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Theo Blackwell

Wed 18 Apr 2018 17.30 BST

My mother, Constance Blackwell, an intellectual historian who has died aged 83, played a key role in fostering deeper understanding of the development of 16th- and 17th-century science and philosophy in Europe.

As the founder, in 1994, of the International Society for Intellectual History(ISIH), she supported several national and international conferences and saw their proceedings through to publication. According to Constance, innovation in early modern central European philosophy arose from multidisciplinary commentaries on Aristotelian works covering physics, metaphysics, logic, rhetoric and ethics.

She was born in Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Samuel Taylor, a surgeon, and Jane (nee Willet), heiress to her family’s steel and trucking business. Constance developed an appetite for literature while bedridden after a childhood bout of polio. A graduate of Smith College, Massachusetts – where she was a contemporary and friend of the poet Sylvia Plath – and then Columbia University, New York, she soon became active in New York civic politics through the Women’s City Club, promoting school reform and civil rights causes.

After marriage to William Blackwell, a scholar of Russian history, and their divorce in the 1970s, Constance moved to London to pursue academic research. There she also worked with Lesley Abdela to form the 300 Group campaigning for equal representation of women in parliament. This included researching the long-hours culture in the House of Commons which could block the advancement of women – reported in 1982 in the Guardian under the headline A Female Eye on the Time and Motions of Rt Hon Gentlemen – and a comparison with practices with other European parliaments.

For many years until his death in 1986, Constance lived with Charles Schmitt, historian of philosophy and science at the Warburg Institute. She continued his work of bringing together scholars of philosophy when in 1994 she set up the foundation that became the ISIH, which publishes the journal Intellectual Historical Review.

Her independence from any specific academic institution led Constance to form around her a truly international “republic of letters”, with colleagues not only in the UK and the US, but also in Italy and the Netherlands, Russia and Latin America. She loved introducing scholars to one another when she saw common research interests, and she was invariably encouraging to promising young scholars.

Constance is survived by three children, Anne, Leslie and me, from her marriage, and also supported Charles’s children, John, Leo and Elizabeth, after his death. She will be remembered for her strong sense of personal agency, an inquiring mind and a belief in the arts, of which she was a keen sponsor.

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Sergey ZenkinResearch Professor at Российский государственный гуманитарный университет

Former Редактор отдела теории at Новое литературное обозрение

Studied Letteratura at Московский Государственный Университет имени Ломоносова

Went to Вторая физико-математическая школа, г. Москва

Lives in Moscow, Russia

From Moscow, Russia
Вчера, пока я через всю Европу возвращался домой в Москву, в Англии умерла пожилая женщина, которая была моим лучшим другом в этой стране. Ее звали Constance Blackwell, она была историком. Я недостаточно знаю ее собственные исследования, они слишком далеки по тематике от того, чем занимаюсь я, но я хорошо знал ее работу научного менеджера, "организатора науки". Такие люди бывают в разных странах; у нас их называют дурным, никому толком не понятным словом "энтузиаст", буквально "одержимый божеством", она же была никаким не одержимым, а просто убежденным профессионалом, знавшим, что такое наука, что в ней почем и почему для ее развития не жалко никаких жертв.

Она создала Международное общество интеллектуальной истории, много лет была его моральным лидером, вложила в него, как я догадываюсь, много собственных средств, поддерживала тех его участников, кому, как мне, трудно было платить членские взносы; она верила в интеллектуальный потенциал России, мечтала провести одну из конференций у нас, но хорошо понимала и тягостные беды нашей науки. Раз или два я ездил на конференции общества фактически по ее личным грантам, и она помогала не только деньгами, а всем, чем могла. Как-то раз, гостя в ее лондонском таунхаусе (который она потом была вынуждена продать, разорившись из-за мирового кризиса), я попросил ее наскоро вычитать статью о Жорже Батае, которую я написал по-английски. Она очень ответственно взялась за дело, полдня сидела правила мой несовершенный английский язык и пересылала мне обработанный текст партиями по электронной почте - со второго этажа на первый. Закончив, она удовлетворенно сказала: "ну, теперь я сама немного разобралась в этом Батае"... Вплоть до последних месяцев она откликалась на мои публикации в Фейсбуке, не зная русского языка, - видимо, переводила их с помощью Гугла.
У нас ее, кажется, немного кто знал, и я рассказываю о ней здесь, потому что негде больше сказать о моей благодарности. Я даже не смогу присутствовать на ее похоронах.

Yesterday, while I was coming home to Moscow across Europe, an elderly woman died in England who was my best friend in this country. Her name was Constance Blackwell, she was historian. I knew her work as a science manager, "Organizer of science". 

She created an International Society of Intellectual History, for many years was it's moral leader. She invested in it of her own own funds, supported those of its members, who, as I was, had difficulty affording tbhe dues. She believed in Russia's intellectual potential, dreamed of holding one of our conferences. 

Once or twice, I went to a society conference, in fact, by her personal grants. She was helping not only with money, but with the logistics of getting to the conference.

One time, a guest in her London Townhouse (which she was then forced to sell, due to the stock markey world crisis), I asked her hastily to dpwnload and edit an article on Georget Batae that I wrote in English. She was very responsible for the case, half a day explaining grammar rules to correct my imperfect English language. She ended up giving me the edited text through  e-mail, from her office on the second floor to where I worked on her first floor.  When she was finished, she said, "well, now I've done a little bit of this batae"... until the last few months, she's been posting on my facebook posts without knowing the Russian language, apparently translating them with Google.

We seem to have a few who knew here here in Russia. I am writing about her here because there's nowhere else to say my gratitude. I wouldn't even be able to attend her funeral.From Constance's family: Thank you for your lovely story and for sharing our grief.

Av. Michoacan 13

Cuernavaca

Morelos 62763

MEXICO

djuarezr7@gmail.com

Dear Theodore Blackwell,

Dr. Blackwell helped my wife while she was in the transition from supervisor, since Dr. C. Schmith had a stroke.

By 1994 Dr. Blackwell also helped my wife, she received an invitation to present her research topic in a European Meeting. As a result of this visit, my wife received a grant, with that she financed the academic needs of our family.  During this visit i rang my wife at Dr. Blackwell home while i was looking after my clothes. Dr. Blackwell said to me "Ironing helps the soul"

By 2008, ten years ago i approached directly Dr. Blackwell in an academic visit to United Kingdom.  I was hosted by her. She helped me to understand the English history, sometimes compared with the American history. She also told me the importance of psico-motor relationship while learning.  This method i use while teaching engineering students.  So, the students do some manual-practice actively, while also watching slides -passively.

By 2012 i received a second opportunity to visit UK.  I invited for a week to father and two of my brothers and their wives.  This was an opportunity to visit UK during the Queens Jubilee anniversary.  In addition, were invited to have a meal with Dr. Blackwell. They remember the kind lady who offered a unique experience as a guest in a home in England.

In this visit i used to go during weekends to her home near Abbey-Road, to sort some of her books.  During this time i could ask her about some gaps that i have related with history. Also, I understood the classification of different types of ideas. She even invited me to the Frontline Club where fresh news from the world were spread.

She also, donated my wife two books and she also gave me one commentary about the book of Job, the "Faber Book" of Science, and a book with illustrations about hydraulics. This last one

i presented to the director of the library of the State University of Morelos, as was her wish.

In addition to the intellectual guidance, she also gave us useful tips for well-being. We promote these among our friends and colleagues.

Let her kindness be known.  With a deep gratitude.

I wish you energy, health, and wisdom to pursue, the kind path set by Dr. C. Blackwell.