Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1982

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Helen Merrell Lynd (March 17, 1896 – January 30, 1982) was an American sociologist, social philosopher, educator, and author. She is best known for conducting the first Middletown studies of Muncie, Indiana, with her husband, Robert Staughton Lynd; as the coauthor of Middletown: A Study in Contemporary American Culture (1929) and Middletown in Transition: A Study in Cultural Conflicts (1937); and a pioneer in the use of social surveys. She was also the author of England in the 1880s: Toward a Social Basis for Freedom (1945), Shame and the Search for Identity (1958), and essays on academic freedom. In addition to writing and research, Lynd was a lecturer at Vassar College, and a professor at Sarah Lawrence College from 1929 to 1964.

Helen Merrell was born in La Grange, Illinois, on March 17, 1896. Merrill studied philosophy at Wellesley College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1919. She began teaching at a New York City boarding school, but left the position after two years to begin graduate studies at Columbia University. Merrell earned a master's degree from Columbia University in the History of Ideas in 1922 and a Ph.D. degree in history and philosophy from Columbia in 1944.

Helen Merrell met Robert Staughton Lynd while hiking Mount Washington in New Hampshire. They married in 1921. Robert Lynd died on November 1, 1970.

The Lynds had two children, a son, Staughton Lynd, who became a historian and social activist, and a daughter, Andrea Merrell (Lynd) Nold.

Helen Merrell began her career as an educator in New York City, but after her marriage to Robert Lynd and earning a master's degree from Columbia University, she became a sociologist, author, and college professor.

Helen Lynd died on January 30, 1982, in Warren, Ohio, at the age of eighty-five.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Doyle, Charlotte. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : creative inquiry in arts and science. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1892. The reminiscences of Helen Lynd : [oral history] / Helen Lynd. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Lerner, Max, 1902-2001. Max Lerner papers, 1927-1992 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Vol. XXIV (ff. 309). 1919-1942.includes:f. 1 Arthur M. Lawrence, of Holland Park: Letter to J. Burns: 1919. f. 2 William E. Hincks, Secretary, Leicester Charity Organisation: Letter to J. Burns: 1919.: Typewritten. Signed. f. 3 James Douglas, Editor,..., 1919-1942 British Library
creatorOf Harold Taylor (1914-1993) Papers Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
creatorOf Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1982. Reminiscences of Helen Merrell Lynd : oral history, 1973. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Josephson, Paul R. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : the politics of space. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Scott Millross Buchanan papers, 1911-1972. Houghton Library
referencedIn M. 1 ALS, 1970 [Sept. 21], [n.p.] to Helen Merrell Lynd. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Erich Fromm papers, 1929-1949, 1932-1949 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Kittay, Eva Feder. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : dependency and responsibility. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Bunting, Mary Ingraham, 1910-. 2 TLS, 1964 Feb. 20 and 1967 May 3, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Mass. to Muriel Rukeyser. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1892. The reminiscences of Helen Lynd : [oral history] / Helen Lynd. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Bendix, Reinhard. Reinhard Bendix papers, 1929-1998. University at Albany, University Libraries
referencedIn Dejarlais, Robert. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : institutions and identity. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
creatorOf Ilchman, Alice Stone. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : the tradition of the new IV. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Raymond, Elfie S. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : reimagining the Americas : contemporary scholarship and cultural diversity. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Harding, M. Esther (Mary Esther), 1888-1971. 1 TLS, 1966 Nov. 22, 88 Morningside Drive, New York City to Muriel Rukeyser. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1982. An inquiry into the influence of religious and ethical standards of mediaeval craft guilds. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Robert Staughton Lynd papers, 1933-1945, [Bulk Dates: 1933-1935]. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn John Keats collection of papers, 1816-1948, 1816-1924 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
creatorOf Brock, Lina Lee. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : concepts of the person and the self. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
creatorOf Miller, Jean Baker. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : the tradition of the new. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Muriel Rukeyser Papers, 1844-1986, (bulk 1930-1979) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1982. Notes from the diaries and letters of Käthe Kollwitz, 1910 - Dec. 1915. Holograph, unsigned, [n.d.]. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1982. Reminiscences of Helen Merrell Lynd : oral history, 1974. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Keats, John, 1795-1821. John Keats collection of papers, 1816-1948 bulk (1816-1924). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Robert Staughton Lynd and Helen Merrell Lynd Papers, 1895-1968, (bulk 1922-1968) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Max Lerner papers, 1927-1998 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Betty. 1 ALS, [1966] Oct. 14, R.F.D. Cornwall Bridge, Conn. to Muriel Rukeyser. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf [Sarah Lawrence College memorial observances : Helen Lynd] [sound recording]. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Cogan, Edward J. (Edward Jack), 1925-. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : Sarah Lawrence Education : a vanishing difference?. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
referencedIn Lewis, Bernard. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : Muslims, Jews, Christians : roots of in-tolerance. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
creatorOf Papers, 1904-1980, 1919-1980 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Lynd, Staughton. 1 ANS, [n.d.], 26 Court St., New Haven, Conn. to Helen Merrell Lynd. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Muriel Rukeyser collection of papers, 1920-1976, 1931-1976 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
creatorOf Fromm, Erich, 1900-1980. Erich Fromm papers, 1929-1949, bulk (1932-1949). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Davis, Michael, 1947-. The Helen Merrell Lynd colloquium [sound recording] : traditions of the new III : the possibilities of friendship. Sarah Lawrence College, Esther Raushenbush Library
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Relation Name
associatedWith Bendix, Reinhard. person
associatedWith Betty. person
correspondedWith Brinton, Crane, 1898-1968 person
correspondedWith Buchanan, Scott Millross, 1895-1968 person
associatedWith Bunting, Mary Ingraham, 1910- person
associatedWith Case, Mary. person
associatedWith Columbia University. corporateBody
associatedWith Columbia University. Oral History Research Office. corporateBody
correspondedWith Diamond, Sigmund person
correspondedWith Erikson, Erik H. (Erik Homburger), 1902-1994 person
associatedWith Fromm, Erich, 1900-1980. person
associatedWith Gellhorn, Kitty, person
associatedWith Harding, M. Esther (Mary Esther), 1888-1971. person
associatedWith Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831. person
associatedWith Jennings, Elizabeth, 1926- person
associatedWith Keats, John, 1795-1821. person
associatedWith Kollwitz, Käthe, 1867-1945. person
associatedWith Lerner, Max, 1902- person
associatedWith Lerner, Max, 1902-2001. person
associatedWith Lynd, Robert Staughton, 1892-1970. person
associatedWith Lynd, Staughton. person
associatedWith Lynn family. family
associatedWith M. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
correspondedWith Merton, Robert King, 1910-2003 person
correspondedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
associatedWith Nold, Andrea, 1920- person
correspondedWith Riesman, David, 1909-2002 person
associatedWith Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980. person
associatedWith Sarah Lawrence College corporateBody
associatedWith Social Science Research Council (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Stock, Elfie. person
associatedWith Stock, Elfie Karner, person
associatedWith Taylor, Harold, 1914-1993. person
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Birth 1896

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Birth 1896-03-17

Death 1982-01-30

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