George W. Dell Papers, 1920-1995, n.d. | Oberlin College Archives

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I.  Interviews, 1926-94 (some restrictions apply) (1 folder)

This series consists of transcripts and supporting documents (i.e., correspondence) of interviews with Robert M. Hutchins (1973-76), Vesta Hutchins (1977), Edward Levi (1977-78), Richard Lightman (1975), Stanley Sheinbaum (1975), Lawrence Kimpton (1976), Mortimer Adler (1976), Harry Ashmore (1974), Clifton Fadiman (1974), Hallock Hoffman (1976), Frank Kelly (1974, 1976), and Malcolm Moos (1977). Researchers are permitted to use the interviews provided that they are “quoted in context” (per George Dell to Roland Baumann, letter received December 9, 1998). Please consult the College Archivist.

Series II.  Articles and Clippings, 1935, 1968-77, 1991-94 (8 folders)

This series consists of newspaper clippings and magazine articles related to Dell’s research on Robert Hutchins.  The bulk of these published clippings and articles concern subjects of interest to Hutchins.

Series III. Correspondence, 1920-95 (9 folders)

This series consists of correspondence between Dell and Hutchins (originals and copies), as well as correspondence with the University of Chicago regarding Dell’s Papers and with Oberlin College regarding Hutchins.

Series IV.  Speeches, 1949-77 (1 folder)

This series consists of transcripts of speeches given by Robert M. Hutchins.  The  transcripts are arranged alphabetically and a complete list of the titles are included in the inventory.

Series V.  Writings, 1921-94, n.d. (17 folders)

The writings consist of published and unpublished works by and topics relating to Robert Hutchins, used by Dell for his biography of Hutchins, and arranged in three subseries: Subseries 1. Writings by George Dell, Subseries 2. Writings by Robert Maynard Hutchins, and Subseries 3. Writings by others.  The writings are organized by subject within each subseries.  See the inventory for a listing of the subjects.

Series VI.  Biography of Robert Maynard Hutchins, c. 1988 (8 folders)

This series consists of an unbound manuscript copy of George Dell’s An Intellectual Biography of Robert Maynard Hutchins, c. 1988, 864 pp.

George W. Dell was born July 9, 1926 in St. Paul, Minnesota.  He graduated from Hinton Iowa High School in 1944 and joined the Army Air Corps, serving from 1946-47.  George Dell majored in Speech at Los Angeles City College and earned his A.A. in 1949.  He attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a B.S. in Education in 1951, an M.A. in 1955, and a Ph.D. in Speech in 1960.  He served as a Speech Correctionalist in the Los Angeles Elementary Schools during the years 1951-55, and as an instructor at Los Angeles City College from 1955-59.  George W. Dell was Professor of Speech and Communication Studies at San Francisco State University from 1961-86.  George Dell was Professor Emeritus at San Francisco State University and resided in Calistoga, California.  He died on September 2, 2003.

Sources Consulted

Biographical information provided by George W. Dell.  Additional information is located on the San Francisco State University website.