Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center
Finding Aid for the School of Economics and Politics and School of Humanistic Studies records
SEPSHS
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center
- Title
- School of Economics and Politics and the School of Humanistic Studies records
- ID
- SEPSHS
- Date [bulk]
- Bulk, 1935-1949
- Date [inclusive]
- 1934-1981
- Extent
- 1.5 linear feet 3 document boxes (one legal-sized; two letter- sized)
- Language
- English
Preferred Citation note
The suggested citation for the material is "[item], School of Economics and Politics and School of Humanistic Studies records, [series] - Box [box number], From the Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, USA."
Biographical/Historical note
The School of Economics and Politics and the School of Humanistic Studies were both established in the first half of the 1930's. In 1949, the Schools were merged to form the School of Historical Studies.
The School of Economics and Politics
The School of Economics and Politics begins its documented history with a mention in the April 24, 1933, "Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Institute for Advanced Study." Abraham Flexner, Director of the Institute, says in his report to the Trustees: "Now that the School of Mathematics has been launched, my mind has been directed to the possibility of making a start, when financial conditions are favorable, in the second field which we have already resolved to enter, namely, the field of economics." At this point in the Institute's history, only the School of Mathematics had been fully established. The same April 24, 1933, Minutes state that David Mitrany was appointed Professor in the School of Economics and Politics beginning September 1, 1933, "and that no public announcement of his appointment be made at this time but that he devote himself, in coöperation with the Director, to studies preliminary to the organization of the School of Economics and Politics whenever the Board of Trustees shall authorize such action." By the April 23, 1934, "Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Institute for Advanced Study" the School of Economics and Politics was being referenced in Flexner's report to the Trustees as moving forward with the examination of appointments to the School. Bulletin No. 4 (the Institute's earliest annual reports) dated February 1935 is the first Institute publication to mention the School of Economics and Politics. This report lists three professors in the School: Edward M. Earle, David Mitrany, and Winfield W. Riefler. A single short paragraph summarizes the School's activities: "It is expected that the three initial professors in the School of Economics and Politics will meet in Princeton in the autumn of 1935. It is probable that they will devote the first year to discussion and conference with one another and with scholars and thinkers connected with Princeton and other universities and with practical affairs." Bulletin No. 5 dated February 1936 indicates that the School is still a work in progress: "The formation of the School of Economics and Politics of the Institute for Advanced Study was announced in January, 1935, and in October Professor Mitrany and Professor Riefler took up residence in Princeton. Professor Earle will join them in the autumn of 1936."
The School of Humanistic Studies
The public record regarding the history of the School of Humanistic Studies begins in the same report from Flexner referenced above from the April 23, 1934, "Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Institute for Advanced Study," where Flexner speaks of "...the third great unoccupied territory of infinite cultural importance, namely, the humanities, in which I should include art, archaeology, and music." By the end of 1935 (in the minutes of December 6, 1935, Executive Committee Meeting), Flexner is referencing the School of Humanistic Studies as an established entity, though still under development regarding the appointment of professors. Bulletin No. 5 dated February 1936 is the first of the Institute's earliest published annual reports to mention the School of Humanistic Studies, with a faculty of four: Ernst Herzfeld, Elias A. Lowe, Benjamin D. Meritt, and Erwin Panofsky. This issue of the Bulletin says that "the School of Humanistic Studies was started in October, 1935," and goes on to say that while Professors Herzfeld, Lowe, and Meritt "are abroad prosecuting their researches as this bulletin goes to press, it is impossible at this time to make any announcement about their plans for the coming year." But, in their absence, Professor Panofsky has gone ahead with matters including seminars, his own work, and establishing a relationship with Princeton University's Department of Art & Archaeology.
Merger of the two Schools
The merging of the two schools is first mentioned informally and with little detail in the minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees on November 16, 1948, and the new School of Historical Studies was functioning in the autumn of 1949.
Scope and Contents note
The School of Economics and Politics and the School of Humanistic Studies records are comprised of two series--one representing each of the Schools--with correspondence and other documentation relating to each School's activities. The bulk of the folders, which are in alphabetical order, are from the School of Economics and Politics.
The Schools merged in 1949 to become the School of Historical Studies. The records of that School contain the documentation after that date.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center 7/06/2009
Historical Studies-Social Science LibraryEinstein Drive
Princeton
NJ, 08540
609-734-8375
archives@ias.edu
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open for research.
Custodial History note
As noted by former IAS library staff (Archives and Cataloging) Lisa R. Coats: The materials in the Records of the Schools of Economics and Politics / Humanistic Studies appeared to be copies of correspondence from Members in the two schools that eventually became the School of Historical Studies. They have been labeled as such, but the information from the label on the outside of the box (Deceased Members -- School of Economics and Politics -- A-Z -- Obsolete Material -- Files of Professor Setton -- Miscellaneous 1975 -- Medieval & Mellon -- Professorial Appointments) will be here in case upon further investigation it should be more clearly aligned with Setton's papers or some other grouping of materials.
Processing Information note
The records were processed by IAS library staff (Archives) Erica Mosner in 2009. A significant number of files from the School Documents, Minutes, Correspondence, Etc. series of the School of Historical Studies predating the 1949 merger of the two Schools were moved in 2009 to the School of Economics and Politics and the School of Humanistic Studies records.
Original order of the material in the collection was maintained, with the exception of obvious misfilings and in order to create more streamlined access. Folders of scholars affiliated with the School of Mathematics were moved to the Member files record group. Files for any Member of the School of Historical Studies were moved to that School's record group. Files moved from the School of Historical Studies records to the School of Economics and Politics and School of Humanistic Studies records were incorporated into the alphabetical order of the respective School's files to which they appeared to belong.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Rockefeller Foundation.
