Title: George S. Counts papers, 1907-1974
ID: 1/2/MSS 134
Primary Creator: Counts, George S. (George Sylvester), (1889-1974.)
Extent: 14.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Arranged in thirteen series: (1) Biographical mattter, (2) Correspondence (1907-1974), (3) Speeches, (4) Manuscripts, (5) Classroom materials, (6) Russian memorabilia, (7) Conference material, (8) Printed materials by Counts, (9) Printed materials by others, (10) Awards, (11) Newspaper clippings, (12) Miscellaneous, (13) Standing volumes.
Date Acquired: 00/00/1978
Subjects: Counts, George S. (George Sylvester), 1889-1974., Russia - Description and travel
Forms of Material: Correspondence., Counts, George S. (George Sylvester), 1889-1974. - Correspondence, Counts, George S. (George Sylvester), 1889-1974. - Manuscripts, Diaries., Ephemera., Manuscripts for publication., Photographs, Postcards, Records (documents)
George Sylvester Counts was born on a farm near Baldwin City, Kansas, on December 9, 1889. His BA from Baker University (1911) in classical studies included the study of history, philosophy, and the natural sciences. He then taught for two years in two high schools in Kansas and in 1913 went to the University of Chicago (1913-1916) where he was awarded a Ph.D. magna cum laude, in education and social sciences. Thereafter, he embarked upon a teaching career that took him to various American colleges and universities including Yale University, the University of Chicago, and Teachers College, Columbia University (1927-1955). Upon his retirement from Columbia, he taught at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Colorado, Michigan State University, Northwestern University, and finally came to Southern Illinois University as Visiting Distinguished Professor in the College of Education (1962-1974).
George S. Counts wrote numerous books, monographs, and hundreds of articles on education and social affairs. The New Russian Primer (1931) was selected by the Book of the Month Club and The Challenge of Soviet Education, was given the Liberty and Justice Award by the American Library Association, "adjudged the most distinguished book of 1957 in contemporary problems and affairs." Some of his other books include The Principles of Education (1924), The Soviet Challenge to America (1931), A Ford Crosses Soviet Russia (1931), The Social Foundation of Education (1934), The Prospects of American Democracy (1938), The Country of the Blind (1949), Education and American Civilization (1952), and Education and the Foundations of Human Freedom (1963). These books reflected his concern for the problems of the relation of education to society and civilization. Counts was active in several professional and political organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers (President, 1939-1942); the American Liberal Party of New York State; the American Historical Association, where he became a close colleague of Charles A. Beard; the National Academy of Education; and the American Civil Liberties Union.
George Counts died on November 10, 1974, in Belleville, Illinois.
Repository: Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center
Access Restrictions: Unrestricted access.
Use Restrictions: To quote in print, or otherwise reproduce in whole, or in part in any publication, including on the World Wide Web, any material from this collection, the researcher must obtain permission from (1) the owner of the physical property and (2) the holder of the copyright. Persons wishing to quote from this collection should consult Special Collections Research Center to determine copyright holders for information in this collection. Reproduction of any item must contain the complete citation to the original.
Acquisition Source: Gift
Preferred Citation: [Item], George S. Counts papers, Special Collections Resarch Center, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
American Civil Liberties Union. Weekly Bulletin, July 1963 and Minutes, Jan. 1965 and March 1965;
Axtelle, George E. Education and the Foundations of Human Freedom, TMs
Beard, Charles A. What About the Constitution,A Balance Sheet of American History,Hitlerism and Our Liberties, and Neglected Aspects of Political Life. Photocopies;
Becker, Carl. What is Historiography?;
Bridenbaugh, Carl. The Great Mutation, The American Historical Review (Jan. 1963);
Briggs, Thomas. Arrivant Au Terme Du Voyage;
Brunner, Edmund de S. Internal Migration in the United States, 1935-1940;
Buchanan, Scott. The Corporation and the Republic;
Burkhead, Jesse. The Theory and Application of Program Budgeting to Education
Campbell, Roald F. The Control of American Schools;
Casey, John P. Growing up in the Midwest;
Clark, Burton. The Cooling-Out Function in Higher Education;
Council Against Aggression. The Facts about Moscow's Political Warfare Set-up;
Curti, Merle. The Great Mr. Locke: America's Philosopher, 1783-1861
The Department of State. The Constitution of the United States of America;
Dewey, John. Philosophy and Education;
Douglas, Paul.;
Educational Affairs. Education U.S.A.
Eichelberger, Clark M. The United Nations Charter: What Was Done at San Francisco;
Feldman, Marvin J. Making Education Relevant
Franken, William K. The Changing American School;
Franklin, Barry M. The Influence of Charles A. Beard on the Education Thought of George S. Counts;
Freedom House. Famous Words of Freedom,What's ˜Right" and ˜Left", and Bookshelf;
The Frogs of Aristophanes (very freely rendered)
Gates, Arthur I. Review;
Gutek, Gerald L. Events and The Man: George S. Counts and ˜Dare the School Build a New School";
Hacker, Andrew. Politics and the Corporation
International League for the Rights of Man. What Progress Towards Human Rights;
Ireland, James B. Looking Backward Through 100 Years (2 copies)
John Dewey Society. Insights;
Johnson, Vera. The Society of Cincinnati;
Kappa Delta Pi. Mannual for Officers, Kappa Delta Record, April 1964;
Kombrink, Lisa. Untitled;
Lindquist, Clarence B. and Nicholas J. Rokitiansky. Graduate Education in the U.S.S.R.
