James Rachels Papers, 1964/2002

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Richmond
Rare Books and Special Collections
Boatwright Library
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lynda Kachurek
Phone: (804) 289-8458
Fax: (804) 287-1840
Terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Usage of material in Box 1 File 28 is restricted and cannot be used outside of the context provided by the family. Please refer to the note found in the file for further information.

Any quotation, citation, paraphrasing, or other use of this article is restricted by the family. It may only be used under the intent with which it was written, as explained by the family, and not as a portrayal of James Rachels' views or opinions.

Preferred citation:

[Box Number, Folder Number], MS-12, James Rachels Papers, Book Arts, Archives, & Rare Books, Boatwright Memorial Library, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1 Linear Feet
Creator:
Rachels, James Webster, Jr., 1941-2003
Language:
The collection is predominantly in English with translated works in Italian and French.
Preferred citation:

[Box Number, Folder Number], MS-12, James Rachels Papers, Book Arts, Archives, & Rare Books, Boatwright Memorial Library, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection documents the professional life of James Rachels. Rachels wrote and edited a vast amount of books and articles during his career, which is reflected in this collection.

James Rachels (1941-2003) was an influential American philosopher and ethicist best known for his works on medical ethics and animal rights. The James Rachels Papers contains materials documenting his professional life. It includes correspondence, manuscripts, and collected reviews of his most notable books.

Series 1: Correspondence contains material from 1971 to 1997. It consists largely of correspondence from other scholars to Rachels regarding manuscripts and mutual research subjects such as euthanasia and animal rights. There is a significant amount of correspondence from numerous scholars regarding Rachels' 1975 article "Active and Passive Euthanasia." A large amount of correspondence from book and journal editors regarding the publishing of Rachels' work is also present. A smaller amount of correspondence exists regarding translations of his works. This series also contains manuscripts sent to Rachels for review from other scholars.

Series 2: Manuscripts contains material from 1962 to 2002, although a large amount is undated. Manuscripts include scholarly articles, book chapters, school papers, book reviews by Rachels, and unpublished works on a variety of subjects. Many manuscripts reflect the editing and publishing process with corrections and print proofs present. Some handwritten research notes made by Rachels are also found within this series. Multiple topics are covered, including animal rights, euthanasia, the death penalty, religion, and morality. This series also contains some correspondence generally regarding the editing and publishing of manuscripts as well as related research. Translations of Rachels' work are also included in this series.

Series 3: Book Reviews contains reviews of his books from both scholarly and popular sources published between 1986 and 1993 with some undated.

Biographical / historical:

James Webster Rachels, Jr. (1941-2003) was an influential American philosopher best known for his works on medical ethics (particularly euthanasia) as well as animal rights. He was born on May 30, 1941, in Columbus, Georgia where he also grew up. Rachels received a bachelor's degree from Mercer University in 1962 and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1967.

After receiving his Ph.D., Rachels taught at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia from 1966 until 1968. He subsequently taught at New York University (1968-1972), the University of Miami (1972-1977), and Duke University (1975) before coming to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he taught from 1977 until his death in 2003. At the University of Alabama, Rachels served as the Chair of the Department of Philosophy from 1977-1979, Dean of the School of Humanities from 1978-1983, and acting Academic Vice President in 1983.

In 1971, he edited his first book, Moral Problems: A Collection of Philosophical Essays, which had great success as a college philosophy textbook. He wrote a second textbook, The Elements of Moral Philosophy, in 1986. In its sixth edition (2010), The Elements of Moral Philosophy continues to be widely used as a college philosophy textbook.

Rachels' highly influential article, "Active and Passive Euthanasia," was published in 1975 in the New England Journal of Medicine. This work solidified his role as an important medical ethicist in the debate concerning euthanasia. His second book, The End of Life: Euthanasia and Morality, was published in 1986. It was widely reviewed and debated in both popular newspapers and scholarly journals. Rachels' third book, Created From Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism, on animal rights (particularly concerning the use of animals in experiments) was published in 1990 with similar widespread recognition.

Just before his death, Rachels held the National Endowment for the Humanities' Distinguished Visiting Professorship from 2001-2002 at the University of Richmond.

Rachels died September 5, 2003 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Acquisition information:
The James Rachels Papers were donated to the University of Richmond by James Rachels's son, David Rachels, in July 2013.
Processing information:

File description titles reflect their original labels. Dated documents have been arranged chronologically while original order has been retained for undated correspondence and manuscripts. Additions accrued in 2024 were added to the collection during Summer 2025.

Processed by Erica L. Johnson, an intern, in September 2013; additions processed by Lynda Kachurek, Summer 2025.

Arrangement:

The papers are arranged in four series:

  • Series 1: Correspondence
  • Series 2: Manuscripts
  • Series 3: Book Reviews
  • Series 4: Personal
Within each series, files have been arranged alphabetically by personal name, subject, or title. Items within files have been arranged chronologically while undated items have been kept in their original order.

Accruals:

David Rachels sent a set of small additions to the collection in May 2024.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard