Papers, 1938-1977
MC 34
18 boxes
About Ralph Borsodi
Ralph Borsodi was born in New York City in December of 1888. The details of his early life are sketchy but it appears that Borsodi became educated through a combination of stints in private school and personal reading. After working in his father’s publishing company as a young man, Borsodi advised a number of large New York corporations on economic matters. Concurrently he authored two works which helped to spark a return to homesteading. These were This Ugly Civilization (1929) and Flight From the City (1933).
In the mid-1930s Borsodi led the Dayton Project, an attempt to alleviate the effects of the Depression by fostering small, quasi-self-sufficient communities. After this experiment failed, Borsodi helped to found the School for Living in Suffern, New York in order to investigate and promulgate the homesteading life which he advocated. He next founded the University of Melbourne in Florida to further his interests in community and decentralization. During the 1960s and 1970s Borsodi sought to present his ideas via international fora. He developed contacts in India and, with a number of allies, sought to set up several international corporations to implement his economic and educational ideas. His last major project was an attempt to create a currency the value of which would not change.
Borsodi died in Exeter, NH in 1977. His work was greatly influential in spurring a “rural renaissance” that pressed for decentralization of the economy and the government and a return to a self-sufficient life. Many of his ideas have re-emerged in the modern environmentalist movements.
For more about Ralph Borsodi, see Ralph Borsodi’s Principles for Homesteaders by Mildred Loomis [reprinted from Land & Liberty, November-December 1978.
About the Ralph Borsodi Collection
The Ralph Borsodi Collection consists of correspondence, much of which concerns the imminent visit to the United States of Jayaprakash Narayan in 1966; manuscripts for several of Borsodi's works, both published and unpublished; and a small amount of papers from the School of Living, the University of Melbourne, and the corporations that Borsodi set up to implement his ideas.
Folder Listing:
- Correspondence
- Writings
- School of Living
- Other Ventures
- University of Melbourne
- International Foundation for Independence
- International Institute for Social Science
- Work with Jayaprakash Narayan
- Biographical Material
- Appendix: Books by Ralph Borsodi in UNH Library
I. Correspondence
A. From Borsodi
| f.1 | Herbert Agar, Louisville Courier-Journal, 1938 (1). American Eugenics Society, Inc., 1965 (5). Stanley Andrews, 1966 (1). Dr. James W. Angell, New School for Social Research, 1966 (1). Association for Voluntary Sterilization, Inc. |
f.2 | Mr. & Mrs. Willis Ballinger, 1952 (1). Beirut Chamber of Commerce, Lebanon, 1966 (1). Leo Bernstein, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, 1972 (1). Books By Mail, Inc., 1965 (1). Bill Borsodi (?), 1966 (3). Morris Borsodi (uncle), 1952, 1954 (2). Al Bragg?, 1960 (1). Dr. Karl Brandt, Stanford University, 1966 (1). Victor Buck, 1967 (4). Willima Bundy, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, 1966 (1). Ralph Burhoe, Meadville Theological School, Chicago, 1966 (2). Stuart Chase, 1966 (1). Frank Chiles, 1938 (1). Robert Clancy, Henry George School of Social Science, NY, 1965 (1). Senator Joseph Clark (Pennsylvania), 1966 (1). William J. Clark, 1938 (1). Edward Cohen, International Development Foundation, 1966 (1). Senator Norris Cotton (New Hampshire), 1966 (1). |
