The papers, 1972-1980, 1985, and undated, consists mainly of handwritten and typed drafts of Prof. Stengren’s translation of Kierkegaard’s Relation to Hegel by Niels Thulstrup (1980). Also included is Professor Stengren’s correspondence concerning this book with Dr. Niels Thulstrup of the Soren Kierkegaarde Selskabet, Copenhagen, Denmark, and the editors at Princeton University Press. Some of Dr. Thulstrup’s correspondence as well as miscellaneous notes and citations are in Danish. Some of the Danish material has been translated into English.
Processing Notes: Duplicate copies of handwritten drafts and several galley proof drafts were withdrawn from the collection during processing.
Biography:
George L. Stengren was born on January 12, 1928. He earned a B.A. and a M.A., both in Philosophy, from St. John’s University, and a Ph.D., also in Philosophy, from Fordham University. Professor Stengren was hired as a professor in the Philosophy Department at Central Michigan University (CMU) on August 15, 1970. He taught a variety of classes at CMU, including (in 1974), Introduction to Philosophy (Phil. 100), Philosophy of Religion (Phil. 219), American Philosophy (Phil. 250), Aquinas (Phil. 497B), and Philosophy of Religion in the films of Ingmar Bergman (Phil. 497C). Beginning in January 1973, he served as Chair of his department. Professor Stengren retired from CMU on August 15, 1997.
Professor Stengren co-wrote Either / or : a one-volume abridgment in a new translation of Soren Kierkegaard’s work, with Sten L. Ross (1986); co-edited Rebirth of learning : the first 12 centuries: an anthology, with William Bryar (1968); and translated Kierkegaard’s Relation to Hegel by Niels Thulstrup, which was published by Princeton University Press in 1980. This book was a published version of Thulstrup’s thesis (1967). A copy of this last book is in the CMU Park Library. Professor Stengren arranged for Dr. Thulstrup to speak as part of the visiting scholar program at CMU in October 1974. At this time, Dr. Thulstrup was also visiting and speaking at Princeton and Drew universities. In May 1978 Professor Stengren visited Copenhagen.
Since 1970, Professor Stengren lived at 1006 McVey in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. He occasionally still visits the CMU Philosophy Department.
Outside of his academic career, Prof. Stengren completed two terms as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Central Michigan Community Hospital in Mount Pleasant in December 1978. (This information is from CMU. Office of the President- Personnel Cards; the local phone book; this collection, the staff at CMU. Faculty Personnel Services Office, and amazon.com.)
