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Creator
Spitz, David, 1916-1979
Call number
MssCol 2847
Physical description
27 linear feet (27 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

David Spitz papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

David Spitz (1916-1979) taught courses in political science and political philosophy at Ohio State University from 1947 until 1970 when he left for an appointment at the City University of New York. He served as visiting professor at various institutions in the U.S. and abroad and was the author of books and articles about political theory. He also was involved with professional organizations and scholarly journals in his field. Collection consists of correspondence, teaching and research files and personal papers of David Spitz. General correspondence is with professional colleagues, publishers, editors, and students. Spitz's files, 1947-1970, accumulated during and relating to his tenure at Ohio State contain correspondence, memoranda, reports, official documents, and clippings. Research related materials include published and unpublished manuscripts, other writings, lecture and research notes, reports, and printed matter that cover topics such as the works of John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx and Robert M. MacIver, academic freedom, civil disobedience, democracy, and political theory. Also, personal papers with family correspondence, military service files, and assorted personal records. [Restricted].

Biographical/historical information

David Spitz (1916-1979), born and raised in New York City, was educated in the City's public schools. He then enrolled in the New York City College where he received his BSS degree with special honors in government in 1937. Spitz received M. A., 1939, and Ph. D., 1948, degrees from Columbia University. In 1947 he accepted an appointment at the Ohio State University, where he taught courses in political science and political philosophy for the next twenty-three years. In 1950 Spitz was chosen Professor of the Year by the College of Arts and Sciences of that University. He left OSU for an appointment at the City University of New York.

Spitz served as a visiting professor at Hunter College, summer, 1954; at Cornell University, 1958-1959; at Kenyon College, 1960-1961 and at the University of California, summer, 1967. He was a Fulbright Professor at the Bologna Center of John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Bologna, Italy, 1962-1963, and at the American Seminar in Political Science, Nice, France, summer, 1963.

Spitz held fellowships from the Rockefeller Foundation, 1955-56, 1960, and again in 1978-79; the National Endowment for the Humanities, sunnier, 1976; the Fund for the Republic, summer, 1955 and the Fund for the Advancement of Education, 1951-52.

Spitz was the author of Patterns of Anti-Democratic Thought, 1949; Democracy and the Challenge of Power, 1958, and The Liberal Idea of Freedom, 1964. He was the editor Politics and Society, R. M. MacIver, 1969; On Liberty, John Stuart Mill, 1975, and Political Theory and Social Change, 1967. He also contributed many articles and book reviews to various scholarly and popular journals.

He served as chairman of the Columbia University Faculty Seminar on the History of Political and Social Thought, 1976-77; as secretary of the Conference for the Study of Political Thought, 1971-1972 and 1974-1976; as chairman of award and program committees of the American Political Science Association, 1965 and 1966; as member of the Executive Council of the Midwest Political Science Association, 1963-1965; as consulting editor in political theory for Atherton Press and was a member of the editorial board of Dissent.

In May 1978 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Dillard University.

David Spitz was married twice and had two daughters from his first marriage.

Scope and arrangement

The David Spitz papers are arranged in five series:

  • School Scrapbooks and Yearbooks
  • General Correspondence

    His general correspondence, material pertaining to The Ohio State University and his research and teaching material. The general correspondence, incoming/outgoing, is in alphabetical order but not in chronological order within folders. Contained here is Spitz' personal correspondence (excluding letters to and from family); much professional correspondence with students relating to courses and grades given by Spitz; colleagues, giving student evaluations, opinions on writings or tenure proposals; many letters of and requests for recommendations and correspondence with publishers and editors of his books and articles, including Irving Howe of Dissent magazine and Norman Podheretz of Commentary. Among frequent correspondents are Robert M. MacIver, David Kettler, Rabbi Stephen Kaplan, Rubin Maloff and Thomas I. Cook; others include Hannah Arendt, Gunnar Myrdal and Herbert Marcuse. Ending this series is correspondence with Professor Morris Watnick. In addition to being Watnick's friend. Spitz was also executor of his estate, and so, some of Watnick's personal papers are included.

  • Ohio State University Material

    The second series consists of Spitz' files accumulated during and relating to his tenure at Ohio State University, 1947-1970. Contained here are many copies of and clippings from "Faculty Review" (the school newspaper) and local newspapers with information on Spitz and his writings; official documents and memos; files on "Alternatives" (a series of advertisements sponsored by a group of faculty members); much material concerning academic freedom including reports, clippings and correspondence relating to the Byron T. Darling/case (a professor accused of being communist).

  • Research and Teaching Related Material

    The third series - Spitz' research and teaching related material is sub-divided in nine sections: first - material on John Stuart Mill. Spitz served as editor of a critical edition of Mill's On Liberty entitled Freedom and Individuality; Mill's "Liberty" in Retrospect. Here are Spitz' notes, drafts and correspondence with the publisher (Norton); also other writings by Spitz about Mill's On Liberty and notes by Spitz regarding other writings by Mill. Second - material on Robert M. MacIver. Spitz edited many of MacIver's works including Politics and Society. Files include Spitz' notes and some correspondence regarding his works on MacIver; articles, an index and bibliography done by Spitz; juvenile delinquency evaluation reports (MacIver was head of New York City's Juvenile Delinquency Evaluation Project from 1955-1961); miscellaneous essays toy MacIver and authors proof of The Quest for Meaning. Third - material on his lecture tour in India, July to August, 1976. Spitz' notes for lectures; some correspondence; political literature; articles and reports on free expression; copies of "Voice of India" (local newspaper) and miscellaneous printed matter. Fourth - material regarding year spent in Italy, 1962-1963, on Fulbright grant. Information and some correspondence on his stay and manuscript on the human condition in Italy entitled "The Splendor and The Squalor". Fifth - drafts and research notes on a rebuttal toy Spitz of Skinner's Beyond Freedom and Dignity. Sixth - published and unpublished manuscripts and research notes accumulated throughout his career. Writings and notes are in folders, a few in binders, but are not arranged in any order. There are many essays on democracy, academic freedom and civil disobedience and most include notes, copies of articles used for research, some correspondence, revisions, comments and criticisms of his works. Published works include reviews, advertising material and correspondence with the editors and publishers. Some writings done while Spitz was still in school. Seventh - book reviews of many writings on political science, most of which, are not by him or about his books. Eighth - drafts of work on Marx. Contains copies of an original and revised typescript of a monograph by Spitz entitled "To Interpret or Change the World? Thesis on Marx and Philosophy", with collateral correspondence, 1977-1982, of David and Elaine Spitz relative to its publication. Ninth - bibliographies. Contains bibliography for unpublished manuscript on power; notes and bibliography for contemplated work on minorities and education and bibliography for published article about John Stuart Mill.

  • Restricted Material

    Contained here are personal letters to and from his parents, brother, first wife, second wife, children, step-children and other family members. Also stored here are Spitz' files relating to his military service and wartime work with disturbed soldiers; assorted personal records; a diary and journals.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

July, 1980; August 1982, Received from Elaine Spitz

Processing information

Accessioned by LB, Dec. 8, 1986

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328

Access restrictions

Boxes 25-27 may not be consulted except with consent in writing of Elaine Spitz or Deborah Spitz.