The MS 7613 collection documents aspects of John Passmore's career from the 1930s to 1998. The strength of the collection lies in the large body of correspondence and writings amassed by Passmore during his lifetime. The papers include lecture notes, reviews, cuttings, publications, translations, framed certificates, family letters and family history material. Correspondents include Bertrand Russell, Julian Huxley, Isaiah Berlin, Sir Mark Oliphant, Sir John Gorton, Sir Paul Hasluck, Alan Stout, Eugene Kamenka, Professor Sir Keith Hancock, Eric Partridge, Professor Gilbert Ryle, Ralph Cohen, Beatrice Davis, John Bell, Colin Haycroft, Hugh Stretton, Robyn Williams, Margaret Rose and Mervyn Horder (51 boxes, 5 fol. boxes).
The Acc04.171 instalment comprises further papers documenting Passmore's creative and intellectual work as a philosopher (14 boxes, 6 cartons, 1 small carton, 1 fol. box).
The Acc04.257 instalment includes files of drafts, letters, press cuttings, pamphlets, publications, business cards and a diary kept by Mrs A.D. Passmore documenting her husband's illness, death and funeral service (1 box).
The Acc05.018 instalment comprises letters, drafts, lectures, articles, photographs, postcards, press cuttings, obituaries and brochures (1 box).
The Acc05.072 instalment includes papers relating to Passmore, including his funeral, material relating to Mrs A.D. Passmore, tapes of broadcasts Passmore made, and a passport and business cards he had specially printed for dealings with Japanese businessmen (1 box).
The Acc15.032 instalment comprises original and photocopied correspondence to and from John Passmore (1 folder).
Philosopher and writer. John Arthur Passmore was born in Manly, New South Wales, in 1914 and attended the University of Sydney, graduating with honours in literature and philosophy. He travelled and lectured widely overseas but refused several postings in the United States and Europe in favour of remaining at the Australian National University. He published a number of books on philosophy including A hundred years of philosophy (1957), The perfectability of man (1970), and The philosophy of teaching (1980), and magazine and newspaper articles. He also extended the boundaries of philosophical discussion through his writings on art, politics and ecology. His autobiography, Memoirs of a semi-detached Australian, was published in 1997. In 1992, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for service to philosophy, and, in 2001, he received a Centenary Medal. Passmore died in Canberra in 2004.
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