Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers

Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers, 1828-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Ericksen, Ephraim Edward
Title: Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers
Dates: 1828-1968 (inclusive)
18281968
Quantity: 7.75 linear feet
Collection Number: MS 0534
Summary: The Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers (1828-1968) contain writings by Ericksen, some writings by others, and personal correspondence and notes. E. E. Ericksen (1882-1967) was a moral philosopher and served as dean of the University of Utah's College of Arts and Sciences.
Repository: University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions: Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ephraim Edward (known as E.E.) Ericksen was born into the second family of Danish emigrant Bendt Jensen Ericksen of Logan, Utah, at the turn of 1882. After grammar school membership in the first graduating class of the Oneida Stake Academy, Ericksen returned to Logan to attend Brigham Young College. It was under his instructors here that the young man decided to professionally pursue the study of philosophy and to do so at the University of Chicago.

Before completing undergraduate work at the BYC, Ericksen met and married Edna Clark of Auburn, Wyoming. The couple returned to Chicago where Ephraim continued graduate school under the tutelage of James H. Tufts, a notable American thinker and philosopher. It was in Chicago that Ericksen "began to examine more critically my religious heritage." In the homes of married couples near campus Latter-day Saint students would meet to discuss their religion and church. It was here that Ericksen was exposed to scientific and sociological methodology in the consideration of his culture. The fruit of discussions in this circle, his primary study interest in moral philosophy with a minor emphasis in economics, was his doctoral dissertation, "The Psychological and Ethical Aspects of Mormon Group Life," completed in 1918. It was published by the university in 1922.

In 1911 Ericksen accepted an appointment as principle of the Murdock Academy in Beaver, Utah. Here he taught in and administered the four-year prep/normal/reform/high school. In 1914 he requested a leave of absence to continue his work at the University of Chicago. Upon completion of his Ph.D. he returned to Utah, not to Beaver, but to Salt Lake City where he accepted a $1700 annual salary to teach in the Philosophy Department at the University of Utah. Here he remained as a well respected instructor, department head, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences until his retirement in 1948.

He wrote a textbook titled Social Ethics, as well as an autobiography. Ephraim Edward Ericksen died in 1967.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Ephraim Edward Ericksen papers (1828-1968) contain writings by Ericksen, some writings by others, and personal correspondence and notes. Manuscript drafts and related materials for books Ericksen planned make up the bulk of the collection. Much of the correspondence is from family members after Ericksen's retirement.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Gift of Margaret E. Kenney in 1983.

Gift of Scott G. Kenney in 1991.

Transferred from Western Americana in 2011.

Separated Materials

Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections (P0494).

Processing Note

Processed by Richard Saunders in 1993.

Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2013.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Autobiography and CorrespondenceReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
1	1	Scott Kenney Notes on EEE Chronology
1	2	News Clippings
1	3	University of Utah Faculty Record	1915-1948
1	4	Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters Distinguished Service Award
1	5	"Inquisition" Draft Manuscript
1	6	"The View from the House of Ephraim"
1	7-13	"Ephraim Edward Ericksen: His Memories and Reflections" Manuscript and draft.
1	14	Contracts
1	15-21	Incoming Correspondence	1910-1966
1	22-26	Outgoing Correspondence	1927-1943

Correspondence and NotesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
2	1-20	Outgoing Correspondence	1944-1966
2	21	Miscellaneous Class Materials
2	22-27	Philosophy 104 Outlines and biographies.
2	28	Education 227E, "Education for a World Society"
2	29	Nevada Lectures
2	30	Nevada Class Registers
2	31	"Why Study Religion?" Class outline.
2	32	"Department of Philosophy: Its Functions in an Undergraduate School"
2	33	"Milton Bennion: Teacher and Philosopher"

