The Voices of Conservatism 

The purpose of this library is to provide the living voices of the great thinkers of the conservative movement. The Real-Audio files belong to The Philadelphia Society and cannot be used without its permission.

*The following audio files are Real Audio Files and not WAV files. You will need to have a Real Audio Player installed on your browser to hear them. The Secretary has found these a little tricky so don't be disappointed if you don't succeed in hearing the audio files.

You can download the necessary software free on the Internet if you have a sound board and the appropriate equipment. For your convenience, the Real Audio site is a click away. Real Audio Site 

An early precursor to The Philadelphia Society was this Chicago Seminar taped by Don Lipsett for I.S.I., probably in 1963. This conference was attended by Frank Meyer, Richard Weaver, Gerhart Niemeyer, Stanley Parry, M. Stanton Evans, and Don Lipsett who tape recorded the sessions.

Frank S. Meyer

*Frank Meyer. Meyer in this 3.05 minute excerpt critically discusses Russell Kirk's use of John Milton in the priority of virtue over freedom.

*Frank Meyer. Meyer stresses the primacy of the individual person over Society.

*Richard Weaver asks Frank Meyer about churches and schools; Meyer responds.

Richard M. Weaver 

The next three excerpts are Richard Weaver's oral delivery of his speech, "Conservatism and Libertarianism: The Common Ground" delivered at the same Chicago conference; his speech first appeared in print in The Individualist, published by The Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and subsequently reprinted in Richard Weaver's book, Life Without Prejudice and Other Essays, (Chicago: Henry Regnery Company, 1965).

*Richard Weaver. Weaver mentions why he is a conservative.

*Richard Weaver. Weaver provides his definition of a conservative.

*Richard Weaver. Weaver discusses the concept of praxeology and free markets.

*Gerhart Niemeyer on reason and tradition in response to question of Richard Weaver.

*Andrew Lytle At the November 12, 1979 Regional Meeting in New Orleans, Mr. Lytle sings his drover songs as part of his reminiscence of "They Took Their Stand: The Agrarian View after 50 Years."

*Bill Buckley In April 1982, Bill Buckley reflects on Stanley Parry and Wilmoore Kendall.

*Milton Friedman At the Regional Meeting on November 12, 1982 Milton Friedman discusses the importance of Adam Smith and his neckties.