| f.3 | Dr. Harry Day, New England Center, 1966 (2). Donald Dennis, Secretary, Federal Union, 1966 (1). Satish P. Desai, 1966-1968 (4). Dr. Richard Dewey, University of New Hampshire, 1966 (2). Dr. Wendell Diebold, 1952 (1). Embassy of the Duchy of Luxembourg, 1966 (1). Embassy of Republic of Lebanon, 1966 (1). Jennifer Estrin, New School for Social Research, 1966 (1). Euthanasia Society of America, Inc., 1965 (7). S. Howard Evans, 1952 (1). Exeter Banking Company, 1965-1966 (2). Rene F. Eyheralde, Santiago, Chile, 1966 (1). Farm Home Administration (Howard Bertch), 1966 (1). Farmers and World Affairs (Ray Newton), 1966 (1). Roger C. Fenn, 1966 (1). First National Bank of Boston, London, 1973 (2). First National City Bank, New York City, James D. Farley, Vice President and Leif Olsen, Senior Vice President and Economist, 1966 (3). Roger Franklin (?), 1968 (1). |
| f.4 | Ernest Gaunt, Director, Division of Applied Exchange at the School of Living, 1936-1938 (34). |
| f.5 | Dr. Arthur Goodfriend, University of Hawaii, 1966 (1). Dr. Benjamin Graham, 1966 (1). Dean Joseph J. Greenbaum, Congressman, New School for Social Research, 1966 (1). Dr. Alan F. Guttmacher, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 1966 (1). Ralph W. Gwinn, 1952 (1). Erick S. Hansch, School of Living, 1972 (4) Henry Hazlitt, Newsweek, 1966 (1). William Henry, 1966 (1). Dr. Folke Hilgerdt, 1952 91). John T. Holden, 1966 (2). Rene Hottua, Director of Economic Expansion. Luxembourg, 1966 (1). Dr. Charles S. Houston, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, 1966 (1). International Assistance Corporation (John M. Eklund, Executive Vice President), 1966 (1). International Peasants Union, 1966 (1). Dr. Homer Jack, Unitarian Universalist Association, 1964-1966 (3). Dr. Erwin Jaffe, University of New Hampshire, 1966-1967 (2). Barbara A. Jewett, 1966 (1). |
| f.6 | Andrew M. Kamarck, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1966 (1). M.C. Kathari, Book Sellers and Publishers, Gujarat, India, 1965 (1). Senator Kenneth B. Keating, National Chairman, Population Crisis Committee, 1965 (1).< Kendall Kimberland, Chase Manhattan Bank, 1966 (1). Carol C. Laise, Country Director for India, U.S. Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, 1966 (1). John O. Leahigh, English Speaking Relations, Santiago, Chile, 1966 (1). Lee and Muirhead, (G.E. Berry, International Department), 1967 (1). Mildred Jensen Loomis, 1952-1967 (15). Dr. Abraham Maslow, Brandeis University, 1966 (1). Dr. Edward Mason, Harvard University, 1966 (1). Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mayer, 1966 (2). Mr. and Mrs. Mazumdar, Gujarat, India, 1967 (1). Reverend Jack Mendelsohn, Arlington Street Church, Boston, 1966 (3). Dr. Ilse Mintz, Columbia University, New York, 1966 (1). George E. Moesel, 1955 (1). Arthur E. Morgan, 1966 (1). |
| f.7 | Jayaprakash Narayan, 1964-1967 (14). National Farmer's Union, 1966 (1). Herbert D. Newell, 1966 (1). Ashakant Nimbark, New School for Social Research, 1966 (1). Kersi Palkiwala, Bombay, India, 1968 (1). Rangel Parra, Mexico, 1966 (1). Ambassador G. Parthasarathi, United Nations, 1966 (1). Ishwarbai J. Patel, Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Patel University, Gujarat, India, 1967-1968 (3). R.C. Patel, Charotar Book Stall, Anand, India, 1968 (1). T.G. Patel, Bombay, India, 1967 (1). W. Russell Peabody, 1966 (1). Judge John W. Perkins, 1966 (1). William E. Peterson, Ramapo Valley Independent, 1938 (1). Dr. Franz Pick, Pick's World Currency Report, 1966-1967 (9). |
| f.8 | Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, 1965 (1). Planned Parenthood--World Population, 1965 (5). The Population Council, 1965 (1). Devi Prasad, Secretary, War Resisters International, 1967 (1). Arthur Pursell, 1966 (1). Charlton D. Putnam, 1966 (1). Dr. Edmond Rabbath, University of Beirut, 1966 (2). Leonard Read, Foundation Economic Education, 1966 (1). David Rockefeller, Chase-Manhattan Bank, 1966 (1). Herbert C. Roseman, 1966 (1). Raymond S. Rubinow, 1966 (1). Reverend Alexander St.Ivanyi, 1966 (2). Robert Saltonstall, 1966 (1). The Saturday Review of Literature, 1953 (1). Calvin Schnucker, 1954 (1). Dr. Frederic Schroni, 1966 (2). Dr. Jack Schwartzmann, 1966 (3). Securities and Exchange Commission, 1972 (1). A.C. Sen, 1966 (1) Armand Simon, Counsellor to the Government of Luxembourg, 1966 (1). |