Writings by Ericksen and OthersReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
3	1	Bennion, Lowell, "How Shall We Judge One Religion as `Better' Than Another?" ; Clapp, Edwin R., "`Beauty' and `Truth' in Art"
3	2	Ericksen, Eugene P., "Logic and Clear Thinking"; Fielding, R. Kent, "The Concept of Stages in Mormon Historical Development"
3	3	Geddes, Joseph A., "Value Systems and Institutions of Utah"
3	4	Miller, Frieda S., "Statement . . . Before the House Ways and Means Committee, In Support of Certain Amendments to Title II of the Social Security Act"; Monson, Charles, "Is Religion True?"
3	5	Nicolayson, Mack, "Criticsm of the Tract, Practical Application and Results "; "Youth and Sex Morality"; "Youth, the Word of Wisdom, and Civic Morality"
3	6	Snell, Heber C., "The Last Chapter in a `Bad Book's' History"
3	7	The Psychological and Ethical Aspects of Mormon Group Life
3	8	Promotional Material for Ericksen's Books
3	9	Social Ethics, Criticism and Reviews
3	10	"The Distribution of Wealth"
3	11	"Church and Community Enterprise among the Mormons"
3	12	"Problems vs Environment"
3	13	"Environment Selected, or, The Problem Side of Experience"
3	14-15	Senior Thesis
3	16	Notes
3	17	Mutual Improvement Association Board Reports
3	18	"The Cooperative Family" Chapter contributed by EEE to the 1937 YMMIA manual.
3	19	"Prevention of Crime through Wholesome Leisure"
3	20	"W. H. Chamberlin--Philosopher and Teacher"
3	21	"W. H. Chamberlin: Pioneer Philosepher in Utah"
3	22	Notes on William H. Chamberlin
3	23	"The Concept of Responsibility--Ethical-Economic Implications"
3	24-26	"Philosophy in Democracy, Democracy in Education"
3	27-29	"Priesthood and Philosophy"
3	30	James, William, "World Thinkers," n.13
3	31-32	"Utah's Religious Economy: Paradoxes in Community Righteousness"
4	1	"Comments on Carpenter's Criticism [of "Ideological Aspects of the Legal Profession"]"
4	2	Medicine and Medical Profession Four variously numbered chapters of an unidentified work.
4	3	"The Doctors and the Health Values in American Democracy"
4	4	"Sagebrush to Sophistication"
4	5	Acknowledgements for Bendt Ericksen Biography; "Biography of Bendt Jensen Ericksen"
4	6-11	"Bendt Jensen Ericksen: A Biography by Ephraim E. Ericksen"
4	12	Bear River City (Utah) Pioneer Monument Dedication	1947

