Guide to the Robert E. Butts Papers, 1908-1997 ASP.2000.01

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Robert E. Butts Papers
Creator
Butts, Robert E.
Collection Number
ASP.2000.01
Extent
15 Linear Feet
Date
1908-1997
Abstract
Robert Earl Butts was a philosopher of science whose research interests included the work of Leibniz, Newton, Galileo, Whewell, and Kant. He spent most of his career as a faculty member at the University of Western Ontario and was active in professional organizations and publications in the history and philosophy of science. The papers consist of biographical materials, including educational documents, early writings and schoolwork, photographs, correspondence, and memorabilia; and professional materials, including correspondence, research and lecture notes, records of publications and professional organizations, and unpublished drafts.
Language
English .
Author
Mary Margaret Fletcher.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Biography

Robert Earl Butts was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1928 and died in 1997 in London, Ontario, Canada. After attending Manheim Township High School from 1943-1947, he earned his A.B. and A.M. in philosophy from Syracuse University in 1951 and 1952, respectively, and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1957. He joined the philosophy department at the University of Western Ontario in 1963, where he would remain until his death. He also lectured at a number of prestigious institutions through fellowships and visiting appointments, including the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Philosophy of Science.

Butts was an active author and researcher in the field of history and philosophy of science and was deeply involved in his professional community, maintaining close personal and professional relationships with many prominent philosophers of his time. He edited and authored monographs on Whewell, Newton, Galileo, and Kant, as well as contributing prolifically to professional journals, anthologies, and encyclopedias. He served as editor-in-chief of Philosophy of Science from 1980-1990, and was managing editor of the University of Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science from 1979 until his death. He was chairman of the Canadian National Committee of the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science from 1978 to 1991, and was an active member of many other professional organizations.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into the following four series:

Series I. Biographical Materials, 1908-1997

Series II. Professional Materials, 1951-1997

Series III. Multimedia, 1972-1997

Series IV. Oversized Materials, 1947-1994

Scope and Content Notes

The Robert Earl Butts Papers document Butts' life and work as an academic in the field of scientific philosophy during the latter half of the twentieth century. Biographical materials consist of documents concerning Butts' personal life as a son, brother, husband, father, and friend. There is particular emphasis on his early life in Pennsylvania and his education at Manheim Township High School, with a less significant amount of memorabilia relating to his later life.

The larger body of professional papers contains material concerning Butts' active involvement in his community of academic peers. He played a leadership role in a number of national and international professional organizations and conferences, as well as writing and editing numerous publications and serving as a mentor to many of his peers and students. His papers document these and other functions that he carried out as a faculty member and philosopher.

The collection consists primarily of paper documents housed in legal-sized document boxes. Box 7 contains photographs, mostly family portraits from Butts' early life. Box 28 contains a variety of alternative media, mainly cassette tapes and floppy disks, much of the content of which is unknown. Box 29 contains oversized documents such as diplomas and certificates. Materials are arranged either chronologically or alphabetically where possible. Untitled, undated, or miscellaneous materials are generally found at the end of the folder or file group. Additional scope and content notes are provided at the series and subseries level.

Previous Citation

Robert Earl Butts Papers, 1908-1997, ASP.2000.01, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh

Preferred Citation

Robert Earl Butts Papers, 1908-1997, ASP.2000.01, Archives of Scientific Philosophy, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Acquisition Information

Gift of Valentine Watson Rodgers in May 2000.

Related Material

Nicholas Rescher Papers, 1957-2005, ASP.2009.01, Archives of Scientific Philosophy, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Rebecca Crago in Summer 2010 and by Mary Margaret Fletcher in Fall 2011.

Access Restrictions

Portions of the collection (approximately 2 linear feet) that contain personally identifiable, private, confidential, or sensitive information have been physically removed and are closed indefinitely to public access. This includes private correspondence between Butts and his family as well as legal and medical records and material containing confidential information about students and colleagues.

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • International Congress of Logic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science
    • Pisa Conference on the History and Philosophy of Science (1978)
    • International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science. Division of Logic, Methodology and Philosophy of Science
    • International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science. Division of History of Science
    • International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science
    • Canadian Philosophical Association
    • University of Pittsburgh. Center for Philosophy of Science
    • Universität Konstanz
    • University of Western Ontario

    Personal Names

    • Mittelstrass, Jürgen
    • Butts, Robert E.

    Geographic Names

    • Lancaster (Pa.)
    • Manheim (Lancaster County, Pa. : Township)

    Genres

    • Correspondence
    • Photographs
    • Slides (Photographs)

    Other Subjects

    • Science -- Philosophy -- Congresses
    • Philosophy, Canadian -- 20th century
    • Philosophers -- Canada
    • College teachers -- Canada
    • Universities and colleges -- Faculty -- Canada
    • University of Western Ontario series in philosophy of science
    • Science -- Methodology -- History
    • Science -- Methodology -- Philosophy
    • Science -- Philosophy

Container List