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The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “In September 1968 Russell organized a declaration regarding the worsening situation in Czechoslovakia. He later organized a conference on the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, involving several of the Tribunal members.”

Includes correspondence relating to the International War Crimes Tribunal's activities in response to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Also includes signed declarations by IWCT members. Letters from Russell are typescript copies.

Series consists of correspondence acquired with Archives 1 and 2. (It should be noted, however, that correspondence continues to be acquired). The scope of this series is vast both in terms of the time period covered and the topics and correspondents featured. The letters range from Russell’s teen years to the last year of his life. While the series is called ‘personal’ correspondence to distinguish it from his more ‘political’ correspondence featured in the 300, 500 and 600 series, as well as his publishing (400) and legal (800) correspondence, it touches on all aspects of his life, including philosophy, peace, social issues, love affairs and family matters.

Included is correspondence with Russell's wives Alys (Pearsall Smith) Russell, Dora (Black) Russell, Patricia (Spence) Russell, and Edith (Finch) Russell; Russell's children, Conrad, John Conrad, and Katharine (Tait); the wives of his brother, Frank; and Russell's lovers, Ottoline Morrell and Constance Malleson.

In terms of large volumes of letters received from particular individuals, some of the most notable—in addition to the above—include:
• Margaret Llewelyn Davies
• Lucy M. Donnelly
• Helen Flexner
• Ken Holland
• Harold Kastner
• Corliss Lamont
• Hiram J. McLendon
• Catherine Marshall
• Gilbert Murray
• Victor Purcell
• Charles Percy Sanger
• F.C.S. Schiller
• Ralph Schoenman
• Lucy Silcox
• Lord (Ernest) Simon of Wythenshawe
• Alfred North Whitehead
• Ludwig Wittgenstein
• Alan Wood

Other notable correspondents include:
• Muhammad Ali
• A.J. Ayer
• Max Born
• F.H. Bradley
• Martin Buber
• Georg Cantor
• Joseph Conrad
• Albert Einstein
• T.S. Eliot
• E.M. Forster
• Erich Fromm
• Gottlob Frege
• Roger Fry
• Aldous and Julian Huxley
• William James
• Augustus John
• Philip Jourdain
• John Lennon and Yoko Ono
• Katherine Mansfield
• Spike Milligan
• G.E. Moore
• Giuseppe Peano
• Vanessa Redgrave
• George Santayana
• Siegfried Sassoon
• Albert Schweitzer
• George Bernard Shaw
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Charles, George and Robert Trevelyan
• H.G. Wells
• Rebecca West

Some of the letters received have been annotated by Russell. In many cases, carbon copies of Russell’s outgoing letters are included; in more recent years, copies of Russell’s replies were typed on the verso of the original letters received. In a few cases, there are also original letters written and sent by Russell that found their way back to him or the archive--for example, those written to Margaret Llewelyan Davies and Lucy Donnelly.

Series consists of letters addressed to Russell which are written in a nonsensical, ridiculous and/or indignant manner. Some crank mail elicited a response from Russell or his secretary, Ralph Schoenman, and may include typescript copies of replies, but most letters were left unanswered. A considerable amount of letters are from Peter Askey; one box (11.82) contains only letters received from him. Many letters were also sent anonymously.

Acquired as part of Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “Every well-known figure must receive crank mail, but Russell seems to have received more than his share. Possibly it was his reputation as a sage that attracted the letters. His staff regularly annotated such mail "crank". … While there may be nothing so dismal as an anonymous crank letter, pseudonymous crank letters can be very entertaining. See, for example, the letters and enclosed "cheques" (ranging from $5000 to $2,000,000,000) from the Virgin Express Alexandra I.”