"Social Justice in American Economy"Return to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
5	1	Preface and Foreward Notes
5	2	Democracy--Economic and Cultural Implications Moral Judgment of the Ethicist: The Economist and Ethicist
5	3	The American Democracy
5	4	Moral Judgments in Economics
5	5	Social Responsibilities of Vocational and Professional Groups
5	6	The Democracy of Culture in an Industrial Civilization
5	7	Social Justice in American Economy; Capitalism in America: Liberalism and Justice; The Origin of American Capitalism: Hamilton; Capitalism in Operation: Methods and Principles
5	8	Capitalism and Industrial Mechanization
5	9	Capitalism in America: Liberalism and Justice
5	10	The Idealist Traditions: Dualistic Aspects; The Bifurcations of Values (In American Idealism)
5	11	Ethical Dualism and the World of Action; The Idealist Traditions: Dualistic Aspects
5	12	Values
5	13	Truth as a Way of Life--The Social Way
5	14	Values, Constitution
5	15	Preface, Constitution
5	16	Revolution
5	17	Moral Problems in Industry
5	18	Moral Problems of Industry
5	19	Recreation
5	20	Economic Justice in American Democracy
5	21	Manuscript Notes
5	22	Ancient Naturalism
5	23	Adam Smith
5	24	Classical Economics and Ethics--18th Century
6	1-2	Economic Naturalism--Ancient Roots
6	3	Naturalism of the Classical Economists
6	4	Utilitarianism
6	5	Utilitariansim--And Ethical Philosophy of the Nineteenth Century; Mills' Social Philosophy--A Motivating Naturalism
6	6	Wealth and Industry in Puritan Religion
6	7	Philosophy of Justice in American Enlightenment
6	8	Philosophy of Justice in the Constitution
6	9	The Supreme Court: A Philosophic Agency
6	10	Truth, Self
6	11	Justice in Colonial America
6	12	The Major Promise--An Appeal to Nature in the Interest of Efficiency
6	13	Andrew Jackson
6	14	Economists and the Social Economic Issues
6	15	The Bill of Rights and the Philosophy of Justice
6	16	Constitution of the United States: Philosophical Foundation
6	17	Something on Utah
6	18	Objective Social Thinking
6	19	Truth as a Human Enterprise
6	20	Truth as a Way of Life--The Social Way
6	21	Economics: Science or Philosophy
6	22	Economics and World Security
6	23	Notes from Montague, The Way of Things
6	24	Economics and the Constitution
6	25	Behind the Law: Metaphysics and Ethics: Philosophy in Perspective; The American Laborer--His Philosophy of Living and Making a Living; The Communist Movement
6	26	Bentham and the Utility Doctrine; Bentham's Radicalism; Naturalistic Traditions in American Economy; Behind the Law: Metaphysics and Ethics: Philosophy in Retrospect
6	27	Creative Participation--Philosophy of Work
6	28	Notes
6	29	Social Justice in Colonial America; Religion in colonial America
6	30	Pragmatism, Religion in America
7	1	Agrarianism in America: A Philosophy of Economic Justice; Agrarianism Takes Idealistic Form: Integrating Factors; The Agrarian Dilemmas
7	2	Group Consciousness: The Agrarian Protest; The Agrarian Dilemmas; Agrarianism Takes Form: Integrating Factors; Roots of Agrarianism
7	3	The Agrarian Dilemma, 1860-1890; Agrarianism in the Twentieth Century
7	4	William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925)--The Agrarian Preacher
7	5	Group Consciousness: The Agrarian Protest
7	6	The Farm and the Welfare State
7	7	Objective Thinking and Social Values
7	8	Roots of Agrarianism
7	9	Industry, Capitalism
7	10	Bentham and the Utility Doctrine
7	11-12	Moral Responsibility
7	13	The Laboring Man and the Welfare State
7	14	Modified Capitalism and the Welfare State: The Philosophy of the New Deal
7	15	Colonialism
7	16	Capitalism in Action: Its Advocates and Critics
7	17	Pattern Makers in Business: Economic and Social Philosophy
7	18	Dualism in Business Ethics
7	19	Capitalism in Distress and the Welfare State
7	20	Capitalism in Distress; Disillusionments in American Economy
7	21	Capitalism in Dilemma; Dilemmas in American Economy
7	22	Capitalism in Reverse
8	1	Unionism--A Philosophy of Method
8	2	The American Laborer--His Philosophy of Living and Making a Living
8	3	Unionism in Capitalistic Industry
8	4	Unionism, Industry
8	5	Philosophy in the American Revolution; Philosophical Leadership; Secularizing the Puritan Ideals--Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790); A Revolutionary Document: A Peoples' Declaration of Rights
8	6	Group Philosophies and the Welfare State; The Philosophy of the New Deal
8	7	Sam Adams, Revolution Philosophy
8	8	Declaration of Independence, Revolution
8	9	Revolutionary Period; Philosophical Leadership
8	10	Property Rights as Natural Rights; Philosophy in the American Revolution
8	11	Economic Problems in the Revolution; Revolution and Constitutional Periods
8	12	The Community in American Economy
8	13	Notes
8	14	Philosophy
8	15	Capitalism; The Foundation of American Capitalism; The Pecuniary Motive of Capitalism
8	16	Capitalism, Corporation
8	17	Bentham and the Utility Doctrine
8	18	Metaphysical Assumptions in Classical Economics
8	19	Naturalism, Utilitarianism, Karl Marx
8	20	Law in Prospective Philosophy: Economic and Social Implications; The Naturalistic in the Ethics of American Economy
9	1	Social Justice in Classical Economics of the Eighteenth Century
9	2	The Idealist Traditions: Dualistic Aspects
9	3	America--A Laboratory for Democracy; The Self in Creative Social Thinking
9	4	Classical Economists, Utilitarianism
9	5	Jeremy Bentham, Utilitarianism
9	6	Karl Marx, Communism
9	7	Hebrew and Christian Traditions in Colonial Philosophy
9	8-9	Preface and Foreword
9	10	Colonial Period
9	11	Industry, Welfare
9	12	Group Responsibility and Social Thinking; New Deal Philosophy and the Welfare State
9	13	Welfare State
9	14	Individualism, Labor, Welfare
9	15	The American Laborer--His Philosophy of Living and Making a Living
9	16	The American Lawyer--Custodian of Justice, Philosopher and Statesman
9	17	Naturalism, Industry
9	18	Class, Democracy, Industry
9	19	Economic Naturalism--Ancient Roots; Naturalism in Western Economics
10	1	Naturalism, George Herbert Mead
10	2	Pragmatic Naturalism: A Socio-Economic Philosophy
10	3	Naturalism
10	4	Socialism
10	5	Values, Industry
10	6	Morals in Economics, Culture
10	7	Law
10	8	Supreme Court and Manuscript Notes
10	9	Supreme Court, Bill of Rights
10	10	The Bifurcation of Values--Material and Spiritual
10	11-14	Social Responsibility
10	15	Dualistic Traditions in American Economy
10	16	Dualism, Democracy
10	17	The Bifurcation of Values In American Idealism
10	18	Dualism, Values
10	19	Dualistic Traditions in American Economy
10	20	Class, Dualism
10	21	Philosophy, Responsibility, Bibliographies
11	1-2	Notes
11	3	Social Thought, Group Responsibility
11	4	Individualism, Responsibility
11	5	Social Justice, Individualism
11	6	The American Businessman--His Philosophy and Economics
11	7	The American Men of Affairs' Philosophy of Business
11	8	The American Businessman
11	9	Businessmen, Business
11	10	Pattern Makers in Business: Economic and Social Philosophy; Capitalism in Action: Its Advocates and Critics
11	11	Agrarianism in America: A Philosophy of Economic Justice
11	12	Agrarianism
11	13	Economic Philosophy in Education; American Economy and World Responsibility; The Self in Creative Social Thinking; Mechanization of Industry; The Bifurcation of Values (In American Idealism); Wealth in Hebrew and Christian Tradition
11	14	The Lawyer Statesman in a Dynamic Economy; Behind the Law Metaphysics and Ethics: Philosophy in Retrospect; Collective Action; Pattern Makers in Business: Economic and Social Philosophy; Capitalism in America: Liberalism and Justice; The Origin of American Capitalism: Hamilton; Roots of Agrarianism
11	15	Teachers in American Economy; The Social and Educational Effect of Changes in Teaching Staff
11	16	Objective Thinking and Social Values
11	17	Naturalism
11	18	Moral Criteria; Religion and Democracy
11	19	Economic Philosophy in American Education
11	20	Social Justice and the Political State; Dualism in Idealistic Tradition
11	21-22	Bibliographies
12	1	Conservation of Utah's Human Resources; The Teachers and the Schools in American Economy
12	2	Educators and the Philosophy of Economics
12	3	Teaching, Economic Thought
12	4	Education, Economic Thought, Democracy
12	5	Philosophy of Education in a New World--Economic Aspects
12	6	Economic Tradition
12	7	Education in Social Justice
12	8	Wanted: An Economic Philosophy for Education
12	9	Educating for Democracy
12	10	American Economy and World Responsibility
12	11	Internation Realism--America in Action; Capitalism on a World Basis
12	12	Democracy, Education
12	13	America's Internationalism: Idealistic and Realistic
12	14	America Assumes World Responsibility
12	15	Idealism, Outline
12	16	Naturalism, Outline
12	17	Ethics of Pragmatism and Instrumentalism, Outline
12	18	Realism, Outline
12	19	Morale and National Defense, Outline
12	20	Miscellaneous Nevada Materials

