Mortimer B. Smith Papers, 1949-81 | University of Illinois Archives

Description: Papers of Mortimer B. Smith (1906-81), co-founder, editor (1957-74) and executive director (1960-74) of the Council for Basic Education (CBE) including correspondence, minutes and documents relating to the founding of CBE; correspondence relating to the publication of The Public Schools in Crisis (1953-56); correspondence with CBE directors and supporters (1950-81); retirement letters (1974); books, articles, book reviews and manuscripts speeches by Smith (1949-74, 1979); articles about CBE and Smith (1966, 1971, 1979) and articles by others (1961-74). The series includes Smith's And Madly Teach (1949), The Diminished Mind (1954) and The Public Schools in Crisis (1956) and correspondence with Arthur Bestor, Mrs. Barry Bingham, Harold Clapp, Gordon Chalmers, James J. Kirkpatrick, Henry Regnery, Kenneth S. Templeton of the Volker Fund and others. Writings and letters relate to basic intellectual disciplines, John Dewey, educators, "life adjustment," moral education, progressive education, public schools, publishing, reading, schools, teacher education and related topics.