The digitization of this finding aid was made possible - in part or entirely - through the Canadian Culture Online Program of Canadian Heritage, the National Archives of Canada and the Canadian Council of Archives.
| Fonds/Collection Number: | F0308 |
| Title: | Otto Friedman fonds |
| Dates: | 1936-1978 |
| Extent: | 5.0 m of textual records 4 posters : col. ; 60 x 76 cm or smaller |
| Biographical Sketch/ Administrative History: | Otto Friedman (1905-1978), born and educated in Prague, emigrated to England in the 1930s where he served the Czechoslovak government-in-exile during the German occupation of his native country. He taught in English universities (London, Oxford, Reading) following graduation from the London School of Economics in 1947 and he worked as a management consultant in London prior to moving to Canada in 1968. In Canada he taught at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Waterloo and the University of Toronto, 1968-1971. In the latter year he joined the faculty of York University as a visiting professor in the Division of Social Science and the Faculty of Environmental Studies where he remained until his death in 1978. Friedman was the author of several books, articles, and lectures in the fields of sociology, organizational theory and practise, and psychology, and produced Czech translations of several works of Freud. His own titles included 'The dangers of fascism,' (1931), 'The break-up of Czech democracy,' (1950, 1971), as well as lectures on 'Productivity in retailing and staff management,' (1956), 'Management ideologies and organizational change,' (1967) and others. In addition he was an avid chess player and contributed newspaper articles, and television and radio programmes on the game while living in Toronto. |
| Scope and Content: |
The fonds consists of correspondence, notes and notebooks, index cards as well as a large volume of photocopied articles used by Otto Friedman in his teaching, research and writing activity. These include notes taken during his own education in England. In addition, there are typed lecture notes for courses he taught at York, as well as typescripts of articles and lectures by Friedman, and a typescript draft of his 'Masaryk's social philosophy and critique of Marxism,'. There are also course reading lists, some student materials (class lists, including some with student grades, student essays, and correspondence) and some correspondence and printed materials relating to York University, including calendars and handbooks. There is some material dating from Friedman's time as a management consultant in London, England, including studies of management styles in British firms. The posters are reproductions of paintings by masters (Picasso, Utrillo, etc.), that appear to have hung in his office. |
| Custodial History: | Material was presented to the York University Archives by Professor Harry Girling, Department of English, York University in 1978 and 1979. |
| Restrictions on Access and Use: | Some access restrictions apply. Consult the University Archives for details. Written permission to view these closed files must be obtained from the President of the University, or authorized delegate, and be directed to the Archivist, York University. |
| Finding Aid: | File list available. |
| URL of Finding Aid: | http://archivesfa.library.yorku.ca/fonds/ON00370-f0000308.pdf |
| Accruals: | The fonds comprises the following accession: 1978-008. Further accruals are expected. |
| Provenance Access Points: | Friedman, Otto, 1905-1978 |
|
Date of creation: 2002/04/04 Date of last revision: 2003/04/29 |
|