| f.9 | Rose Smart, 1954 (1). Cynthia Speed, 1952-1954 (2). Dr. J.E. Stepanek, 1966 (1). Standard Oil Company, Treasurer, n.d. (1). Jay Stewart, Sunset Industries, Inc., 1955 (1). Chauncey D. Stillman, 1938-1954 (3). Elizabeth Stry, 1954 (1). Dr. Emery F. Swan, 1966 (1). Robert Swan, 1966 (1). Mrs. D. L. Swarthout, 1966 (1). H.D. Swartzendruber, 1966 (1). Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay, 1968 (1). Joseph N. Ulman, Jr., The Register-Leader, Boston, 1965-1966 (5). U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Bureau of Home Economics, 1972 (1). The Wilderness Society, Stweart M. Brandborg, Executive Director, 1965 (1). |
| f.10 | Dr. B---?, 1971? (1). Virginia --?, 1955 (2). "To My Friends," 1964 (1). |
B. To Borsodi
| f.11 | Don & Doris Abbott, 1952 (1). Eleanor Allen, 1976 (1). Noah D. Alper, Henry George School of Social Science, 1952 (1). American Association for Economic Freedom, Claude Watts, Executive Secretary, 1938 (1). American Eugenics Society, Frederick Osborn, 1965 (2). American Natural Hygiene Society, Elizabeth Stry, 1954 (1). Margaret Anacker, 1970 (1). James W. Angell, 1966 (1). Max Ascoli, 1967 (1). Association for Voluntary Sterilization, Inc., 1965 (1). Avard (Association of Voluntary Agencies for Rural Development), 1966 (1). |
| f.12 | Sven & Marguerite Barton, 1953 (1). Paul S. Biswas, 1976 (1). Joan V. Bondurant, 1966 (1). Bill Borsodi, 1966 (2). Albert Bragg, Jr., 1960 (4). Karl Brandt, 1966 (1). Paul Brinkman, Jr., 1954 (1). Mabelle H. Brooks, 1952 (1). Robert Browne, 1966 (1). P. Browning, Sr., 1977 (1). Ada Bull, n.d. (1). William P. Bundy, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, 1966 (1). Ralph Burhoe, 1966 (2). |
| f.13 | Charotar Bookstall (published Seventeen Problems of Man and Society ), 1968 (2). Chase Manhattan Bank, 1966 (1). Frank G. Chiles, 1952 (1). Church of the Larger Fellowship, George N. Marshall, 1965 (1). Robert Clancy, Director, Henry George School of Social Science, NY, 1968 (1). U.S. Senator Joseph S. Clark (Pennsylvania), 1966 (1). Allan R. Cohen, 1967 (1). Consulate General of India, 1966 (1). U.S. Senator Norris Cotton (New Hampshire), 1966 (1). John Creelman, Dept. of Economics, Sierra College, CA., 1978 (1). |
| f.14 | Satish P. Desai, 1966 (4). Richard Dewey, Dept. of Sociology, University of New Hampshire, 1966-1969 (5). Felicia J. Deyrup, 1966 (1). Dora E. Dodge, n.d. (1). Josephine Drabek, 1952 (1). |
| f.15 | Laurie A. Ebacher, 1976 (1). Marilyn Elton, 1966 (1). Embassy of Republic of Lebanon, 1966 (1). Alan D. Entine, Professor of Economics, Columbia University, New York City, 1966 (2). Euthanasia Society of America, 1965 (2). S. Howard Evans, 1952 (2). Exeter Banking Co., 1965-1966 (2). |
| f.16 | Farmers and World Affairs, 1966 (1). Roger C. Fenn, 1966 (1). First National City Bank, New York City, J. Farley, Vice President and Leif Olsen, Senior Vice President and Economist, 1966 (2). Ford Foundation, Urban and Regional Development Advisory Program in Chile, 1966 (1). Foundation for Economic Education, 1966 (1). Roger Franklin, 1968 (1). |
| f.17 | Ernest Gaunt, Director, Division of Applied Exchange at the School of Living, April 1936-Dec. 1937 (12 two of Borsodi's responses). |
| f.18 | Ernest Gaunt, March-April 1938 (21 and five of Borsodi's responses). |
| f.19 | Ernest Gaunt, May-June 1938 (8 and two of Borsodi's responses). |
| f.20 | Ernest Gaunt, July-Sept. 1938, and two undated (19). |
| f.21 | Devin A. Garrity, President, Devin-Adair Company, 1952 (1). Philip Glick, 1976 (1). John Goodrich, 1977 (1). Joseph Greenbaum, Dean, New School for Social Research, NYC, 1966 (1). U.S. Rep. Ralph W. Gwinn (NY), 1952 (1). Erick Hansch, International Independence Institute, 1968-1972 (6). Harcourt Brace, Inc., 1966 (1). Morgan Harris, 1952-1976 (2). George Haslerud, 1966-1969 (3). Henry Hazlitt, Newsweek, 1966 (1). Robert Heilbroner, 1966 (1). Charles Houston, Chair, Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Vermont Coillege of Medicine, 1966 (1). David Hovestol, 1977 (1). U.S. Rep. J. Oliva Huot (NH), 1966 (1). Meir Hurwitz, Israel, 1977 (1). |
