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The materials that comprise the Historical Biographical Files have been collected and added to from a variety of sources over the years by current and previous staff. The files consist of materials related to people who have a connection to the University whether as student, alumni, administrator, faculty, staff, guest lecturer, or honorary degree recipient. Materials generally consist of newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, ephemera, printed matter, lists, reports, and pamphlets.

With the exception of letters to John Dewey, George Rives, G. Stanley Hall and some original incoming correspondence, the papers of James McKeen Cattell consist of typescript copies of correspondence with Seth Low, Nicholas Murray Butler, and faculty members, dealing with Psychology Dept. matters, professional matters, and Cattell's battle for academic freedom which ended in his dismissal from and subsequent suit against Columbia. Included are typescript copies of University reports, printed court records, and transcripts of correspondence with Cattell's lawyers.

Correspondence relating to Erskine's various educational, musical and literary interests; manuscripts of his writings; lecture notes for college courses; souvenirs of his army service in World War I and his Columbia University professorship, and student papers from his own school and college days. Also, biographical file, scrapbooks, and articles.

Correspondence, manuscripts, notes, documents, book typescripts, photographs, and printed materials covering the time from Dorfman's early interest, as a graduate student, in the economic thought of Thorstein Veblen until his retirement. There is correspondence with his academic colleagues, students, publishers, and the family and students of Thorstein Veblen, as well as manuscripts, typescripts, drafts, revisions, notes, photographs, pamphlets, and related materials for his articles and books which include: THORSTEIN VEBLEN AND HIS AMERICA, 1934; THE ECONOMIC MIND IN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION, 1946-1959; EARLY AMERICAN POLICY, 1960; INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMICS, 1963; TYPES OF ECONOMIC THEORY, 1967; and NEW LIGHT ON VEBLEN, 1973