallen discusses Jewish education (January 31, 1962), his suggestion to the Civil War Centennial Commission regarding a celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation. Doctor Konvitz mentions that George Sabine and Henry Myers were his two closest friends in Ithaca (January 3, 1961). Konvitz mentions that for the first time he has permitted his name to be used by a political party. While he has kept partisanship out of his classroom lectures, he comments that he told his American Ideals students that he intended to vote for Kennedy (November 3, 1960). Kallen recommended Konvitz for the position of president of the New School (October 3, 1960). Konvitz mentions that he was asked to chair a commission to be established by the American Jewish League for Israel to discuss a Zionist program for American Jews (September 28, 1960). Kallen comments on the study of science (April 21, 1959) and on Hand's lecture on the Bill of Rights (January 30, 1959). Kallen advises Konvitz not to accept the position of Dean of the Jewish Theological Seminary because he can accomplish more for the Jewish community and the American Idea by continuing his position at Cornell (June 20, 1958 and June 11, 1958). Kallen discusses the arms race and compares the conditions of the Soviet citizens with those of people in the United States (November 11, 1957). Copy of a letter from Kallen to Sidney Hook discussing in detail and at length philosophical questions in relation to the Lamont case (July 11, 1957). Copies of correspondence between Kallen and T.S. Eliot (November 12, 1954). Kallen marked the copies "Confidential. For your information." The correspondence concerns Eliot's reaction to an address by Kallen at the National Administrative Committee of the American Jewish Congress. Eliot asks Kallen to clarify his expression "American Idea" and why he is concerned with Jewish culture and apparently not at all with Jews. Eliot also expresses his concern about Kallen's reference to a religion of America (November 26, 1954). Kallen explains his concept of the "American Idea" and culture in detail and at length (December 23, 1954). Other correspondence between Konvitz and Kallen in which the details of their daily lives, attitudes, and thoughts are exchanged. While aspects of Konvitz's work, ideas, and attitudes are expressed by himself, most of the letters are from Kallen and reflect on Konvitz and are about ?Kallen's own concerns, including such topics as world events, American Jewry, Zionism, Jewish education, the American Association for Jewish Education, the American Jewish Congress, the New School for Social Research, the policies of the New Leader, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Communism, Sidney Hook, and philosophical and personal understandings of such experiences and concepts as death. Also, comments on each other's works and publications. Personal correspondence.