Anscombe Papers Project
Elizabeth Anscombe was one of the leading philosophers of the 20th century, and arguably the foremost female philosopher in recorded history. Her writing touched on most areas of philosophical importance; she is best known for her seminal work in action theory and virtue ethics.
The Anscombe Papers Project promotes the legacy of Elizabeth Anscombe, an eminent analytic philosopher and Catholic intellectual, through scholarly and programmatic engagement with her archive, a newly acquired treasure trove of over 600 items that deepen our understanding of her work.
About the Anscombe Archive
The Anscombe Archive consists of over six hundred catalogued items (including unpublished manuscripts in various stages of revision, philosophical offprints with substantial marginalia, personal correspondence with major philosophical figures, and journals) in twenty-one archival boxes. It is a treasure trove of information for scholars seeking to deepen their understanding of Anscombe and her contributions to many different areas of philosophy.
To find out more about the items in the collection or to visit click below:
Anscombe Unboxed: On Natural Theology
The Anscombe Reading Group is an opportunity for scholars, students, and interested readers of Anscombe to come together virtually three times during the Fall and three times during the Spring to discuss Anscombe's philosophy.
This Fall's instantiation of the Anscombe Reading Group continues last year’s dive into the philosophical treasure trove that is the Collegium Institute Anscombe Archive, with a special focus on the subject of natural theology.
Searchable Database of Anscombe’s Work
In 2020, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the Collegium Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture a sizable grant to digitize the Anscombe Archive and to create a searchable database of Elizabeth Anscombe's published works. Thanks to the hard work of Mike Zahorec, Collegium staff members, and using our bibliography of Anscombe's published works compiled by Peter Wicks, this database is nearly complete, with all remaining works to be uploaded before the end of the year. To use the searchable database of Elizabeth Anscombe's published works, click below:
G.E.M. Anscombe Bibliography: Primary and Secondary Sources
Click below to access a bibliography of works by and about Elizabeth Anscombe, compiled by Peter Wicks. The list of secondary sources includes books, articles, reviews, and dissertations written about Anscombe’s work. It is a work in progress and will continue to expand over time.
In the News…
July 19, 2019 Even for those not well-versed in the nuance of moral philosophy, the weathered notebooks and letters of philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe have a certain pull. Like the pages, yellowed with time, that hold taped postcards surrounded by Anscombe’s handwritten responses. Or the frayed, typed letters that evoke the click-clack-ding of a typewriter’s fluidity….
Click to continue reading the feature article on Penn Today:
Anscombe Lectures at Penn
The Annual Anscombe Lecture in Ethics commemorates Elizabeth Anscombe (1919 – 2001), former visiting Penn Professor and one of the most influential woman philosophers and Catholic intellectuals of the modern era.
Click to learn about past Annual Anscombe Lectures:
Philosophy by Postcard Partnership
Philosophy by Postcard was inspired by Professors Rachael Wiseman and Clare MacCumhaill’s (of In Parenthesis) experience in the Collegium Institute Anscombe Archive at the University of Pennsylvania. From that emerged an exciting, international #slowphilosophy movement.
To find out more about this, including a look at Collegium’s special artist commission and postcard workshops, click below: