Papers of William Henry Walsh

The boxes contain folders within which are typescript or photo-copied notes and lectures, and unpublished talks. There is material relating toThe zenith of the greats,History, sacred and profaneandLinguistic philosophy reconsidered. Other subjects covered include: Plato, for class Logic and Metaphysics II; material for Metaphysics I and II; versions of Metaphysics I; lectures on Descartes; lectures on empiricism; material on Hegel; material on David Hume; material on Vico; material on German philosophy; material on mind and body; material on causality; and, a partial history of philosophy.

William Henry Walsh was born in Leeds on 10 December 1913. He was educated at Bradford and Leeds Grammar Schools, and studied at Merton College, Oxford. In 1936 he won a Junior Research Fellowship at Merton, focussing on philosophy. Between 1940 and 1941 Walsh served with the Royal Corps of Signals and then was employed by the Foreign Office, 1941-1945. He returned to Merton in 1946 and specialised in Kant, but then went to Dundee (then part of St. Andrews University) as a Lecturer in Philosophy, 1946-1947. He returned to Merton as a Fellow and Tutor of the College, and Lecturer in the University of Oxford, 1947-1960. In 1960, Walsh was appointed Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at Edinburgh University. He retired from Edinburgh in 1979 and returned to Merton as Fellow Emeritus of the College. His publications includeReason and experience(1947),An introduction to philosophy of history(1951), andMetaphysics(1963). Professor William Henry Walsh died 7 April 1986.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Compiled by Graeme D. Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Gift. Deposited by Professor L. Pompa. Retrospective accession from 2001. Accessioned 7 September 2004. Accession no. E2004.23

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.