Talk:Scudder Klyce

Reality
Is this guy real, or an urban legend? If he existed, where could I find a scan or copy of his book? 24.105.133.77 (talk) 22:08, 5 December 2009 (UTC)


 * I did some background research a few years ago. He's very obscure, but you can find his book through a simple internet search and order it online. I ought to order my own soon. --Cast (talk) 06:02, 19 December 2009 (UTC)

Scudder Klyce seems to me to have been an eccentric crank and dilletante who engaged in mostly one-sided correspondence with a number of scientists and philosophers who evidently humored him. I suspect many of them regarded his letters as fan mail. He is interesting, raises some valid points and is worthy of an article in Wikipedia, but as written I think the article takes Klyce at his own highly inflated self-valuation. I have not seen Universe and am judging him on the basis of Sins of Science, but if there is any secret in his work, and if he had solved the riddle of the universe, he doesn't seem to have benefited from possessing that master key to all knowledge as much as one would hope. (I am reminded of one critic's laconic comment on Henry James Sr.'s book The Secret of Swedenborg: "He kept the secret well.") Just my opinion though.-- Fafhrdrn1154 (talk) 18:21, 13 October 2010 (UTC)

I'm working on the Frederick Winslow Taylor papers at Stevens Institute, and I've been transcribing some of his letters, which visually show the mania that appeared to drive him--pages and pages of closely spaced writing, often running at a slant on the page. I don't know that I would describe him as a crank and dilettante. I would say he was monomaniacal and definitely suffered mental illness, probably schizophrenia. As the previous post states, many of the people to whom he wrote would answer his letters, no matter how long and rambling they were. I'm surprised at the amount of attention Taylor paid to him. Perhaps it was the flattery in Klyce's letters. All the same, I'm glad I never had to attend a committee meeting with him, because he clearly liked the sound of his own voice. Look for his correspondence with Taylor to appear online later this year or early 2011.--Ssmith2stevens (talk) 16:48, 5 November 2010 (UTC)

I originally found out about Klyce through the Anarky comic referenced in the page. My interest was piqued and so I decided to "google" him to almost no avail aside from a german wikipedia article. I decided to initially use google translate and make an English page for it. I only found one place to find the book which was through the Sacred Science Institute (www.sacredscience.com). What I received from them when I bought it was a nice large material hardcover book, however the writing itself was scans of the book (like a .pdf, but smaller). I was a little disappointed for the price I payed for out, but due to the obscurity of the work I made do. Klyce is indeed real and when Alan Grant was into anarchism at the time, he drew a lot of influence from Klyce. This inspired him to reference him through a number of his comics. I can only think of 2 for sure, but I believe there are more.-- wrathatred 22:04, 26 Nov 2010 —Preceding unsigned comment added by Wrathatred (talk • contribs)

Comment
I am Stephen W Klyce, a somewhat distant relative of this man. I had the fortune to see his very large volume entitled "Universe" at Indiana University's Jordan library in 1968. One of Scudder's colleagues, David Starr Jordan, is an early President of Indiana University, thus the derivation of the library's name.

In studying Klyce geneaology, I came across the first son given above, Stephen D. for Downing, Klyce. I believe he lived most of his life in Winchester, Mass, where Scudder lived a long time. The widow of that Stephen Klyce was a German lady who lived in central FL as I recall, in the 1980's. Of greater interest is Stephen's son of the same name Dr. (Opthamalogist) Stephen Downing, who is well known for his research writings on the eye with at least one article in the Journal of Cell Biology which I viewed myself. On Sept. 18, 2011, I came across this Dr. Klyce's lengthy interview as he assumed command of the New Orleans Yacht Club, a publication available on-line of 2002. He assumed the rank of Commodore Klyce in this role. I believe he works at Tulane University or another University in New Orleans, and lives there or at Pass Christian, LA. The Klyce family and name deserves considerable recognition for its accomplishments and contributions to American culture and life. -- Stephen Winniford Klyce, Dagsboro DE

Well, hello, SWK, this is Stephen D. Klyce, Jr, grandson of the late Scudder. Thanks for your comments and interest in the family. Scudder was indeed an unusual philosopher/engineer/scientist and naval officer. In our extended family he now has a great, great grandson named Scudder to whom I will be giving my collection of memorabilia. Included is the first edition of Einstein's Theory of Relativity, heavily notated in pencil by my Grand Father. I think our Klyce clan does have the gene for being outspoken and often singled out and criticised for out of the box thinking. It certainly has served me well in my career. In any case, we were displaced from New Orleans (and Pass Christian) by Hurricane Katrina. Now still on the academic lecture circuit and restoring an historic property on Long Island. Hope to meet someday. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.47.140.193 (talk) 17:08, 28 January 2012 (UTC)


 * My name is Nancy(Davis) Ostrander. Scudder Klyce was my grandfather, my mother being, Dorthy Klyce. I grew up in Oakland California. I have an identical twin sister, Linda, and an older sister, Laura. My birthday was October 2,1959.We still are in possession of many of Scudder Klyce’s works.
 * If anyone has any interest, I’m on Facebook, you can message me there. I am not able to add an email address here.
 * Thanks 2605:59C8:5061:2410:6170:8397:B2B:E8E9 (talk) 20:40, 17 December 2023 (UTC)