Over the summer our Archives Assistant Sarah Thompson looked in more detail at the book collection of philosopher Rush Rhees – as well as the printed page the volumes contain unique annotations and additional material, that could be of value and interest to researchers.
There are over 250 books within this collection, complimenting the archival collection, which consists of Rhees’ personal papers, together with documents relating to the publication of his own works, and those by (or relating to) Ludwig Wittgenstein (as his close friend and literary executor). The books are written in English, German, Russian and French and are printed in many different font styles. The oldest book is from 1887. There are numerous inscriptions by authors Hidé Ishiguro, Alfred Kastil, Stephan Körner, D.Z. Phillips, George Pitcher, George Henrik Von Wright, Elizabeth Anscombe, Friedrich Waismann, (in books possibly gifted to Rhees throughout his life). However, it is the additions to these books that could be of particular interest:
- Handwritten notes in pen and pencil alongside the text of the book
- Underlining of text
- Inserts of letters, envelopes and extra notes
- Paper bookmarks from bookshops
- Slips of paper and miscellaneous items
Within these books there are nearly fifty pages of extra notes, plus copious amounts of annotations on the pages of the books in his collection. Extra notes of particular interest include –
- 7 pages of handwritten notes on Encyclopedia Britanica – calculus
(Within Lectures on fundamental concepts of algebra and geometry by John Wesley Young) - Typed notes from Wittgenstein’s lectures 1936
(Within Geschlecht und charakter by Otto Weininger) - Typed notes dated 15/6/78 with p.78 about Wittgenstein joining the Austrian army and an extract from Hermine Wittgenstein in her “Familien Erinnerungen”
(Within Geschlecht kulturgechichte by Jacob Burckhardt)
Some of the more miscellaneous items found within the books include –
- Annual subscription receipt of $500 towards the Rush Rhees library in the University of Rochester (commemorating his father Benjamin Rush Rhees)
- Cuttings from the Choate [Rosemary Hall] Alumni bulletin 1922, whilst he was a student
- University College of Swansea philosophy exam papers for the years 1941 and 1939
- Fliers for up-and-coming lectures, for example, Professor Edgar Morscher (University of Salzburg) 17th October 1978
- Newspaper cuttings including one on how the Vatican refers to the death of star Marilyn Monroe
- Note to Rhees from Ian Robinson, Swansea University English department, who was also founder of the Brynmill Press Publishing House
These items help to provide an insight into the life of a man dedicated to his work.
Rush Rhees was a professor of philosophy at Swansea University from 1940 to 1966. His extensive personal collection of manuscripts is held at the Richard Burton Archives and is available to look at by booking an appointment archives@swansea.ac.uk. Please see the catalogue for items within the Rush Rhees collection.