Eliot Freidson Papers
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Abstract
This collection consists of the papers of Eliot Freidson, a professor of sociology at New York University from 1961 to 1993. The material consists of files relating to the books he wrote and the courses he taught.
Biographical Note
Eliot Freidson (pronounced "fried-son") was born in Boston on February 20, 1923, to Joseph and Grace Backer Freidson, both of whom emigrated from Russia as children. He attended the University of Maine for one year in 1941, transferring to the University of Chicago in 1942. He served in the U.S. Army from April 1943 to July 1946 in Europe as a translator of German and intelligence analyst. Freidson earned his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago in 1952. He taught first at the City College of New York before becoming an associate professor at NYU in 1961 and achieving full professorship in 1964. Freidson served as chair of the Department of Sociology from 1975 to 1978. He retired in 1993 and was a professor emeritus at NYU until his death. He served as president of the Eastern Sociological Society from 1985 to 1986. He died on December 14, 2005 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in San Francisco.
Freidson studied the sociology of professions and was most widely recognized for his studies of the medical field. He wrote 12 books and over 100 scholarly articles.
Arrangement
The files are grouped into five series:
- I. Correspondence
- II. Books (book titles as subseries)
- III. Course Materials
- IV. Subject Files
- V. Articles
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of Eliot Freidson's files relating to the books he wrote and published and the courses he taught. Approximately two linear feet of the collection consist of copies of journal articles on topics relating to his research. The "Books" series consists mostly of correspondence with publishers and colleagues who read chapter drafts and offered critiques. The "Course Materials" series consists of syllabi, lecture notes and outlines. Subject files contain speeches, obituaries, and conference materials.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Use Restrictions
This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use materials in the collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); Eliot Freidson Papers; MC 192; box number; folder number; New York University Archives, New York University Libraries.
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Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated by Freidson's wife, Helen Giambruni, in 2006 and 2017.