XDear reader, this article is free to read and will remain so, but its production isn't free. If you'd like to support our work of publishing high-quality content, please donate a coffee to Ondetexts and help us continue operating without ads or paywalls. Thank you!
Donate a coffee ☕❤️

Lewis Mumford

Lewis Mumford[1†]

Lewis Mumford (1895–1990) was an influential American historian, sociologist, and philosopher of technology. Renowned for his studies of cities and urban architecture, Mumford also made substantial contributions to social philosophy, American literary history, and the history of technology. His early work in literary criticism, notably in The Golden Day (1926), advocated for a mid-19th-century American literary canon and examined how antebellum American culture was transformed by the Civil War and industrialization[1†].

Early Years and Education

Lewis Mumford was born on October 19, 1895, in Flushing, Queens, New York[1†]. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1912[1†]. Mumford studied at the City College of New York and The New School for Social Research[1†][2†][1†][3†]. However, his academic journey was interrupted by illness. He contracted tuberculosis and was unable to complete his degree[1†].

While a student, Mumford was deeply influenced by the writings of Patrick Geddes, a pioneer of modern urban planning[1†][2†][3†]. This early exposure to Geddes’ work would significantly shape Mumford’s future intellectual pursuits and career trajectory.

In 1918, during World War I, Mumford joined the Navy and served as a radio electrician[1†]. After his discharge in 1919, he began his career in writing and criticism. He became an associate editor of The Dial, an influential modernist literary journal[1†]. His early writings, both in periodicals and books, established him as an authority on American architecture, art, and urban life, interpreted within their larger social context[1†][2†].

Career Development and Achievements

Lewis Mumford’s career was marked by his extensive contributions to the fields of urban planning, architecture, and literary criticism[2†][1†]. After his service in the Navy during World War I and his recovery from tuberculosis, Mumford began his writing career as an associate editor of The Dial, a modernist literary journal[2†][1†]. He later wrote architectural criticism and urban commentary for The New Yorker magazine from 1931 to 1963[2†][1†].

Mumford’s early writings established him as an authority on American architecture, art, and urban life, interpreted within their larger social context[2†][1†]. His book “Sticks and Stones” (1924) is an insightful historical account of American architecture[2†]. “The Golden Day” (1926; reprinted 1934, 1957) and “The Brown Decades: A Study of the Arts in America, 1865–1895” (1931) are more general studies of the origins and development of American culture[2†].

Mumford’s “Renewal of Life” series, which includes “Technics and Civilization” (1934), “The Culture of Cities” (1938), “The Condition of Man” (1944), and “The Conduct of Life” (1951), criticizes the dehumanizing tendencies of modern technological society and urges that it be brought into harmony with humanistic goals and aspirations[2†].

One of Mumford’s key works is “The City in History” (1961), a sweeping historical study of the city’s role in human civilization[2†]. In this work, he analyzed the effects of technology and urbanization on human societies throughout history[2†].

Mumford taught and held numerous research positions[2†][4†]. He received several distinguished honors, including the U.S. Medal of Freedom (1964) and was decorated Knight of the Order of the British Empire (1943)[2†][4†].

Among Mumford’s late works is “The Myth of the Machine”, 2 vol. (1967–70), a harshly critical historical reassessment of technology’s role in human development[2†].

First Publication of His Main Works

Lewis Mumford was a prolific writer, and his works have had a significant impact on various fields, including architecture, urban planning, and the history of technology[1†]. Here are some of his main works, along with additional information about each of them:

• Technics and Civilization (1934): This is the first book in Mumford’s “Renewal of Life” series. In this work, Mumford explores the role of technology in shaping human civilization[1†][2†].
• The Culture of Cities (1938): The second book in the “Renewal of Life” series, it focuses on the impact of urbanization on human societies[1†][2†].
• The Condition of Man (1944): This is the third book in the series. Mumford delves into the human condition in the context of a rapidly changing world[1†][2†].
• The Conduct of Life (1951): The final book in the “Renewal of Life” series, it discusses human aspirations and how they can be harmonized with societal needs[1†][2†].
• The City in History (1961): This is one of Mumford’s key works. It is a comprehensive historical study of the role of cities in human civilization[1†][2†].
• The Myth of the Machine (2 volumes, 1967-70): In this critical historical reassessment, Mumford examines the role of technology in human development[1†][2†].
• The Story of Utopias (1922): This is an early work by Mumford where he discusses the concept of utopias and their role in society[1†][5†].
• Sticks and Stones (1924): This is an insightful historical account of American architecture[1†][2†].
• The Golden Day (1926): In this work, Mumford argues for a mid-19th-century American literary canon[1†].
• The Brown Decades: A Study of the Arts in America, 1865–1895 (1931): This book is a general study of the origins and development of American culture[1†][2†].