| f.22 | Institute for Humane Studies (F.A. "Baldy" Harper, Executive Vice President), 1966 (1). International Assistance Corporation (John M. Eklund, Executive Vice President), 1966 (1). International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Harold Graves, Director of Information), 1966 (1). International Peasants Union, 1966 (1). Barbara Jewett, 1966 (1). Andrew M. Kamarck, Director, Economics Dept., International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1966 (1). Art Ketchen, 1976 (1). Frances Mitchell Lee, 1977 (1). Marion Loring, School of New Economics, Alberta, Canada, 1977 (1). |
| f.23 | Mildred Loomis, 1952-1953 (13). |
| f.24 | Mildred Loomis, 1964-1967 (14). |
| f.25 | Mildred Loomis, 1968-1972 (20). |
| f.26 | Mildred Loomis, undated (19). |
| f.27 | Luxembourg, Secretary to the Ambassador, 1966 (1). Luxembourg, Ministry of Justice, 1968 (1). U.S. Senator Thomas McIntyre (NH), 1966 (1). Arnold Maddaloni, 1965 (1). Abraham Maslow, Brandeis University, 1966 (1). Edward Mason, 1966 (1). Marion Mayer, 1966 (1). P.N. Mazumdar (3). Saralevi Mazumdar (1). Jack Mendelsohn, 1966 (2).< Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation (via Paul Salstrom), 1966 (1). The Monotype Corporation, 1968 (1). Arthur E. Morgan, 1966 (1). The National Insider, Inc. (article by Mildred Loomis, "Why I Think Cities Are Unfit To Live In"), 1966 (1). Herbert D. Newell, 1966 (1). State of New York Department of State, 1972 (1). Onlooker Press, Bombay, India, 1968 (2). Samuel H. Ordway, Jr., 1966 (1). |
| f.28 | Jayaprakash Narayan, 1961-1967 (11). |
| f.1 | Parsons College, 1952 (1). C. N. Patel, 1961 (1). Harji Patel, 1966 (Application for loan ) (1). Ishwarbai J. Patel, Vice-Chancellor, Sardar Patel University, 1967-1968 (2). T.G. Patel, 1959 (1). Capt. C.G. Pendill, 1965 (1). Perkins, Holland and Donovan, 1966 (1). Franz Pick, 1966-1967 (5). |
| f.2 | Planned Parenthood - World Population, 1965 (5). The Population Council, 1965 (5). Population Crisis Committee, 1965 (2). Porter Sargent, 1967 (1). Arthur Pursell, 1966 (1). Charlton D. Putnam, 1966 (1). |
| f.3 | Edmond Rabbath, 1966-1967 (2). Reynolds & Co., 1966 (1). David Rockefeller, Chase Manhattan Bank, 1966 (1). Murray N. Rothbard, 1966 (1). Alexander St.-Ivanyi, 1966 (2). St. John's College, Annapolis, MD, 1976 (1). Wayne Sarcka, 1950 (1). The School for International Training, 1967 (1). Calvin Schnucker, 1954 (2). Dr. F. Schöni, 1966 (1). Securities and Exchange Commission, 1972 (1). Armand Simon, Counsellor to the Government of Luxembourg, 1966 (1). Rose Smart, 1954-1955 (3). Spiritual Mobilization, 1952 (1). Alan L. Steffen, 1977 (1). |
| f.4 | Elizabeth Stevenson, 1966 (1). Leonard A. Stidley, 1952-19554 (2). Chauncey Stillman, 1952-1954 (3). Rev. Elbridge F. Stoneham, 1969 (1). Jean Stoneham, 1969-1977 (2). Elizabeth R. Stry, 1954 (1). Col. David Stry, 1968 (1). Mike Sullivan, 1976 (1). Sunset Industries, Inc., 1955 (1). Emery Swan, 1969 (1). Bob Swann, 1966-1967 (4). Doris Swarthout, 1966 (1). |
| f.5 | T to U. |
| f.6 | V to Z and Unidentified. |
C. Others To Others
| f.7 | Correspondence to Clare Borsodi, 1968-78. |
| f.8 | Correspondence to and from Ernest Gaunt, Director, Division of Applied Exchange at the School of Living, 1936-1938. |
| f.9 | Correspondence to Mildred Loomis from others, 1952-72. |
| f.10 | Correspondence from Mildred Loomis to others, 1967-72. |
| f.11 | Correspondence from others to others, 1952-68. |
II. Writings
[folder headings in quotes are Borsodi's]
A. Seventeen Problems of Man and Society (and material on an earlier version, A Study of the Fourteen Basic Problems of Man and Society.)
