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University of Chicago Library

Guide to the Ferdinand Schevill Papers 195?-1960

© 2006 University of Chicago Library

Descriptive Summary

Title:

Schevill, Ferdinand. Papers

Dates:

195?-1960

Size:

.05 linear ft. (1 box)

Repository:

Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.

Abstract:

Ferdinand Schevill (1868-1954) Professor of History at the University of Chicago from 1892 to 1937. The collection consists of material related to two of Schevill's books: The History of Florence from the Founding of the City through the Renaissance, and Six Historians.

Information on Use

Access

No restrictions

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Schevill, Ferdinand. Papers, [Box #, Folder #], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Ferdinand Schevill graduated from Yale in 1889 and finished his PhD at Freiburg in 1892. That same year he arrived with Professor Von Holst at the University of Chicago. As a junior professor he began writing the texts books that would come to define his career. The first edition of Schevill’s text on Western Europe, Political History of Europe from 1500 to the Present Day was revised and republished many times until its final edition in 1948 as, A History of Europe to the Present Day. Focusing on the Italian Renaissance and the history of Prussia, he published Siena and his lectures on The Making of Modern Germany. Exploring the arts, Schevill wrote a biography of his brother-in-law, the sculptor, Karl Bitter (1922).

In order to dedicate more time to writing, Schevill retired in 1924. In 1930 he was persuaded to re-enter the University in the Humanities General Course of general education. He retired five years later to finish The History of Florence (1936) his most influential work. Schevill continued to research, publish and lecture; and in his eightieth year he went with a group of Professors from the University of Chicago to lecture in Frankfurt. In this era, Schevill specialized in the historiographies of famous writers. Schevill is remembered for his research and the literary style and clarity with which he presented his material, as well as for his vital personality, which called forth the "universal men" that he himself recovered from the Renaissance.

Scope Note

Ferdinand Schevill (1868-1954) was an American historian, and taught at the University of Chicago from 1892 to 1937. The collection consists of material related to two of Schevill's books: The History of Florence from the Founding of the City through the Renaissance, and Six Historians.

Folder 1 contains Schevill's personal corrected copy of the first edition of the History; a 3 page list, "Corrections for the History of Florence," with an attached note; a 6 page list, "Ferdinand Schevill/History of Florence;" and a letter of July 1, 1960 from the Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. to Harper and Brothers.

Correspondence between the University of Chicago Library and Harper and Brothers indicates that Schevill's corrected copy was used by the Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. for a reprinting in 1961, and was supposed to be used by Harper and Brothers for an edition in their Torchbook Series in 1962 or 1963 but which apparently has not appeared. The first edition appeared in 1936.

Pages enumerated on the list, "Corrections for History of Florence" have been cut or torn from the book, as indicated by the note accompanying the list. Corrections enumerated on the list "Ferdinand Schevill/History of Florence" correspond to corrections in pencil and pen by the author throughout the book.

Folder 2 contains Schevill's manuscript of Six Historians, typewritten with handwritten corrections. It was published by the University of Chicago Press in 1956.

Related Resources

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html

Subject Headings

INVENTORY

Box 1   Folder 1

The History of Florence from the Founding of the City through the Renaissance, corrected text and correspondence

Box 1   Folder 2

Six Historians, manuscript