Richard T. Ely papers, 1812-1963 (bulk 1882-1939)

Author / Creator

Ely, Richard T. (Richard Theodore), 1854-1943

Available as

Physical

Summary

Papers, dating mainly 1882-1939, of Richard Ely, an economist, educator, reformer, and faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Wisconsin, and Northwestern University. Also inc...

Papers, dating mainly 1882-1939, of Richard Ely, an economist, educator, reformer, and faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Wisconsin, and Northwestern University. Also included are genealogical information and records of several academic, patriotic, and reform organizations which Ely helped found, including the American Association for Agricultural Legislation, American Bureau of Industrial Research, Christian Social Union, Ely Economic Foundation, Institute for Economic Research, Institute for Research in Land Economics and Public Utilities, League to Enforce Peace-Wisconsin Branch, and Wisconsin Loyalty Legion. Personal photographs are also included.

During his long career Ely made numerous contributions to American life and also had significant contacts in Europe and in Japan. As a social scientist and an educator he was greatly influenced by the German higher education system. In this country he pioneered the seminar method of graduate education, was a founder of the American Economic Association, a frequent lecturer at Chautauqua, and a symbol of academic freedom. He established the areas of labor economics, labor history, agricultural economics, conservation, real estate, and land economics as fields of academic interest.

Ely corresponded with hundreds of individuals including many prominent in the social sciences and education, in the field of business, and in Wisconsin political, educational, and business circles. A prolific author and editor, Ely had frequent contacts with publishers and editors, especially those at the Macmillan Company. Ely is also widely recognized as a key figure in the development of the reform ideology which characterized the Progressive Era. He had many contacts with prominent political, reform, religious, labor, and socialist leaders. Ely received and wrote thousands of letters during his career; selected correspondents are noted in the subject headings below and a correspondent index was compiled for inclusion in the microfilm edition.

Additions received in 1991 consist primarily of family correspondence and miscellaneous professional papers.

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