Charles S. Peirce in The Open Court Publishing Company Records, 1890-1910

Charles S. Peirce in The Open Court Publishing Company Records, 1890-1910

Charles S. Peirce, Open Court Publishing Company, Edward C. Hegeler, Paul Carus, philosophy, religion, science, Illinois History, La Salle, IL, The Monist journal, The Open Court magazine

Charles S. Peirce (1839-1914), deemed the "American Aristotle," is a famous philosopher and scientist of the 19th and 20th centuries. He is most well-known today as the inventor of pragmatism, yet he made important contributions to many fields, including semiotics, metaphysics, cosmology, phenomenology, psychology, astronomy, chemistry, scientific methodology, logic, mathematics, and metrology.

During the period 1890-1910 Peirce published some of his most important writings in the Open Court company’s two periodicals, The Monist and The Open Court. This in effect established a relationship that scholars recognize as the most important outlet for his mature philosophy. While submitting manuscripts to the company, he also sent letters to its owner, Edward C. Hegeler, and its editor-in-chief, Paul Carus. In their letters we learn the history of their business relations, witness the interplay between their different philosophical views, and read about the inauspicious events and financial hardships that befell one of the greatest American philosophers during his final tragic years.

The Open Court Publishing Records at Southern Illinois University Carbondale contain original hand-written manuscripts by Peirce, off-prints of articles with his hand-written marginalia, correspondence by him, and first-edition print volumes containing his publications.

Nicholas L. Guardiano, Ph.D.

Open Court Publishing Records, 1886-1998

Special Collections Research Center, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

1890-1910

Nicholas L. Guardiano, Ph.D.

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 (Hegeler Carus Foundation) and (2) the holder of the copyright (which may also be the Hegeler Carus Foundation). 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.

SIUC Special Collections Research Center shall request 2 copies from every researcher of any published materials resulting from researcher's access to the collection. One copy will be provided to the Hegeler Carus Foundation.

Archival catalogue of Open Court Publishing Records, 1886-1998

Houser, Nathan. "Introduction." In Writings of Charles S. Peirce: A Chronological Edition. Vol. 8, 1890-1892. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2010. xxv-xcvii.

Manuscript, Correspondence, Print Material

English

Philosophy, Religion, History, Biography