Skip to main content

Stella Aldwinckle Papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Wade-A-75 through A-84

Scope and Contents

This archive required rearrangement almost on a page by page basis due to the poor condition and disorder in which the papers were discovered. Many of the items in the archive have suffered water and mold damage, causing ink to bleed and paper to deteriorate. Documents judged to have too much mold contamination were photocopied and then discarded. The final arrangement, as described below, is based mainly on type of material, and related to certain topics or activities in Aldwinckle’s life where appropriate. Any dates or other content added to the pages in pencil, within brackets, were written by the processor.

Series 1: Articles – Containing mainly newspaper articles and clippings, with some marginal notes and underlining by Stella, arranged chronologically. Some items are by C.S. Lewis and Stella Aldwinckle. See also: the scrapbook in the Personal Papers series (ca. 1923-1936, folder 263), and the Printed Materials series for journal articles).

Series 2: Artwork – Drawings and sketches of maps, animals, etc., mostly by unknown artists. The artwork is arranged chronologically.

Series 3: Books – Three books, including Stella’s Bible. Annotations by Stella are included. Stored in box 10, and arranged by author’s name, or title.

Series 4: Correspondence – Letters to and from various correspondents. The series begins with undated letters, arranged by the author’s name (folders 24-40), followed by undated Christmas cards arranged the same way (folders 41-44). Letters between Stella and her mother are in the next folder (folder 45), arranged by date, followed by undated and dated letters by Stella (folders 46-47). Other letters by Stella or her mother may be in the series, but they were either missed or not identifiable due to use of nicknames. The next folder in the Correspondence series (folder 48) contains letters between The Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College and Stella, including letters from Clyde S. Kilby and Lyle Dorsett. Photocopied letters are from the Wade Center correspondence files and the Clyde S. Kilby Correspondence Files. The remainder of the series is arranged in chronological order (folders 49-114). Correspondence files are also located in the following series: SCARS, OUHC, Personal Papers, Photographs (folder 289), and the Socratic Club.

Series 5: Notebooks – Notebooks containing handwritten notes, primarily by Stella, on various topics. Other notebooks were placed in the Socratic Club series and Personal Papers series depending on their content. The notebooks are arranged chronologically. Stella Aldwinckle Papers, 3

Series 6: Notes – This series includes notes, primarily by Stella, on various events and subjects, including: math, science, philosophy, metaphysics, ontology, theology / religion, personal notes, name lists, charts and diagrams. The processor attempted to remove any notes dealing with other series topics to the appropriate series (ex: Socratic Club or SCARS notes). The notes are arranged chronologically, with the exception of a few subject-specific folders near the beginning of the series arranged alphabetically, and a variety of undated materials which were sorted by subject when possible (also arranged alphabetically). In the event that a page contained multiple dates, the earliest date was used for filing. Any dates added to the pages in pencil, within brackets, were written by the processor. Materials dated “Hilary Term (HT)” were placed before January, “Trinity Term (TT)” before April, and “Michaelmas Term (MT)” before September.

Series 7: OUHC – This series contains materials related to the Oxford University Horsemanship Club, including correspondence, pamphlets, articles, membership lists, etc. Receipts related to horse expenses are in the Personal Papers series since they are indistinguishable between Stella’s personal farm expenses and OUHC expenses. Folders are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series 8: Personal Papers – Various materials related to Stella’s personal living expenses, travels, family, research, funeral programs, and other miscellanea. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 9: Photographs – Photos featuring horses, various people, and locations. Several are unidentified. Arranged chronologically when possible, and correspondence is included with some of the photos.

Series 10: Printed Materials – Printed materials relating to various movements, Oxford activities and institutions, Christian activities and institutions, and events. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title. See the Articles series for newspaper articles.

Series 11: SCARS – Materials relating to the cross-denominational SCARS prayer group founded by Stella. Includes conference materials, meeting notes, publications, correspondence, etc. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title.

Series 12: Socratic Club – This series contains materials relating to the Socratic Club, a forum which began in 1942 by Stella for Christians, agnostics, and atheists to attend and discuss/debate various topics with each other. The Club featured many speakers, and frequently had its president of many years, C.S. Lewis, as a participant. Materials include correspondence (including letters by C.S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers), conference materials, membership and attendance lists, meeting minutes and notes, lecture notes, posters, pamphlets, and selections from the journal published by the Club, The Socratic Digest (later: The Socratic). Folders are arranged alphabetically by title. See also: folder 443 in the Unpublished Materials series. Stella Aldwinckle Papers, 4

Series 13: Unpublished Materials – Various articles, lectures, books, etc. in unpublished formats. Includes pieces written by Stella Aldwinckle. Contents are arranged chronologically, and the undated folders are arranged by author’s name.

Dates

  • Created: 1922-1990
  • Other: Majority of material found in 1940-1970

Creator

Extent

10.00 boxes : 477 folders, 3 books

9.3 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This archive contains personal and professional papers relating to Stella Aldwinckle, the founder of the SocraticClub (which included C.S. Lewis) and member of the Oxford Pastorate staff at Oxford University.

Source of Acquisition

91/60

Related Materials

Researchers interested in this archive may also wish to consult the following resources in the Wade Center holdings:

List of Socratic Club Speakers, dates, and topics

ARTICLES:

Anscombe, G. E. M. "Introduction" and "A Reply to Mr. C.S. Lewis's Argument that 'Naturalism' is Self-Refuting." The Collected Philosophical Papers of G.E.M. Anscombe: Volume Two, The Metaphysics and the Philosophy of Mind. (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press). (1981): vii-x, 224-232. csl-ESSAY

Mitchell, Christopher. "Following the Argument Wherever it Leads: C.S. Lewis and the Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942 to 1954." Inklings Jahrbuch n.Band 17 (Germany) (1999): 172-196.