"Mormonism in Philosophical Perspective"Return to Top

Container(s)		Description
Box	Folder
13	1-2	Utah, Philosophy, Mormonism
13	3-4	Mormonism
13	5	Notes from John Taylor on Preexistence and Immortality
13	6	Liberalism in Mormonism
13	7-8	Mormonism and Community
13	9	Authority, Priesthood
13	10	Philosophy and Religion in Mormonism
13	11	Consolation, Individual Salvation
13	12	Authority, Priesthood, Philosophy
13	13	Joseph Smith and Philosophy
13	14	Priesthood, Philosophy, Cooperation
13	15	Joseph Smith, Prophecy, Philosophy
13	16	Prophecy, Priesthood, Theology
14	1-3	Joseph Smith
14	4	Critical Examination of the Prophet's Visions; The Youthful Prophet; Origin and History
14	5	Our Faith; Our Criticism
14	6	Apocalypse, Prophets
14	7-8	The Hallowed Old and the Promising New in Mormonism
14	9	Mormon Educators
14	10	Community, Conflict, Exclusivism
14	11	Mormon Churches and Christian Tradition
14	12	Article of Faith 1; Mormon and Christian Theology
14	13	Article of Faith 2
14	14	Article of Faith 4-5; Faith and Repentence; Authority in the Ministry: Men Called of God
14	15	Article of Faith 9; Revelation, Past, Present and Future
14	16	Exclusivism and Group Conflict
14	17-18	Zion Building--Mormon Idealism
14	19	Cooperation, Economy, Social Economics
14	20	Transcriptions from LDS Publications
14	21	Mormonism Adapting to Twentieth Century
14	22	The Mormon Seminary of the Early Fifties
14	23	George T. Boyd Survey Responses
15	1	Mormonism and the Apocalyptic Scripture
15	2	Mormonism's Consideration of Scripture
15	3	Modern Prophets
15	4	Ancient Prophets
15	5	Mormonism and Capitalism
15	6	The Church and Politics
15	7	Science in a Christian Society
15	8	Modern Prophets, Priestly Stuctures
15	9	Mormonism in Philosophical Perspective

General MaterialsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box	Folder
16	1	General Materials This folder contains a variety of materials such as a letter, a presentation, news clipping, and essays titled, "Lessons in Thrift for Senior High Schools," "Recreation Within the Home in Relation to Moral Values," and "Standard of Living Within the Home in Relation to Moral Values".	1828-1955
16	2	Writings This folder contains the following articles: "Materialism in Democracy-Democracy in Culture," "William H. Chamberlin: Pioneer Mormon Philosopher," and "Idealogical Aspects of the Legal Profession".	1942-1957

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Ethics
Latter Day Saint churches--History
Philosophy, Modern--20th century--Study and teaching

Family Names

Erickson family

Geographical Names

United States--Economic conditions

Form or Genre Terms

Articles
Correspondence
Drafts (documents)
Lectures
Photographs

Archives West Finding Aid

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