Each of these works reflects Mumford’s deep understanding of the interplay between technology, urbanization, and human societies. His writings continue to influence contemporary thought in these areas[1†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Lewis Mumford’s work has had a profound impact on various fields, including architecture, urban planning, and the history of technology[2†]. His writings have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of cities and their role in human civilization[2†][6†][2†].

Mumford’s critique of modern cities and his vision for how people might design and occupy urban spaces more sustainably have been particularly influential[2†][6†]. His ideas were rooted in an incipient notion of biotechnics and “livability,” a concept he derived from his mentor, Patrick Geddes[2†][1†]. This perspective led him to see the city not just as a site of erasure and hubristic “renewal” but also as a landscape full of what he called “remnants” and "persistents"[2†][6†].

In his writings, especially those from the 1930s, Mumford is seen as an early exemplar of green urbanism[2†][6†]. He argued that the path toward ecological “balance” led directly through the city, not out of it[2†][6†]. This perspective challenges the assumption that modernity has been environmentally disastrous[2†][6†].

Mumford’s work captured the struggles of a society trying to come to grips with new spatial patterns and sensory experiences while also clinging to old ecologies of work and dwell[2†][6†]. His critical historical reassessment of technology’s role in human development, as seen in “The Myth of the Machine,” is a harsh critique of the dehumanizing tendencies of modern technological society[2†].

Despite his criticisms, Mumford was not entirely pessimistic about the modern world. He believed that modern society could be brought into harmony with humanistic goals and aspirations[2†]. His work reflects a deep understanding of the interplay between technology, urbanization, and human societies, and his writings continue to influence contemporary thought in these areas[2†][6†][2†].

Personal Life

Lewis Mumford was born in Flushing, Queens, New York, on October 19, 1895[1†][2†]. He lived much of his life in New York[1†][7†]. His personal life was marked by his service in the Navy during World War I, where he served as a radio electrician[1†]. He was discharged in 1919[1†].

Mumford was a close friend of the psychologist Henry Murray, with whom he corresponded extensively from 1928 until the 1960s on topics including Herman Melville, psychology, American values and culture, and the nature of the self[1†].

He passed away on January 26, 1990, in Amenia, New York[1†][2†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Lewis Mumford’s work has had a profound impact on a wide range of fields, from urban planning and architecture to sociology and technology[2†][1†]. His critical analysis of the effects of technology and urbanization on human societies throughout history has influenced generations of thinkers and practitioners[2†][1†].

Mumford’s vision of cities organized around the nature of human bodies, and his critique of the city, are rooted in an incipient notion of biotechnics[2†][1†]. His work has helped shape our understanding of the relationship between technology, society, and the built environment[2†][1†].

In addition to his scholarly work, Mumford was also a lifelong humanitarian and advocate. He believed in speaking out against social injustices[2†][4†]. His writings urged the United States to pledge its help to other democracies in repelling attacks by totalitarian powers[2†][4†].

Mumford’s legacy continues to influence contemporary thought in urban planning, architecture, and technology. His work remains relevant as we continue to grapple with the challenges and opportunities presented by urbanization and technological advancement[2†][1†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Unknown
• Born: October 19, 1895, Flushing, New York, U.S[1†]
• Died: January 26, 1990, Amenia, New York, U.S[1†]
• Nationality: American[1†]
• Occupation: Historian, writer[1†]
• Notable Works: “The City in History”, “Technics and Civilization”, "The Myth of the Machine"[1†]
• Notable Achievements: Mumford was a significant figure in the study of cities and urban architecture. He made substantial contributions to social philosophy, American literary and cultural history, and the history of technology[1†]. He was awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom in 1964[1†][2†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Lewis Mumford [website] - link
2. Britannica - Lewis Mumford: American architectural critic [website] - link
3. Britannica Kids - Lewis Mumford [website] - link
4. University at Albany - About Lewis Mumford [website] - link
5. Google Books - The Story of Utopias - Lewis Mumford [website] - link
6. JSTOR - Lewis Mumford's Urbanism and the Problem of Environmental Modernity [website] - link
7. Harvard Square Library - Lewis Mumford [website] - link