| f.12 | Dust Jacket, Seventeen Problems of Man and Society, Charotar Book Stall edition. |
| f.13 | Title pages of each volume of The Fourteen Basic Problems of Man and Society, 1960. |
| ff.14-21 | Outlines and notes for Seventeen Problems of Man and Society. |
| ff.22-24 | Miscellaneous notes re above. |
i. Anthropoic Problem
| f.1 | “Notes.” |
| ff.2-4 | “Chapters 1 to 10.” |
ii. Ontologic Problem
| f.5 | “Notes.” |
| f.6 | “Charts.” |
| ff.7-10 | “Mss.” |
iii. Etiologic Problem
| f.11 | “Notes.” |
| ff.12-13 | “Charts.” |
| ff.14-18 | “Mss. from India on 1-6: Etiologic Problem.” |
| ff.1-2 | “Mss. from India….” |
| f.3 | “Systems of Classification.” |
| ff.4-5 | “Ideologies.” |
iv. Epistemic Problem
| f.6 | “Notes.” |
| f.7 | “Charts.” |
| ff.8-15 | “Mss. on Epistemic Problem, Complete.” |
v. Telic Problem
| f.16 | “Notes.” |
| f.17 | “Charts.” |
| ff.18-20 | “Complete Mss.” |
| f.1 | “Complete Mss.” |
vi. Ethical Problem
| ff.2-4 | “Indian Mss. on Ethical Problem.” |
| f.5 | “Notes.” |
| f.6 | “Charts.” |
| ff.7-11 | “Notes — Revised Chapter 1 to 14.” |
| ff.1-7 | “Revised Mss. — Chapter 14 to end.” |
vii. Esthetic Problem
| ff.8-9 | “Notes on the Problem of Aesthetic Values.” |
| f.10 | “Indian Mss., Esthetic Problem.” |
| f.11 | “Revised Mss., Esthetic Problem.” |
viii. Psycho-Physiological Problem
| f.12 | “Notes.” |
| ff.1-7 | “Notes.” |
ix. Occupational Problem
| ff.8-9 | “One Version.” |
| ff.10-12 | “Revisions.” |
| f.13 | “Notes.” |
| ff.14-15 | “Work Done in India on the Occupational Problem.” |
x. Possessional Problem
| f.16 | “Notes.” |
| f.1 | “Notes.” |
| ff.2-4 | “Indian Mss.” |
| ff.5-7 | “More Possessional Problem.” |
| f.8 | “1. The Complex of Possessional Problems.” |
| f.9 | “2. Exploitation.” |
| f.10 | “3. Possessions.” |
| f.11 | “4. Property.” |
| f.12 | “5. Trusterty [sic].” |
| ff.13-14 | “6. Human Beings.” |
| ff.15-16 | “Grants – c.8.” |
| f.17 | “Detriments – c.9.” |
| f.18 | “Consumer Goods – c.10.” |
| f.19 | “Capital Goods.” “Producer Equipment.” |
| f.20 | “Claims.” “Income Claims.” |
| f.21 | “Money (Claims).” |
| f.1 | “Money (Claims).” |
| f.2 | “Investments (Claims, Causes-of-Action Claims), Investments.” |
| f.3 | “Tenements, Tenants, Tenure.” |
| f.4 | “Title, Transference.” |
| ff.5-6 | “Possessional Ideologies — Doctrines for Solution of Problem.” |
xi. Organizational Problem
| f.7 | “Notes, Charts.” |
| f.8 | “Notes — Chapters 1 to 7.” |
| f.9 | “Management.” |
| f.10 | “Transactions.” |
| f.11 | “Public Relations.” |
| f.12 | “Human Relations.” |
| ff.13-14 | “Control.” |
| f.15 | “Ideologies — Altruistic.” |
| f.16 | “Egoistic Ideas, Equity Ideas.” |
xii. Production Problem
| f.1 | “Notes.” |
xiii. Distribution Problem
| ff.2-4 | “Notes and Some Mss.” |
| ff.5-8 | “Original Material of Studies Comparing Home Production Costs with Factory Production Costs.” |
xiv. Political Problem
| f.9 | “Notes.” |
| f.10 | “Quotations, Charts.” |
| f.11 | “No. 1 Mss.” |
| ff.1-5 | “No. 1 Mss.” |
| ff.6-12 | “No. 2 Mss.” |
xv. Institutional Problem
| f.13 | “Notes.” |
| f.14 | “Charts.” |
| ff.15-16 | “Mss.” |
| ff.1-2 | “Mss.” |
xvi. Educational Problem
| f.3 | “Notes.” |
| ff.4-8 | “Mss.” |
B. “Wealth and Illth”
| f.9 | “Chapter 1, Chart 1.” |
| f.10 | “Chapter 2, Chart 2.” |
| ff.11-12 | “Chapter 2, copy.” |
| f.13 | “Chapter 3, Chart 3.” |
| f.14 | “Chapter 4, Chart 4.” |
| ff.1-2 | “Chapter 5, Chart 5.” |
| f.3 | “Chapter 6, Chart 6.” |
| f.4 | “Chapter 7, Chart 7.” |
| f.5 | “Chapter 8, Chart 8.” |
| f.6 | “Chapter 9, Chart 9.” |
| f.7 | “Causes — How We Got That Way,” “Conditions — How Bad.” |
| f.8 | “What To Do — Costs.” |
| f.9 | “10. Purpose.” “11. Premise.” “12. Problem.” “13. Typology.” “Human Wants.” |
| f.10 | “14. Provisions.” |
| f.11 | “15. Economic Values.” |
| f.12 | “16. Evaluation.” “17. Verification.” |
| f.13 | “18. Validation.” |
| f.14 | “19. Solutions.” |
| f.15 | “20. Affluence.” “21. Poverty and Abnegation.” |
| f.16 | “22. Adequacy.” “23. Conclusions.” |
| f.17 | Copies of Typescript. |
| ff.1-2 | Copies of Typescript. |
| f.3 | “Conscience.” |
| f.4 | “26. Self-Cultivation.” |
| f.5 | “27. Enculcation.” “28. Dissemination.” |
| ff.6-11 | Copies of Typescript, Miscellaneous. |
| ff.1-3 | Copies of Typescript, Miscellaneous. |
| f.4 | “10. Validation.” |
| f.5 | “11. Abnegation Doctrines.” |
