Karl Mannheim Papers

The papers include notes and lecture outlines prepared by Mannheim for his courses in structural sociology at the London School of Economics and in educational sociology at the Institute of Education, University of London. There is also a certain amount of correspondence between Mannheim and others relating to the period 1940-1945. Subjects include: psychology, education, further education, government and planning, sociology of education, women's place in society, sociology, school and society.

Karl Mannheim (1893-1947), an Austro-Hungarian sociologist and historian, born and educated in Hungary, and originator of 'sociology of knowledge' study of science as a social organization, work on problems of leadership and consensus. A member of the Lukacs circle in Hungary, he taught at Heidelberg, 1926-30; Frankfurt am Main,1930-33; and the University of London, 1933-47. His publications include Ideology and Utopia, 1929 and Freedom, Power, and Democratic Planning, 1950. In his historical writings he emphasized the role of social values. Mannheim was influenced by, but critical of Karl Marx. His essays were influential in developing the field of the sociology of knowledge, which studies how ideas should be analyzed in their social context.

Reference: Columbia Encyclopediea (6th Edition, 2001 at http://www.heartfield.demon.co.uk/mannheim.htm). Accessed December 2001.

The collection is arranged by subject.

Some access restrictions apply. Please apply to Special Collections and Archives, Keele University for details.

This collection was deposited in the 1960s by Professor W.A.C. Stewart, then Vice-Chancellor of Keele University and once a student of Mannheim.

English, German.

A brief box list exists for the collection.

An authority record exists for Karl Mannheim (GB 152 AAR1976).

There are no restrictions on the use of this archive, apart from the requirements of copyright law.

Further deposits are not expected.

Works using the collection:

Reference: Kettler, D., and Meja, V., 'Their 'Own Peculiar Way': Karl Mannheim and the Rise of Women', in International Sociology (Volume 8, No 1,1993).

Reference: Kettler, D., and Meja, V., Karl Mannheim and the Crisis of Liberalism: The Secret of These New Times (Transaction Publishers, 1995).

English, German.