Rudolph Schaeffer papers, 1880s-1997

Writings by Rudolph Schaeffer include manuscripts for published and unpublished articles and drafts, notes, and manuscripts of several unpublished books including Collected Lectures of Rudolph Schaeffer on Color and Design, Color and Design, Prismatic Color Theory, and Rhythmo-Chromatics, all undated. Diaries include a volume recording Schaeffer's 1936 trip to Japan. 42 volumes of journals, compiled between 1954 and 1987 become progressively more introspective and focused on the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design. They contain entries on a wide range of subjects including lists of errands, invitation lists, class notes, drafts of letters, notes including staff assignments and staff meetings, autobiographical notes and reminiscences, and musings on religion and philosophy. Also extant are notes and texts for lectures and talks given at the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design and many other venues, as well as notes on philosophy, color, and miscellaneous topics.

Writings by other authors are about Rudolph Schaeffer and his school. Included are reminiscences of former students, student essays, transcripts of oral history interviews conducted with Schaeffer, and Doris A. McMillan's notes of classes attended at the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design between 1923 and 1946.