Michael Polanyi Collection

Introduction
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content
Box and File List

Introduction

The Michael Polanyi Collection consists mainly of articles written by and written about 20th century philosopher and scientist Michael Polanyi, as well as some of his lectures. The collection also includes materials pertaining to symposia, conferences, and workshops; Polanyi organizations' documents and newsletters; and miscellaneous notes and papers of Bruno V. Manno, S.M. Manno is believed to have donated this collection, since many items in the collection bear Manno's ownership stamp or signature or were addressed to him. The collection is currently 7 linear feet, with additional issues of Tradition & Discovery (The Polanyi Society Periodical) being added as they are published.

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Biographical Sketch

Michael Polanyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1891. In 1913, he received his M.D. from the University of Budapest, and he later received his Ph.D. (1917) there as well. He worked as a chemist in Germany from 1920 to 1933. When the Nazis became powerful, Polanyi, who was Jewish, moved to Great Britain. He was chair of the Physical Chemistry Department at the University of Manchester from 1933 to 1948, and he was a professor of social science from 1948 to 1958. From 1958 to 1976, Polanyi was a senior research fellow at Merton College, Oxford. Polanyi died in 1976.

Bruno V. Manno, S.M., is a UD alumnus and former faculty member. Manno received both his B.A. in Philosophy (1970) and M.A. in Theological Studies (1972) from University of Dayton. He received his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Boston College in 1975. A copy of Manno's Ph.D. dissertation, "The Person and Meaning: A Study in the Post-Critical Thought of Michael Polanyi," is included in the Michael Polanyi Collection. Manno was faculty member in the Department of Religious Studies at UD from 1977 to 1980. He has also worked at the National Catholic Education Association in Washington, DC; the United States Department of Education; and the Hudson Institute. He most recently worked at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, MD, and served as a Trustee of the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. Manno has written a number of articles and book reviews and has co-authored two books. His specialties include charter schools, Catholic schools, parochial schools, school vouchers, and federal education programs.

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Scope and Content

The Michael Polanyi Papers are divided into six series:

Series I: Works by Polanyi
This series contains several works by Polanyi, including lectures at Duke and University of Texas and two other lectures; the Meaning project at University of Chicago; his book The Contempt of Freedom; more than 40 articles by Polanyi; and also a bibliography. Materials are from a wide range of dates in the mid-to-late 20th century.

Series II: Works by Others
This series contains a number of works by other authors, mostly articles. It includes more than 50 articles, many of which focus on the life and works of Michael Polanyi. Most of the articles are arranged alphabetically by author's last name. However, there are separate individual folders for works by Richard Gelwick, Sigmund Koch, Harry Prosch, and William Scott. There is also a copy of John Apczynski's dissertation Doers of the Word: Toward a Foundational Theology Based on the Thought of Michael Polanyi. The series also includes book reviews. Materials are from a wide range of dates in the mid-to-late 20th century.

Series III: Symposia, Conferences, and Workshops
This series includes materials from two symposia, two conferences, and a series of workshops about Polanyi. Symposia materials: "The uses of Polanyi; Polanyi in Context: A Regional Conference" (13-14 Oct. 1974, Boston); and "Towards a Post-Critical Theology: The Influence of Polanyi" (2 Nov. 1975, Chicago). Conference materials: Skidmore Conference on the Relevance of Michael Polanyi's Thought to Various Disciplines (9-10 June 1977, Skidmore College); and "A National conference on Culture and Crisis: The Social Thought of Michael Polanyi" (May 1972). Workshops: "The Trajectory of Hope: A Series of Workshops on the Thought of Michael Polanyi and its Relevancy for Our Age" (1970-1971 academic year, Dayton). Materials date from approximately 1969 to approximately 1977.

Series IV: Organizations and Newsletters
This series includes documents and newsletters pertaining to the Consortium for Higher Education and Religious Studies (CHER), the Polanyi Society of Explorers, Convivium (the Michael Polanyi newsletter), and the Polanyi Society. This series includes several issues of the Polanyi Society Bulletin, from circa 1975 to 1992 (not a complete set). It also includes several issues of Tradition and Discovery: The Polanyi Society Periodical, from 1991 to present. Materials date from the approximately 1969 to the present.

Series V: Notes and Papers of Bruno Manno
This series includes miscellaneous notes and papers of Bruno V. Manno. It includes notes from Chicago, in 1970, and notes from Oxford, in 1971. The series contains a copy of Manno's 1975 Ph.D. dissertation from Boston College, "The Person and Meaning: A Study in the Post-Critical Thought of Michael Polanyi." Two folders contain correspondence between Bruno Manno and Michael Polanyi and Magda Polanyi, dating collectively from 1969-1977. One folder also contains miscellaneous items, including additional correspondence, articles, and a few photographs. Materials dated throughout in the 1970s.

Series VI: Miscellaneous
The series includes: a letter of correspondence between Michael Polanyi and Jerry Gill; a cassette tape of a TV program by Michael Polanyi; 1 reel featuring Michael Polanyi at University of Dayton; and 2 reels of a discussion with Michael Polanyi. Materials date from 1968-1972.

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Box and File List

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Electronic finding aid created in Nov. 2006 by Lisa Pasquinelli.