Central Washington University Archives

Guide to the Philosophy Department

Robert Goedecke Papers

RG 044, Ser. 06-74

Processed and Listed by: Dieter C. Ullrich
Date: October 13, 2006

---

Date Span: 1967-2002

Size: 2.25 cubic feet.

Number of Boxes: 4 letter sized document cases and 1 letter half size document case.

Type of material: Manuscripts, drafts and correspondence.

Physical condition: Good.

Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by type of material and subject title.

Historical or Biographical Sketch: Walter Robert Goedecke was born on March 11, 1928 at Gary, Indiana to Walter and Mary M. Goedecke. During his youth in Gary he attended public schools including Horace Mann High School. He completed his high school education at the University High School of University of Chicago, graduating in 1944. From 1945 to 1958, he attended the University of Chicago attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1945, a Master of Arts degree in 1952 and his doctorate in 1958. He also spent two years at Harvard University, where received a Master of Arts in Philosophy in 1955. His teaching career began in 1954 as a lecturer at the University of Chicago. After receiving his doctorate he taught at Central University of Iowa, Southern Methodist University, Southern Illinois University, Kansas State University and Florida State University. In the fall of 1970, Dr. Goedecke was hired as Professor of Philosophy at Central Washington University. He taught at Central until his retirement in the spring of 1993. In retirement, he focused on writing and publishing. His publications include God in Ellensburg, Persons of Spirit and The Devil in Gary, Indiana. Scope and Content Note: The collection consists of manuscripts, drafts and other works written by Robert Goedecke, Professor of Philosophy at Central Washington University, from 1967 to 2002. The papers contain typescript drafts of published and unpublished articles, stories and books on philosophical topics and personal reflections on religion and life. Included in the collection are manuscript drafts and correspondence from other authors, such as George J. Seidel, ephemera from Goedecke’s campaign for United States Congress and other materials related to his career as a university professor and author.

Research Note: Open to the public.

---

Inventory List:

Box 1
1. Book reviews
2. Congressional campaign
3. Correspondence
4. Degrees and certificates
5. Draft – God in Ellensburg
6. Draft – Paths to Thought
7. Manuscript – Bennett and Putnam
8. Manuscript – Blacks
9. Manuscript – Book three of Aristotle’s metaphysics
10. Manuscript – Buddhism as radical religion
11. Manuscript – Captain Lewis, Will Clark and the Thrones go West
12. Manuscript – A child’s garden of philosophies
13. Manuscript – Conversations
14. Manuscript – The Devil in Gary, Indiana
15. Manuscript – The Devil in Gary, Indiana
Box 2
1. Manuscript – Diary of the Liberal Arts
2. Manuscript – Diary of the Liberal Arts
3. Manuscript – Explosions
4. Manuscript – Forgiving not only father but mother
5. Manuscript – Four different works
6. Manuscript – Four kinds of immortality
7. Manuscript – God in Ellensburg
8. Manuscript – Heidegger wege
9. Manuscript – The last Heidegger
10. Manuscript – Letter to myself – sex and the male pscho-organism
11. Manuscript – Logic
Box 3
1. Manuscript – Meditation on Law
2. Manuscript – My basketball career
3. Manuscript – Nature
4. Manuscript – Paths to thought
5. Manuscript – Perception in the Theaetetus
6. Manuscript – Person of Spirit
7. Manuscript – The Principles of practical life
8. Manuscript – Sidelights on method
9. Manuscript – Thrones Goes West, Chapters 1-6
10. Manuscript – Thrones Goes West, Chapters 7-11
11. Manuscript – Thrones Goes West, Chapters 12-16
12. Manuscript – Truth in Aquinas
13. Manuscript – Two ancient orders and new order
14. Manuscript – Up from empiricism
Box 4
1. Manuscript – The view from the fourth floor
2. Manuscript – A war poetics
3. Manuscript – Whimsies, nasties, absurdities and other eccentricities, 1950-2000
4. Manuscript – Untitled
5. Manuscript – Untitled
6. Manuscript – Untitled
7. Manuscript – Untitled
8. Other authors – Walk Kinnard, A child’s garden of philosophic bedtime stories
9. Other authors – Winston Pugh, Change and energy
10. Other authors – George J. Seidel
11. Other authors – George J. Seidel, Ethics in Paris
Box 5
1. Published articles
2. Publication – A children’s garden of philosophies
3. Publication – Paths to thought

Return to Central Washington University Archives Homepage