Mitchell, Christopher W. "University Battles : C.S. Lewis and the Oxford University Socratic Club." C.S. Lewis : Lightbearer in the Shadowlands. ed. Angus J. L. Menuge. (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books). (1997): 329-351.

Dolan, John M. "G.E.M. Anscombe: Living the Truth." First Things (May 2001): 11-14. csl-ARTICLE

Beverley, James A. "Thinking Straighter." Christianity Today (www.christianitytoday.com: (April 2005): 6 pp. csl-ARTICLE

anonymous. "Following the Argument Wherever it Leads: C.S. Lewis and the Oxford University Socratic Club." KIATS (Korea Institute for Advanced Theological Studies) (Seoul, South Korea: (February 16, 2006): 41-55. csl-ARTICLE

Lindsley, Art. "C.S. Lewis on Miracles." Knowing & Doing (Annandale, VA: C.S. Lewis Institute). (Fall 2004): 3-5, 12-13. csl-ARTICLE

Mitchell, Chris. "Making Doctrine Dance." Christian History n.88 (Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today International). (Fall 2005): 23-26. csl-ARTICLE

Habermas, Gary R. "My Pilgrimage from Atheism to Theism." ed. Anthony Flew, interviewee. Philosophia Christi (www.biola.edu/antonyflew) (December 9, 2004): 17pp. csl-ARTICLE

BOOKS:

Stella Aldwinckle. "Christ's Shadow in Plato's Cave: a Meditation on the Substance of Love." Oxford: Amate Press, 1990. 83pp. PR6051.L496 C47 1990 and Stella Aldwinckle Papers, 5

Flew, Antony. There is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changes His Mind. HarperOne, 2007. BL73.F54 T44 2007

Murdoch, Iris. The Sovereignty of Good over Other Concepts: The Leslie Stephen Lecture 1967. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1967. BJ1401 .M8 1967

Stockton, Jim. "Chaplain Stella Aldwinckle: A Biographical Sketch of the Spiritual Foundation of the Oxford University Socratic Club." Inklings Forever: A Collection of Essays Presented at the Fourth Frances White Ewbank Colloquim on C.S. Lewis and Friends, Taylor University, May 31-June 2, 2012. Upland, IN: Taylor University, 2012. PR6023.E926 Z65411 2012

Teichmann, Roger. The Philosophy of Elizabeth Anscombe. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. I-26251

LETTER FRAGMENT

Dorothy L. Sayers to Stella Aldwinckle. undated letter fragment. Dorothy L. Sayers Papers, folder 299/61-62. (reference to the Socratic Club)

MANUSCRIPT

Lewis, C.S. "[Is Theism Important?]: Reply to Professor Price." CSL / MS-104

ORIGINAL PERIODICALS:

Socratic Digest issues 1-5. Oxford University Socratic Club: 1942-1952. Original Periodical Collection, OP-994-998

SOUND RECORDINGS:

CSL-Y / SR-273 Mitchell, Chris. AN OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY OF 13 YEARS OF PUBLIC DEBATE. C.S. Lewis Weekend Seminar with Dr. Chris Mitchell. Rivermont Presbyterian Church, February 22, 2003

CSL-Y / SR-274 Mitchell, Chris. A CLOSER LOOK AT SPECIFIC DEBATES AND RECURRING THEMES. C.S. Lewis Weekend Seminar with Dr. Chris Mitchell. Rivermont Presbyterian Church, February 22, 2003

CSL-Y / SR-276 Aldwinckle, Stella. MEMORIES OF THE SOCRATIC CLUB. Oxford C.S. Lewis Society Lectures, The Oxford C.S. Lewis Society. January 24, 1984

OH / SR-1 Aldwinckle, Stella. INTERVIEW WITH STELLA ALDWINCKLE. Wade Center Oral History Project, Lyle Dorsett. The Marion E. Wade Center, July 26, 1985

Other materials in the Wade Center holdings may relate to the topics in this archive. See the archivist for further research assistance.

Separated Materials

Stored in Box 10 (See listing under Series 3: Books):

de Bono, Edward. THE FIVE DAY COURSE IN THINKING. Penguin, 1969.

HOLY BIBLE. KJV. Oxford University Press. [cir. 1900-1919?] (Dated March 23, 1922. Stella’s personal Bible, with annotations. It originally contained pressed leaves and flowers.)

Körner, S. KANT. Pelican Books, 1960. (Dated July 1961 by Stella; heavily annotated.) 9pp. of photocopied inserts.

Folder 476 Photocopied inserts from Stella’s Bible. The original inserts have been left in the volume. 1939, 9pp.

Folder 477 Photocopied inserts from KANT volume. The original inserts have been left in the volume. 1966-1974, 10pp.

Other Descriptive Information

There is an acquisition file for this collection. Contains original CSL and DLS letters, which have been photocopied and placed in their respective letter collections. Includes photographs and artwork.

Processing Information

Processed by Laura Schmidt

Title
Stella Aldwinckle Papers
Author
Laura Schmidt
Date
03/27/2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Marion E. Wade Center Repository

Contact:
Wheaton College
501 College Ave.
Wheaton IL 60187-5593 US
630-752-5908