This series consists of invitations to lecture, attend functions and dinners, sponsor organizations, etc., largely from 1950 onward. Includes typescript copies of replies from Russell, Chris Farley, and Ralph Schoenman. Acquired as part of Archives 1 and 2. The print finding aid for Archives 2 states: "The invitations filed here are public invitations-mainly to make speeches and attend ceremonies. Some of the invitations came from organizations with which Russell had been associated long ago, such as the Cambridge Heretics. To some he sent messages to be read and possibly published. These files supplement the publishing and political correspondences, which also contain many invitations. The Trinity College, entry contains the business correspondence (mainly form letters) resulting from Russell's life fellowship."

Series consists of Russell’s appointment diaries, which contain a variety of information. Note that the diaries for 1906-1907 went missing before the archives came to McMaster; the diary for the year 1968/69 was not used, so the latest content is for 1967/68.

The diaries were acquired with both Archives 1 and Archives 2 but are now arranged together in one sequence. The RA2 print finding aid notes: “includes Russell’s Cambridge Pocket Diaries from 1953 to 1970. These diaries record not only his appointments but also his income as an author.”

Series consists of correspondence relating to political prisoners and Soviet Jews, as well as an array of other printed materials such as reports, case files, Russell's statements and typescript copies of his articles, etc. There are a number of files dedicated to the USA (e.g., the Kennedy Assassination), and a file relating to the Morton Sobell case. Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies.

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “This grouping of files overlaps somewhat with [series] 330 in that it contains papers dealing with both Soviet Jews (who wished to leave the USSR) and Soviet political prisoners. Many of the latter were also Jewish. These files, and especially those dealing with the United States, contain many statements by Russell and even typescripts of articles as early as “Using Beelzebub to Cast Out Satan”, published in the Manchester Guardian on 30 October 1951. There is also considerable printed material."

Series consists of correspondence with individuals and organizations offering support for the International War Crimes Tribunal, relating to the subject of anti-war campaigns occurring internationally, and requesting the participation of Russell in anti-war activities. Also includes typescript copies of statements, bulletins, and news clippings filed with related letters as well as typescript copies and some photocopies of outgoing correspondence.

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “Whereas [series] 376 is organized in one alphabetical sequence, Russell and his Foundation had the following material organized by country. There is considerable overlap in content between [series] 376 and [series] 377. [Series] 377 unaccountably ends with Japan - unless it be supposed that [series] 376 contains the correspondence that should have comprised the remainder of [series] 377."

Series consists of approximately 1,500 cards wishing Russell a Merry Christmas and/or a Happy New Year as well as some typescript copies of replies written by Russell and Edith Russell. Includes cards from family members, friends, and other individuals or organizational bodies.

Series consists of various drafts, proofs, manuscripts, and typescripts of works such as theses, poetry, plays, articles, reports, essays and books that were sent to Russell. There are also several newspaper clippings. Some materials are inscribed and some are accompanied by correspondence. Topics are varied, and sent materials include works pertaining to Russell's philosophical and mathematical interests, his peace activities, and the Kennedy assassination to name a few. As noted in the print finding aid for Russell Archives 2: “Authors sent their works in progress on every conceivable topic to Russell. So did publishers with their prospective books. The self-published did the same. The result is that Russell had to develop a standard response to such requests for advice: that if he read all their works, he would have no time to write his own. Sometimes correspondence is attached to the item concerned. This class does not include large number of political works listed in other classes. It does include the original typescripts of the contributions to Bertrand Russell: Philosopher of the Century, edited by Ralph Schoenman.”

Series consists of correspondence acknowledging financial gifts from donors and some correspondence with individuals approached to sponsor the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation. Also includes some business correspondence relating to the BRPF's activities, e.g., rates of payment for telephone service. Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies.

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “The BRPF was financed partly through donations and partly through Russell’s own resources. The former were very important to the BRPF, as they were a demonstration of popular support for the Foundation’s work. Such correspondence begins, however, in 1962, when Russell’s political work first received the financial support of others interested in it. The [series] also includes business correspondence on topics such as Russell’s frequently interrupted telephone service."

