Stephen S. Colvin papers (AMS.1UF.2015.009)

The papers of Stephen S. Colvin, which date from 1880-1934, offer a window into Colvin’s academic career, especially between the years 1900 and 1920. The heart of the collection, comprised of manuscripts and reprints of articles, documents his scholarship in educational psychology, both in published and manuscript form. The papers of Stephen S. Colvin are divided into seven series.

Series I. Correspondence consists of four letters: one from Eva Colvin to her husband, written on stationery from the San Diego Hotel; two from E.B. Titchener, a colleague of Colvin; and one from a friend to Mrs. Colvin. Of interest are the letters from Titchener to Colvin, in which he discusses their common research interests.

Series 2. Works by Stephen S. Colvin (manuscript materials) primarily consists of a few short scholarly works by Colvin which at least in part represent his intellectual development in the field of educational psychology. They cover such topics as a brief inquiry into the definition of human emotion, the role of humor in education and the arts, contemporary American philosophy, and the psychological significance of transcendent apprehension. This series also contains two short dramatic works: a script for a vaudeville act in one scene and a short musical skit.

Series 3. Works by Stephen S. Colvin (published materials) is comprised of three of Colvin’s scholarly articles from academic journals. Each one represents aspects of his thought and research in educational psychology.

Series 4. Printed Materials is comprised of very small collection of hardbound and paperback monographs and other printed items, covering a wide range of topics. It includes such items as a year book from the Champaign Social Science Club, and a couple of booklets--one an illustrated program from a cruise ship company, published in 1923 and the other, a directory of contacts from the University of Illinois, dated 1915. Of particular interest in this series is a miniature book by Edgar Allen Poe, of a short story entitled The Black Cat, with color illustrations published by the Winthrop Press in 1914.

Series 5. Miscellaneous Materials consists of a wide array of scattered materials, including a few financial records, two grammar school essays, a manuscript of an abstract of a report on the memory of school children (by L.S. Dancey), and a small collection of photographs.

Series 6. Ephemera, consists of a disparate collection of items. They include brochures, greeting cards, postcards, ticket stubs, and a deck of joke cards.

Series 7. Artifacts, also consists of a disparate collection of items, including an arrowhead, a bullet, a spool, and a few buttons and coins. Of note are an early twentieth-century metal baseball board game and rare colored print by Richard Felton Outcault, from 1903.