| f.6 | “12. Affluence Doctrines.” |
| f.7 | “13. Adequacy Doctrine.” |
| f.8 | “14. Conclusions.” |
| “15. Application.” | |
| f.9 | “16. Cultivation.” “17. Inculcation.” “18. Dissemination.” |
| f.10 | Proofs. |
C. Social Pluralism
| ff.11-13 | Proofs. |
D. Miscellaneous Writings
[See also The Journal of Praxiology, Box17, ff.13-15]
| f.14 | “Borsodi’s Outrageous Notions.” Typescripts. |
| f.1 | “Borsodi’s Outrageous Notions.” Typescripts. |
| f.2 | “Destiny’s Challenge to India.” Bhavan’s Journal, January 1959. |
| f.3 | Outline/Summary, “How to Become Economically Independent.” |
| f.4 | “Last Will and Testament,” a writing on drug addiction, 4/5/70. |
| f.5 | “A Pan-Humanist Manifesto.” |
| f.6 | Typescript, “Revolt in the Cities.” |
| f.7 | “The Story of Varunev and Gujehar” including photos. |
| f.8 | “The Time Has Come.” |
| f.9 | Typescript, “Wanted: A Dialogue on What Unitarianism Is and What It Should Be.” |
| f.10 | Miscellaneous. |
| f.11 | Daily Project Report of Writings, 7/60 to 9/60. |
| f.12 | Notes and plan for world police force to be discussed by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Republican Club. |
| f.13 | “Conferences” — notes, etc. |
| f.14 | Miscellaneous Notes. |
E. Speeches
| f.15 | “American and Indian Nationalism in the Kashmir Crisis.” |
| f.16 | Notes for a talk on “4 Year College Level School of Philosophy for Senior Citizens.” |
| f.17 | “Problem of Integrated Education as a Means of Social Renaissance.” 10/9/65. |
| f.18 | “Address …On the Resolution, ‘Resolved that Big Cities are a Parasitic Growth and Should Be Abolished’, 10/31/65. |
| f.19 | Unidentified Speech on Sentimentality and Morality. |
| f.20 | Unidentified Speech. |
| f.21 | Quotations clipped by Borsodi with notes. |
F. Writings By Others
1. Mrs. Ralph (Myrtle Mae) Borsodi: mostly magazine articles on domestic topics.
| f.22 | “A Full-Time Job At Home,” New York Herald Tribune Home Institute, November 24, 1929, pp.22, 24 (photocopy). “Home – And Children,” New York Herald Tribune Home Institute, January 5, 1930, pp. 21, 24 (photocopy). “Women and Machines,” Advertising & Selling, November 26 and December 10, 1930, pp. 22-23, 30-31 (photocopy). “The Home Laundry Earns Money,” Electrical Merchandising, February 1931, 4 page reprint. “Earning An Electrical Kitchen,” Electrical Merchandising, April 1931, pp. 40-41, 43 (photocopy). “Our Electrical Household Equipment Paid For Itself,” An address delivered before the Women’s Committee Session of the Fifty-fourth Convention of the National Electric Light Association, Atlantic City, New Jersey, June 9, 1931, reprint. “Cleaning…An Unavoidable Task,” Electrical Merchandising, July 1931, pp.36-38, 44 (photocopy). “The Ironer Is Hot,” Electrical Merchandising, September 1931, pp. 42-47 (photocopy). “Cheaper and Cleaner,” Electrical Merchandising, November 1931, pp. 38-40 (photocopy). |
| f.23 | “Weaving One’s Own Clothing,” The Handicrafter, March-April 1932, pp. 24-25 (photocopy). “Two Dollars Grow Where One Grew Before,” The Silent Hostess, Vol. 4, No. 5, 1932, pp.10-12 (clipping). “My Home Is My Career,” The Silent Hostess, Vol. 4, No. 3, 1932, pp.10-11, 23 (clipping). “The Argument Laundries Cannot Meet,” Electrical Merchandising, March 1935, pp.4-5, 56 (photocopy). “Food Costs and Range Sales,” Electrical Merchandising, April 1935, pp.4-7 (photocopy). “The Cost of Feeding A Family,” Electrical Merchandising, May 1935, pp.8-9, 36, 73 (photocopy). “Dough in the Range,” Electrical Merchandising, April 1936, 2 page reprint. “Shall We Build Homes Or Apartments?” Advertising & Selling, May 7, 1936, pp. 31, 56-57 (photocopy). “What Should the Home Contribute?” Journal of Home Economics, Vol. 28, No. 6, June 1936, pp.365-367 (photocopy). “For Budgeteers,” Electrical Merchandising, June 1936, pp.8-9 (photocopy). “Cutting Laundry Costs,” New York Herald Tribune Home Institute, October 4, 1936 pp. 16-17, 20 (photocopy). |