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “This [series] groups miscellaneous correspondence with individuals and organizations on the subject of the Vietnam War. The correspondence is international in scope and is organized alphabetically. This is the principal file for requests made to Russell to participate in anti-war activities sponsored by others." Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies.

Series forms part of Archives 2 and consists of several hundred letters to editors as well as news clippings, articles, and statements relating to the Vietnam War. The letters to editors range in tone and length. Some letters, such as those with The New York Times, contain disagreements and rebuttals regarding Russell's views about American military conduct in Vietnam; other letters contain expositions of American conduct in Vietnam or summaries of the International War Crime Tribunal's sessions to those newspapers or periodicals which had not yet published any coverage of the sessions. Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies.

At the end of the series, there are various articles relating to the IWCT sessions as well as published and unpublished articles regarding the objectives and work of the IWCT. As noted in the RA2 print finding aid, “Ralph Schoenman's name appears as the author of several of them.” There is also material by Conrad Russell. Also includes the verdicts and results of the IWCT's first session in Stockholm from 2-10 May 1967 and of the IWCT's second session in Copenhagen from 20-30 November 1967.

Among those newspapers corresponded with are:

The Times
Washington Post
The New York Times
Reporter Magazine
The Observer
Toronto Star Weekly
New York Herald Tribune
I.F. Stone's Weekly
Peace News
The Guardian
Sunday Times
Toronto Star
Bristol Evening Post
Dagens Nyheter
Daily Telegraph
New Statesmen
Newsweek
San Francisco Sunday Examiner and Chronicle
Delo
Detroit News
Tribune
Le Monde
Spokesman-Review
National Guardian
Combat
Manila Times
The Economist
New Leader
New Society
Morning Star
Ramparts
Der Spiegel
The Melbourne Age
The Star-Bulletin

Series consists largely of legal correspondence relating to alleged press abuse that Russell experienced in newspapers such as The Economist and Daily Mirror, and other publications; also includes documentation on various lawsuits. As noted in the print finding aid for Archives 2, “Russell felt obliged to check journalistic scurrility when it blackened his name. The Penthouse file contains, in addition to the first issue of the British edition (March 1965), two copies of a pre-publication brochure falsely listing Russell among the future contributors.”

This series also includes business correspondence and financial statements relating to the purchase, sublet, and rental of properties as well as dividends, account summaries, etc. Much of the correspondence is between B.M. Birnberg & Co. and Russell, Ralph Schoenman, or Chris Farley. Includes typescript copies of Russell's outgoing correspondence as well as some typescript copies of incoming correspondence.

Series consists largely of correspondence with BRPF's international branches and also contains specific files pertaining to conference preparation, drafts of bulletins, and correspondence with branch directors and advisers. Includes typescript copies of Russell's and his staff's outgoing correspondence.

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “There are ... files dealing specifically with conferences sponsored, the Foundation’s directors and advisers, its executive officers (Christopher Farley and Ralph Schoenman), and efforts to win the Nobel Peace Prize for Russell. In one file (London School of Economics meeting, 1965) there is a reading text in Edith Russell’s hand of Russell’s speech entitled “The Labour Party’s Foreign Policy”. In another there is the Foundation Bulletin, vol. 1, no. 1 (February 1960), with various pre-publication versions. The contents of the files are listed [in the print finding aid] on the basis of the first appearance of a given correspondent in a given file."

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “The BCPV campaigned more for a negotiated settlement in the Vietnam War than for outright victory on behalf of the National Liberation Front. A chief correspondent for the BCPV was Fenner, Lord Brockway, who, with Russell, had opposed the First World War. He and Russell had some sharp disagreements over policy.” The finding aid also lists the names Amicia M. Young, Dick Nettleton, and Barbara Haq.

Includes circulars inviting involvement in the council, event adverts, a bulletin, and correspondence between Russell and other BRPF members regarding the possible collaboration of the BRPF and the BCPV. The correspondence also contains disagreements on topics such as the International War Crimes Tribunal and policy for opposition of the Vietnam War. Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies.

