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New Collection of Women Philosophers’ Letters Sheds Light on Twentieth-Century Thought

25 June 2026
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Book Cover for Letters of English Women Philosophers 1902 - 1951

Major new collection of archival letters by early twentieth century women philosophers published this week, edited by our own Prof. Emily Thomas

 

A major new collection of archival letters by early twentieth-century women philosophers has been published this week, edited by the Department’s own Professor Emily Thomas.


The volume brings together 223 letters written by historical women philosophers, offering a rare and invaluable insight into their intellectual lives. Remarkably, almost all of these letters are being published for the first time, opening up a wealth of previously inaccessible material to scholars and readers alike.

 

The collection provides important context for the published work of these thinkers, illuminating how ideas developed, evolved, and circulated within scholarly communities. Through personal correspondence, the letters reveal the collaborative nature of philosophical inquiry and offer a deeper understanding of the development of Anglophone philosophy during the twentieth century.

 

In addition to enriching the historical record, the volume highlights the contributions of women philosophers who have often been overlooked in traditional accounts of the discipline. By foregrounding their voices, the collection helps to reshape our understanding of philosophical history and the networks that supported and sustained it.

 

The letters also offer a rich foundation for future research, particularly in exploring women’s intellectual networks and the relationships that shaped their work. Scholars across philosophy and related disciplines are expected to benefit from this significant new resource.

 

This publication marks an important milestone in ongoing efforts to broaden the philosophical canon and ensure that the contributions of women thinkers are recognised and studied in greater depth.

 

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