| f.24 | “The Modernized Old Homestead…And What It Can Do For The Electrical Industry,” Electrical Merchandising, February 1937, pp.4-5, 102-103 (photocopy). “The New Woman Goes Home,” Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. CI No.2, February 1937, pp. 52-57 (photocopy). “The Kitchen That Pays For Itself”, Electrical Merchandising, May 1937, pp.35-37 (photocopy). “Discovering Self-Sufficient Farming,” Electrical Ruralist, Vol. 1, No. 1, May 1937, pp.1, 20 (photocopy). “Home Laundry Earns Money,” Electrical Merchandising, May 1937, pp.131-133 (photocopy). “Bread Baking Electrically and Making Money,” Electrical Ruralist, June 1937, pp. 8, 29 (photocopy). “Oven Cooking,” Electrical Ruralist, July 1937, pp. 6, 22 (photocopy). “Home Canning Made Easy,” Electrical Merchandising, August 1937, pp.2-3, 25 (photocopy). “Sweet Dough Baking Profits,” Electrical Ruralist, October 1937, pp.6, 15 (photocopy). “Cutting The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinners,” Electrical Ruralist, November 1937, pp.20, 22 (photocopy). “The Cost of Running Water,” Electrical Merchandising, March 1938, pp. 8-9 (photocopy). “Home Laundy Costs vs Commercial Laundry,” Electrical Merchandising, April 1938, p.82 (photocopy). “Are Housewives Slaves: A Debate – I. The Sisyphean Struggle (by Sara S. Moser); II. Creative Freedom (by Mrs. Ralph Borsodi),” The Forum, September 1938, pp.114-119 (photocopy). “The Facts On Home Laundry Savings…” Electrical Merchandising, November 1938, p.22 (photocopy). “Making Household Equipment Pays Its Way,” Seventh International Management Congress, 1938, pp.40-43 (offprint). Undated mss. of an article on the comparative cost of using a commercial laundry vs. doing the laundry at home, 6pp. |
2. Others
| f.1 | “Breadwinner or Breadmaker?,” by Dorothy Van Doren, (an answer to Borsodi’s February article “The New Woman Goes Home”), Scribner’s Magazine, Vol. CI No.5, May 1937, pp. 33-34 (photocopy). |
| “Love and Energy – Where Do They Come From,” by Paul Salstrom, undated 6pp. typescript. | |
| “A Proposed Community Service Exchange Program For Use In Villages and Communities Of Developing Countries,” by George W. Jacobson and Arthur H. Pursell, undated draft, 22pp. tyepscript. | |
| “Introduction to All Three of the Series of Handbooks for Harmony in Human Relations,” arranged by Clay Marks, May 1953, 54 pp. mimeograph copy. | |
| “The Operation of a Community Exchange,” by Grisom Morgan (?), radio program script (?), 6pp mimeograph copy. | |
| “Incentive Taxation To Promote Free Private Enterprise,” George F. Hellick, 1952. 10pp. mimeograph copy. | |
| Farewell message of F. A. Behymer, June 19, 1952. 8pp. reprint inscribed to Borsodi. | |
| “The Problem of Leadership Today,” author unknown, two undated drafts, one handwritten in ink (with title “The Problem of Leadership in Modern Times”), the other a typed and revised version, each 5pp. |
III. School of Living
| f.2 | Brochures. |
| ff.3-4 | Bulletins. |
| f.5 | Correspondence and Notes. |
| f.6 | “The Green Revolution.” 1970-71. |
| f.7 | “The Green Revolution.” 1977-78. |
| f.8 | Newsletter on Independent Small Business. |
| f.9 | Loomis, Mildred. |
| f.10 | Gaunt, Ernest H. |
| f.11 | Gaunt, Writings. |
IV. Other Ventures
A. University of Melbourne, Florida
| f.12 | University of Melbourne, Florida. |
| f.13 | Journal of Praxiology, vol. 1, no. 2 to 4., 1955. |
| f.14 | Journal of Praxiology, vol. 2, no. 1 to 4., 1956. |
| f.15 | Journal of Praxiology, vol. 3, no. 1, 1957. |
B. International Ventures
| f.1 | International Foundation for Independence [IFI], Incorporation, materials regarding incorporation in Luxembourg. |
| f.2 | IFI, Names of Prospects for Members, List by Borsodi. |
| f.3 | IFI, Constitutions and By-Laws, Various Drafts. |
| f.4 | IFI, Information about IFI. |
| f.5 | IFI, Forms. |
| f.6 | IFI, Drafts and Notes by Borsodi for Bulletin Articles. |
| f.7 | IFI, “Conference of Voluntary Agencies.” |
| f.8 | IFI, Executive Committee Notes, 1973. |
| f.9 | IFI, Notes and Debentures with Notes by Borsodi. |
| f.10 | IFI, “Commodity Index.” Bank Accounts and Checkbook. |
| f.11 | IFI, Independent Arbitrage International. |
| f.12 | IFI, International Independence Institute [III], Organization to provide educational, informational, and training services for IFI. |
| f.13 | IFI, III, Faculty and Curriculum. |
| f.14 | IFI, III, Miscellaneous Correspondence and Writings of Robert Swann, Field Director of III. |
| f.15 | IFI, III, “III Peace Program.” notes. |
| f.16 | International Institute of Social Sciences. |
C. Visit of Jayaprakash Narayan
| f.17 | Biographical Information on Jayaprakash Narayan. |
