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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

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1150 Beal Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2113, USA
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Paul Blanshard papers, 1912-1979

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Summary

Creator:
Blanshard, Paul, 1892-
Abstract:
Author and social and religious commentator. Papers include correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, scrapbooks and drafts of articles and books, and other papers, including material concerning his student years at the University of Michigan, as Congregational minister, educational director of the Amalgamated Textile Workers of America, assistant editor of The Nation, chief of the New York City Department of Investigations and Accounts under Fiorello La Guardia in the 1930's, economic analyst for the Caribbean Committee of the U.S. State Department during World War II, and free lance writer noted for his observations on the Catholic Church in America and abroad.
Extent:
30.3 linear feet
3.91 GB
Language:
English.
Call Number:
851649 Aa/2
Authors:
Finding aid prepared by: Thomas L. Jones

Background

Scope and Content:

The Paul Blanshard papers include correspondence, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, drafts of articles and books, and speeches. The papers covering the period of 1912 to 1974 document the variety of Blanshard's life: his student years at the University of Michigan (1910-1914), his career as Congregational minister in East Boston, Massachusetts and Tampa, Florida (1917-1918), his work as educational director of the Amalgamated Textile and Clothing Workers of America in Rochester and Utica, New York (1900-1924), as secretary and lecturer of the League for Industrial Democracy (1924-1933), as correspondent and associate editor of The Nation (1928-1929), as director of the City Affairs Committee of New York (1930-1933) and head of the New York Department of Investigations and Accounts under Mayor Fiorello La Guardia (1934-1938), as director of the Society for the Prevention of Crime (1941-1942), as senior economic analyst and consultant to the director of the Caribbean Commission of the U.S. Department of State; and as freelance writer and critic of the Roman Catholic Church in America and abroad. The Blanshard collection also includes papers of his first wife Julia Blanshard and his second wife Mary Hillyer Blanshard.

The collection has been arranged into seven series: Correspondence; Writings and Related Materials; Biographical Information; Sound Recordings; Photographs; Julia Anderson Blanshard papers; and Mary Hillyer Blanshard papers.

Biographical / Historical:

Paul B. Blanshard was an author and a noted social and religious commentator, perhaps best known for his book American Freedom and Catholic Power. Blanshard was born in Fredericksburg, Ohio in 1892. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1914 then did graduate work at Harvard, Columbia, and Union Theological Seminary. He was ordained a congregational minister in 1917 and served a brief period as pastor of a church in Tampa, Florida. In 1918, Blanshard left the ministry for the trade union movement. From 1920 to 1924 he was educational director for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America in Rochester, New York, and in 1925 he served as field secretary of the League for Industrial Democracy, which position he held until 1933.

With the depression, Blanshard became increasingly involved with issues of urban reform. From 1930 to 1933, he served as executive director of the City Affairs Committee of New York City. Here he led investigations on the problem of municipal corruption and this eventually led to a position with the reform-minded La Guardia administration. During World War II, Blanshard worked as an economic analyst and consultant to the Caribbean Commission of the Department of State. He left in 1946 to become a full-time writer.

The subject that most exercised Blanshard as a writer was the Roman Catholic Church, particularly its political power and influence. In Blanshard's view, according to one writer, the Roman Catholic Church was "institutionally antithetical to democracy and politically antagonistic to American pluralism and individual liberty." Blanshard was most vehement in his denunciation of the church's hierarchy which he felt used its power in the United States to control policy on matters of education, social issues, and foreign affairs. Blanshard expatiated this theme in several books, the most important of these being American Freedom and Catholic Power published in 1949.

Blanshard was married three times. In 1915, he married Julia Sweet Anderson who died in 1934. In 1935, he married Mary Hillyer Kolski who died in 1965, and in 1965, he married Beatrice Mayer. Blanshard had two sons, Paul Blanshard, Jr. (b. 1919) and Rufus (b. 1921), and a twin brother (Percival) Brand Blanshard, a prominent professor of philosophy at Yale University. Blanshard died in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1980.

For more detailed biographical information, the researcher should consult Blanshard's autobiography Personal and Controversial (1974). There are also files in the collection containing biographical and genealogical information (see Summary Content List).

Acquisition Information:
The major portion of the collection was received from Paul Blanshard in 1971. Additional materials came to the library in 1974 and 1982. Donor no. 5116
Processing information:

In preparing digital material for long-term preservation and access, the Bentley Historical Library adheres to professional best practices and standards to ensure that content will retain its authenticity and integrity. For more information on procedures for the ingest and processing of digital materials, please see Bentley Historical Library Digital Processing Note. Access to digital material may be provided either as a direct link to an individual file or as a downloadable package of files bundled in a zip file.

Arrangement:
Summary Contents List
  1. Correspondence, 1892-1973 (boxes 1-4)
  2. Writings and Related Materials
    • Articles and Speeches, 1917-1974 (boxes 4-5)
    • Book Reviews, 1928-1968 (box 5)
    • Journal Articles (box 5)
      • From theChurch and State Newsletter, 1955-1962
      • FromThe Humanist, 1958-1965
    • Books and Pamphlets, c. 1920-1974 (box 6)
    • Background Files for Books/Post-Publication Materials
      • Democracy and Empire in the Caribbean, 1947 (box 11)
      • American Freedom and Catholic Power, 1949 (boxes 12-14)
      • Communism, Democracy and Catholic Power, 1952 (box 14)
      • The Irish and Catholic Power, 1954 (boxes 14-16)
      • The Right To Read, 1975 (boxes 17-18)
      • God and Man in Washington, 1960 (boxes 19-20)
      • Freedom and Catholic Power in Spain and Portugal, 1962 (boxes 21-22)
      • Religion and the Schools, 1963 (boxes 23-24)
      • Paul Blanshard on Vatican II1966 (boxes 25-28)
      • Personal and Controversial, 1973 (box 28)
      • Some of My Best Friends are Christians, 1974 (box 28)
    • Background materials for speeches and articles (box 7)
  3. Biographical Information
    • Books and pamphlets on Paul Blanshard (box 7)
    • Books and pamphlets on religious themes (include some with comments by or about Paul Blanshard) (box 7)
    • Clippings/scrapbooks (mainly about Paul Blanshard) (boxes 8-10)
    • Personal and miscellaneous (box 29)
  4. Sound Recordings (box 31 and phonograph disc collection)
  5. Photographs (box 31)
  6. Julia Anderson Blanshard papers (box 30)
  7. Mary Hillyer Blanshard papers (box 30)
Physical Location:
Portions of the collection are located offsite; two days notice required for retrieval.

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:
Birth control.
Clergy -- United States.
The nation.
Religion.
Strikes and lockouts -- Clothing trade.
Demonstrations.
Women.
Church and state -- United States.
Presidents -- United States -- Election -- 1960.
Formats:
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Sound recordings.
Names:
Catholic Church.
League for Industrial Democracy.
New York (N.Y.). City Affairs Committee.
New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Investigation.
Society for the Prevention of Crime.
United States. Dept. of State.
University of Michigan -- Students -- Social life and customs -- 1911-1920.
Ad Hoc Committee to Lift Ban on The Nation.
Affiliated Summer Schools for Women Workers in Industry.
America First Committee.
American Civil Liberties Union.
American Genetic Association.
American Humanist Association.
American Jewish Committee.
American Jewish Congress.
Beacon Press.
Conference for Progressive Labor Action.
Freethinkers of America.
Friends of Democracy (U.S)
Human Betterment Association of America.
Independent Voters for Norman Thomas.
Institute of Ethnic Affairs.
International Committee on Planned Parenthood.
International Planned Parenthood Federation.
Keep America Out of War Congress.
League for Fair Play.
League of Women Shoppers.
National Council on Freedom From Censorship.
Non-Partisan Committee for Harry W. Laidler for City Council.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Post War World Council.
Protestants and Other Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Society for Ethical Culture (New York, N.Y.)
Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Catholic Church -- United States.
Blanshard, Paul, 1892-1980.
Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968.
Adler, Julius Ochs, 1892-1955.
Aiken, George D. (George David), 1892-1984.
Allport, Gordon W. (Gordon Willard), 1897-1967.
Amory, Cleveland.
Anderson, Jack, 1922-2005.
Archer, Glenn Leroy, 1906-
Argoff, Charles, 1902-
Arnold, Melvin Luxton, 1913-
Arthur, William Bolling, 1914-
Axtelle, George E. (George Edward), 1893-1974.
Bain, Read, 1892-
Bartlett, Harley Harris, 1886-1960.
Bennett, Wallace F. (Wallace Foster), 1898-1993.
Benson, Ezra Taft.
Biddle, Francis, 1886-1968.
Birkhead, Leon Milton, 1885-1954.
Blanshard, Brand, 1892-1987.
Blanshard, Mary Hillyer, -1965.
Bliven, Bruce, 1889-1977.
Bowie, Walter Russell, 1882-1969.
Brameld, Theodore, 1904-1987.
Broun, Heywood, 1888-1939.
Brown, Francis, 1903-1995.
Bunche, Ralph J. (Ralph Johnson), 1904-1971.
Burdett, Winston, 1913-1993.
Burns, James MacGregor.
Caldwell, John T. (John Tyler), 1911-1995.
Chalmers, Allan Knight, 1897-
Chamberlin, William Henry, 1897-1969.
Chambers, David Laurance, 1879-
Clothier, Florence, 1903-
Cogley, John.
Collier, John, 1884-1968.
Cousins, Norman.
Cowley, W. H. (William Harold), 1899-1978.
Dawson, Joseph Martin, 1879-
Dewey, John, 1859-1952.
Dickinson, Robert Latou, 1861-1950.
Douglas, Emily.
Douglas, Paul H. (Paul Howard), 1892-1976.
Edwards, George, 1914-
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955.
Eliot, Frederick May, 1889-1958.
Evans, Bergen, 1904-1978.
Fairchild, Henry Pratt, 1880-1956.
Fey, Harold E. (Harold Edward), 1898-1990.
Fischer, John, 1910-
Flanders, Ralph E. (Ralph Edward), 1880-1970.
Flynn, John Thomas, 1883-1964.
Foote, Henry Wilder, 1875-1964.
Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006.
Gallup, George, 1901-1984.
Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966.
Gibson, Ernest W., 1901-1969.
Gilbert, Charles Kendall, 1878-1958.
Givens, Willard Earl, 1886-1971.
Goldman, Eric Frederick, 1915-1989.
Greeley, Dana McLean, 1908-1986.
Green, William, 1870-1952.
Gruening, Ernest, 1887-1974.
Gunther, John, 1901-1970.
Hall, Frank A., 1894-1972.
Hardman, J. B. S. (Jacob Benjamin Salutsky), 1882-1968.
Harrington, Donald.
Harrison, Gilbert A., 1915-
Hartman, Carl Gottfried, 1879-1968.
Hays, Arthur Garfield, 1881-1954.
Hechinger, Fred M.
Henry, Carl F. H. (Carl Ferdinand Howard), 1913-2003.
Holmes, John Haynes, 1879-1964.
Humphrey, Hubert H. (Hubert Horatio), 1911-1978.
Hunt, Alma, 1909-
Hutchins, Robert Maynard, 1899-1977.
Hutchinson, Paul, 1890-1956.
Huxley, Julian, 1887-1975.