Series consists of approximately 50 birthday letters addressed to Russell for his 97th birthday from individuals and organizations around the world who were both known and unknown to him. Many were sent by admirers of Russell. Russell died at age 97, and thus the items in this series mark his last birthday.

Series consists of Bertrand Russell's correspondence with his Russell relatives ranging from his early life to later years and offers insight into significant events in Russell's life and the nature of his relationships with certain family members. Letters from family members often include opinions about Russell's writings and activities. Letters from Russell are typescript copies, and some incoming letters are typescript copies although most are handwritten or typed originals.

Some letters, such as those sent from his grandmother, Lady Frances Russell, and aunt, Lady Agatha Russell, refer to his decision not to enter into a political career. Lady Agatha also expresses disappointment regarding rumours of his extramarital affairs in the 1920s, and Aunt Georgiana Peel and her daughter Ethel disagree with his anti-war convictions during WWI.

Correspondence with his cousin Flora Russell from 1941-1967 depicts a close relationship that existed in Russell's later life; the correspondence includes friendly joking and invitations to visit. Russell also received letters from various distant cousins who wished to reconnect or to initiate communication.

Correspondents include his grandmother Lady Frances Russell (box 6.30), his uncles George Gilbert William Russell (box 6.30) and Rollo Russell (box 6.30, 11.08), his aunts Lady Agatha Russell (box 6.29), Lady Georgiana Peel (box 6.29), and Lady Charlotte Portal (box 6.29), and cousins.

Russell's cousins include:

Elizabeth Cobb (box 6.29)
Arthur D. Elliot (box 6.29)
Hugh Elliot (box 6.29)
Margaret Elliot (box 6.29)
Rachel Elliot (box 6.29)
Grace Forester (box 6.29, 11.08)
Margaret and John Lloyd (box 6.29, 11.08)
Leonora Russell de Mello (box 6.30)
Alicia [Russell] (6.30)
Anthony Russell (box 6.30)
Claud Russell (box 6.30)
Cosmo Russell (box 6.30)
Diana Russell (box 6.30)
Flora Russell (box 6.30, 11.08)
George W.E. Russell (box 6.30)
Sir Guy Russell (box 6.30)
Harold Russell (box 6.30)
John W. Russell (box 6.30)
Martin Russell (box 6.30, 11.08)
Maud Russell (box 6.30, 11.08)
Raymond Russell (box 6.30)
Rupert Strong (box 6.30, 11.08)
Gwendoline Villiers (box 6.30)
Rollo Villiers (box 6.30)

Acquired primarily with Archives 1 with some additional items acquired with Archives 2.

Series consists of approximately 500 cards congratulating Russell on his birthdays over the years 1950-1969. Includes cards from family members, friends, and other individuals and organizational bodies. Most were acquired with Archives 1, while a few cards dated 1961 were acquired with Archives 2.

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “ Correspondence between Russell and his staff and various persons who were members of the [International War Crimes] Tribunal. The files reveal that the idea of the Tribunal was first put forth in 1965. The correspondence ends in 1968 with Russell still hopeful for peace in Vietnam. He wrote to Gunther Anders: 'The present generation of Americans is, after all, the first to challenge the fundamental premises of the Cold War. The resurrection of critical thinking in the American universities offers some promise for the future.'" Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies; also includes photocopies of some incoming correspondence.

Series consists of correspondence with individuals who served on the International War Crimes Tribunal's investigation teams in South East Asia regarding conditions in Vietnam, trip planning, and finances relating to the investigations. Also includes reports, statements, and articles about the investigations' findings. Letters from Russell and his staff are typescript copies.

The series was acquired with Archives 2, the print finding aid for which states: “These files are of great importance for their first-hand reports of conditions in Vietnam. Many were never published. The background correspondence demonstrates the difficulties of preparing the major investigative effort which was the Tribunal."