| f.18 | About Visit of Narayan to Exeter, NH, 1967. |
| f.19 | Correspondence Regarding Narayan’s Visit [see also correspondence files]. |
V. Biographical Material
| f.1 | Biographical Material. |
| f.2 | Miscellaneous Financial Material. |
| f.3 | Photos. |
| f.4 | 1974-1975, Tapes of Conversations with Borsodi. |
| f.5 | 75th. Anniversary of Fairhope Program, November 1969. |
| f.6 | 1st. National Conference on “Public Welfare, Voluntary Sterilization and the Public Health,” October 1965. |
| f.7 | International Affairs workshop, July 1984. |
| f.8 | Luncheon in Honor of Borsodi, March 1954. |
VI. Appendix
April 23rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Your link on your website for the School of Living (under Ralph Borsodi, Mildred Loomis, etc.) is incorrect. It was changed a couple of years ago to http://www.SchoolofLiving.org.
Sheila Skidmore
Past President 2006-07 Past Editor of the Green Revolution 2003-06 Board Member 2001-06
April 25th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Thanks for the correct address for The School of Living, Sheila. I have changed the link in the finding aid.
June 17th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I am so grateful for the quanity of my great grandfather’s work and evidence of his impact on economic and environmental theory available on line. My father’s works are being archived at Tulane U. in New Orleans. Contact me if you have questions. There much more of a story to tell about the Borsodi Family then you may be aware of.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hello Chris, Sure I have some stories. Abe
March 26th, 2009 at 9:24 am
We live in the Ralph Borsodi house in Melbourne Village, FL. The house is most unique. We moved here in December 1982 coming from Long Island, New York. According to some records we have the house was built in about 1955.
We have often heard that Mr Borsodi held classes here, in the patio, which is very large and wraps around the south side of the entire house.
We would like to know specifically:
1. How long did Ralph Borsodi and family live in this house, or was it just a winter home?
2. Were any classes actually held in the house and was it in fact the very first location of the University of Melbourne,
Thank you, Iver W. Duedall Melbourne Village, FL
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Hello Iver.
I have looked into the questions of how long the Borsodis lived in Melbourne Village, whether or not classes were conducted in the house or on the patio, and whether it was the original site of the university. Mildred Jensen Loomis, in her book about Borsodi called Reshaping Modern Culture, says the following (I am excerpting):
“Clare and Ralph Borsodi married in September 1950. Together they built a lovely homestead in Melbourne Association.
John Loomis and I spent a month in the Borsodi guest house in the winter of 1952…Friends gathered each evening in his home to define and ponder major problems of living…
A small group in Melbourne Village…accepted the challenge of Melbourne University for education in major problems of living. Where and how to start?
“We could begin in Melbourne Community House,” said Borsodi. The building was bought, and the University of Melbourne was housed in a replica of the one-room school of frontier days. The University was chartered to open in the fall of 1955 with Borsodi as Chancellor.
It soon outgrew its one-room building. Early in 1955, Mr. V. C. Brownlie of Melbourne made a gift of forty acres of open land at the city’s outskirts, always to be used for education. Plans were sketched for an eight-building campus by architect Barrie Bart.
By 1958, however, the John F. Kennedy Space Center was built and buildings surrounded the university campus. The long and the short of it is that the campus was sold to Brevard County Engineering School and the Borsodis accepted an invitation to go to Bombay and lecture there. When they returned to the U.S. in 1960 it was to New England.
From this I conclude that the Borsodis lived in Melbourne Village from late 1950 until 1958, had meetings in their house that led to the establishment of what later became the University of Melbourne, but did not actually use it as part of the university.
I hope this information is of help.
Roland Goodbody Manuscripts Curator