James, Edwin Leland, 1890-1951.
Jones, Bob, 1911-1997.
Jones, Howard Mumford, 1892-1980.
Kallen, Horace Meyer, 1882-1974.
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963.
Kirchwey, Freda.
Kirstein, George G.
Knopf, Alfred A., 1892-1984.
Kunstler, William M. (William Moses), 1919-1995.
La Guardia, Fiorello H. (Fiorello Henry), 1882-1947.
Lamont, Corliss, 1902-1995.
Landon, Alfred M. (Alfred Mossman), 1887-1987.
La Piana, George, 1879-1971.
Lasker, Bruno, 1880-1965.
Latham, Harold Strong, 1887-1969.
Lathrop, John Howland, 1880-1967.
Lee, Alfred McClung, 1906-
Lee, Jennie.
Leiper, Henry Smith, 1891-1975.
Lerner, Max, 1902-1992.
Lewis, Anthony, 1927-2013.
Lipphard, William B. (William Benjamin), 1886-
Livingston, Goodhue, 1867-1951.
Lodge, John Davis, 1903-1985.
Lord, John Wesley, 1902-
Lovett, Robert Morss, 1870-1956.
Luce, Henry Robinson, 1898-1967.
Lyons, Louis Martin, 1897-1982.
McGraw, Harold Whittlesey, 1918-
MacGregor, Frank Silver, 1897-1971.
Mackay, John Alexander, 1889-1983.
MacLeish, Archibald, 1892-1982.
Mallett, Reginald, 1893-1965.
Matthews, Herbert Lionel, 1900-
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956.
Miller, Clyde R. (Clyde Raymond), 1888-1958.
Moehlman, Conrad Henry, 1879-
Monroney, Mike, 1902-
Moore, Hugh, 1887-1972.
Muller, H. J. (Hermann Joseph), 1890-1967.
Muste, Abraham John, 1885-1967.
Nader, Ralph, 1934-
Neuberger, Maurine B. (Maurine Brown), 1907-2000.
O'Dwyer, William, 1890-1964.
Oxnam, G. Bromley (Garfield Bromley), 1891-1963.
Peale, Norman Vincent, 1898-1993.
Pearson, Drew, 1897-1969.
Phillips, Thomas Wharton, 1874-1956.
Pike, James A. (James Albert), 1913-1969.
Pitkin, Walter Boughton, 1878-1953.
Poling, Daniel A. (Daniel Alfred), 1884-1968.
Poteat, Edwin McNeill, 1892-1955.
Potofsky, Jacob S. (Jacob Samuel), 1894-1979.
Raines, Richard Campbell, 1898-
Reuther, Victor G. (Victor George), 1912-2004.
Rice, Paul North, 1888-1967.
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945.
Rose, David Kenneth, 1902-1963.
Rugg, Harold Ordway, 1886-1960.
Russell, Bertrand, 1872-1970.
Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966.
Saxe, Karl, 1892-
Schlesinger, Arthur M., Jr. (Arthur Meier), 1917-2007.
Schroeder, John Charles, 1897-1954.
Seabury, Samuel, 1873-1958.
Shapiro, Rose.
Sheen, Fulton J. (Fulton John), 1895-1979.
Shipler, Guy Emery, 1881-
Sinclair, Upton, 1878-1968.
Sorensen, Theodore C.
Spivak, Lawrence Edmund.
Stein, Robert, 1924-2014.
Stevenson, Adlai E. (Adlai Ewing), 1900-1965.
Stokes, Anson Phelps, 1874-1958.
Stout, Rex, 1886-1975.
Stuber, Stanley I. (Stanley Irving), 1903-1985.
Sulzberger, Arthur Hays, 1891-1968.
Susskind, David, 1920-1987.
Taft, Charles P. (Charles Phelps), 1897-1983.
Tate, Jack B., 1902-
Taussig, Charles William, 1896-1948.
Tead, Ordway, 1891-1973.
Terman, Lewis Madison, 1877-1956.
Thayer, Walter N. (Walter Nelson), 1910-1989.
Ulich, Robert, 1890-1977.
Vallée, Rudy, 1901-1986.
Van Dusen, Henry P. (Henry Pitney), 1897-1975.
Viereck, Peter, 1916-2006.
Villard, Oswald Garrison, 1872-1949.
Wakefield, Sherman Day, 1894-1971.
Warren, Earl, 1891-1974.
Weeks, Edward Augustus, 1898-
Wendt, Gerald, 1891-
Whitaker, Arthur Preston, 1895-1979.
Williams, Charl Ormond, 1885-1969.
Woodfolk, Josiah Pitts, 1894-
Wylie, Philip, 1902-1971.
Yerkes, Robert Mearns, 1876-1956.
Bennett, John C. (John Coleman), 1902-1995.
O'Gara, James Vincent, 1918-
Places:
Latin America.

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

The collection contains audio tapes from which digital copies have been made. Source tapes are for staff use only. Audio files are only available in the Bentley Historical Library reading room on designated Bentley Library computers.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Donor(s) have not transferred any applicable copyright to the Regents of the University of Michigan. Patrons are responsible for determining the appropriate use or reuse of materials.

PREFERRED CITATION:

item, folder title, box no., Paul Blanshard Papers, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

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Collection

Paul Blanshard papers, 1912-1979
Call Number 851649 Aa/2
Total components 912
Items available online Online 3
Last indexed 2023-12-08