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Robert T. Francoeur papers

 Collection
Identifier: GTM-860201

Content Description

Personal papers containing letters and documents relating to Francoeur's scholarship on Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., and to the British and American Teilhard associations. Correspondents include George Barbour; Jeanne Mrotier; Walter Ong., S.J.; and a letter from Teilhard de Chardin to Lucile Swan.

Click on External Documents below to link to collection finding aid.

Dates

  • 1938-1975

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Conditions Governing Use

Reproduction requests for materials authored by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin must be approved by the Teilhard Estate.

Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.

Biographical / Historical

Francoeur was born on October 18, 1931 in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a B.A. in philosophy and and English at Sacred Heart College, in 1953; an M.A. in Catholic theology at St. Vincent College, in 1957; an M.S. in biology at University of Detroit,in 1961; a Ph.D. in experimental embryology at the University of Delaware, in 1967; and an A.C.S. in sexology from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, in 1979. Francoeur received the "Golden Brick Award" from the Center for Family Life Education for outstanding contributions to sexuality education in 2008, and was chosen by the German Society for Social-Sexuality Research to receive the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal for Sexual Reform in 2008. Trained in embryology, evolution, theology, and the humanities, Francoeur's main work was to synthesize and integrate the findings of primary sexological researchers. He is the author of 22 books, contributor to 78 textbooks, handbooks, and encyclopedias, and the author of 58 technical papers on various aspects of sexuality. His books include The Scent of Eros: Mysteries of Odor in Human Sexuality (1995); Becoming a Sexual Person (1982, 1984, 1991); Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Human Sexuality (1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2000); Utopian Motherhood: New Trends in Human Reproduction (1970, 1974, 1977); Eve's New Rib: 20 Faces of Sex, Marriage, and Family (1972); Hot and Cool Sex: Cultures in Conflict (1974); and The Future of Sexual Relations (1974). He is editor-in-chief of The Complete Dictionary of Sexology (1991, 1995); and the International Encyclopedia of Sexuality. A fellow of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and past president of the Society's Eastern Region, he is also a charter member of the American College of Sexuality. He served as professor of biological and allied health sciences at Fairleigh Dickinson University, adjunct professor in the doctoral Program in Human Sexuality at New York University, and professor in the New York University “Sexuality in Two Cultures” program in Copenhagen. Francoeur is credited with helping to introduce and popularize French philosopher and Jesuit priest, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, to American audiences. He wrote the forward to the first English translation of Teilhard's writing, "The Appearance of Man," in 1965. He founded The American Teilhard de Chardin Association in 1964, and served as its first president.

Sources: Wikipedia; and Obituary, "The Star-Ledger", Newark, New Jersey, 28 October 2012.

Extent

1.04 Linear Feet (2 Hollinger Document Cases, 1 Slim Document Case)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Robert T. Francoeur, 1986.

Title
Robert T. Francoeur papers
Status
Completed
Author
James Helminski, Georgetown University Library Booth Family Center for Special Collections, Washington, D.C.
Date
1987
Description rules
Local Practice
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Revision Statements

  • 2022: Conditions Governing Use note updated by John Zarrillo

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
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Washington DC 20057