The papers of sociologist Charles A. Ellwood feature incoming and outgoing correspondence, chiefly professional but with some personal exchanges; minutes and other records of Pi Gamma Mu; book and article manuscripts; speeches; news clippings and book reviews; and some photographs. There are some papers related to his teaching career, chiefly related to summer school appointments and his positions at University of Missouri--Columbia and Duke University. A microfilm copy of a scrapbook (circa 1900-1946) contains clippings from Ellwood's career. Professional topics in the papers cover discussion and criticism of Ellwood's books, articles, and views; international and U.S. sociology organizations; the sociology departments at the University of Missouri and Duke University; social ethics; criminology; the social function of religion; and the scientific and statistical approach to sociology. Issues in Ellwood's papers related to crises of the time include race relations; political systems and beliefs; Fascism; persecution of Jews in Europe; U.S. involvement in World War II; religion and ethics; militarism and pacifism; and compulsory conscription.
Charles Abram Ellwood established the Department of Sociology at Duke University in 1930. He was born in the rural community of Black Lake near Ogdensburg, New York, on January 20, 1873. Ellwood earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1896 and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He married Ida Breckenridge in 1897. He continued his studies in Europe at the University of Berlin, Oxford University, and the University of London. Ellwood served as Head of the Department of Sociology at the University of Missouri and then moved to Duke University in 1930.
His numerous writings, such as Social Problems, a Sociology (1932) and The World's Need of Christ (1940), focus on social psychology, religion and ethics, social scientific methods, criminology, and the family. Heavily influenced by the work of Charles H. Cooley, Ellwood believed in social reform and human improvement through rational evolution, and was a supporter of eugenics to some degree. In 1912 or 1913, he gave a lecture at Missouri, "The Eugenics Movement from the Standpoint of Sociology," which was chosen as part of a book, Eugenics: Twelve University Lectures, published by the Dodd, Mead & Company in 1914.
Ellwood actively participated in several national and international organizations, inlcuding International Congress of Arts and Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Sociological Society, Pi Gamma Mu National Social Science Honor Society, the International Congress of Sociology, and the National Education Association. He served as advisory editor of the American Journal of Sociology and as associate editor of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. Ellwood retired from Duke University in 1944; he died in Durham, N.C., September 25, 1946.
Originally processed by Jill Katte, June 2002
Accession UA2019.0047 added and collection level notes updated by Tracy M. Jackson, July 2019.
Rehoused, contents list created, and collection guide updated, Paula Jeannet and Alanna Styer, December 2019.