Personal Name(s)
- Willits, Joseph H. (Joseph Henry), b. 1889
Collection Inventory
School of Economics and Politics: Alphabetical Files 1934-1981 (Bulk, 1936-1949)Scope and Contents noteIn addition to folders regarding the School's administrative activities, the files relating to the School of Economics and Politics include those for individual scholars, conferences and seminars, a proposed Program in American Studies (which includes correspondence with Dixon Wecter), as well as more general history of the Institute, including correspondence regarding construction on the what would become the Institute for Advanced Study campus. Of those scholars represented in the files, not all were affliated with the School in any formal sense, though all were in fields closely connected to the work of the School. Records of the School of Economics and Politics also include a folder regarding the journal entitled *The North American Review*. Prominent among the correspondents in the files are Winfield W. Riefler and Walter Stewart, both professors of the School. Some of the folders with more general titles relating to the overall work of the Institute appear to have been from the personal working files of these two professors. Joseph Willits, Director of The Social Sciences department of the Rockefeller Foundation, is well represented in the files of the School of Economics and Politics. The Rockefeller Foundation provided funding to many of the scholars represented in these files. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
American Civilization Program - School of Economics 1944 |
1 | 1 | ||
|
Applications for membership, School of Economics, rejected or dead 1945-1948 |
1 | 2 | ||
|
Ayres, Leonard 1945 |
1 | 3 | ||
|
Balogh, Thomas 1946-1948 |
1 | 4 | ||
|
Beveridge, William - Conference at Princeton 1943 |
1 | 5 | ||
|
Brynes, Asher - Corr. 1944-1954 1944-1954 |
1 | 6 | ||
|
Conference on Comparative History, School of Economics, 1949 1949, 1978 |
1 | 7 | ||
|
Copland, Douglas B. - Corr. 1944-48 1944-1948 |
1 | 8 | ||
|
Director's Office 1945-1949 |
1 | 9 | ||
|
Faculty Meetings, 1936-1950 1936-1949 |
1 | 10 | ||
|
Financial Reports, School of Economics, 1936/37-1946/47 1945-1949 |
1 | 11 | ||
|
General Correspondence, 1936-1946 1936-1946 General noteFile includes 5x8 notecards for circa 20 scholars and other distinguished individuals who visited the Institute once or multiple times over a number of years for very short stays, usually of a single day. These names do not appear in A Community of Scholars, IAS, 1930-1980. |
1 | 12 | ||
|
Hall, Noel F. 1945-1946 |
1 | 13 | ||
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Hicks, J.R. and U.K. 1946-1947 |
1 | 14 | ||
|
Housing Plans 1936-1939 |
1 | 15 | ||
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Housing Plans - Fuld Hall 1937-1939 |
1 | 16 | ||
|
Jewkes, John 1946-1949 |
2 | 1 | ||
|
League of Nations Visit 1940-1941 |
2 | 2 | ||
|
Original color floor plan with handwritten room assignments in Fuld Hall and Buildings A and B for the 1947-1948 academic year (22" h x 17" w unfolded) undated |
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Lindberg, John 1945-1951 |
2 | 3 | ||
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Long, Clarence 1941-1947 |
2 | 4 | ||
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Loosmore, Robert J. 1948 |
2 | 5 | ||
|
Loveday, Alexander 1943-1948 |
2 | 6 | ||
|
Lutz, Friedrich A. 1943-1947 |
2 | 7 | ||
|
Marx, Daniel, Jr. 1947-1950 |
2 | 8 | ||
|
North American Review 1945-1946 |
2 | 9 | ||
|
Penrose, Ernest F. 1946-1947 |
2 | 10 | ||
|
Prochazka, Oldrich 1947-1951 |
2 | 11 | ||
|
Reports, Memoranda: School of Economics, 1940-1948 1940-1949 |
2 | 12 | ||
|
Retirement Proposals (Winfield W. Riefler) 1938-1947 |
2 | 13 | ||
|
Rockefeller-Bamberger Fund, School of Economics 1940-1949 |
2 | 14 | ||
|
Roll, Erich 1940-1946 |
2 | 15 | ||
|
Rousseaux, Paul 1946-1947 |
2 | 16 | ||
|
School of Economics and Politics, 1934-1941 1934-1941 |
2 | 17 | ||
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Seminar notes: Monetary Policy / Marshall Plan 1946-1947 |
3 | 1 | ||
|
Seminar on Monetary Policy - School of Economics 1946 |
3 | 2 | ||
|
Seminar on Monetary Policy, School of Economics, 1947-1948 1947-1948 |
3 | 3 | ||
|
Stewart, John Q. 1946-1950 |
3 | 4 | ||
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Stone, Feodora Sonya and Stone, John Richard Nicholas 1945-1947 |
3 | 5 | ||
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Wantrup, Siegfried V. (other form: Ciriacy-Wantrup, Siegfried von) 1947-1981 (Bulk, 1947-1948) |
3 | 6 | ||
|
Wilmerding, Lucius, Jr. 1941-1956 |
3 | 7 | ||
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School of Humanistic Studies: Applications 1935-1948Scope and Contents noteFolders from the School of Humanistic Studies consist of four alphabetical files of documentation relating to applicants to the School. The materials include application forms and other related correspondence and supporting materials. |
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| Box | Folder | |||
|
School of Humanistic Studies, Applications: A-D, 1935-1948 1935-1948 |
3 | 8 | ||
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School of Humanistic Studies, Applications: E-H, 1935-1948 1935-1948 |
3 | 9 | ||
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School of Humanistic Studies, Applications: I-R, 1935-1948 1935-1948 |
3 | 10 | ||
|
School of Humanistic Studies, Applications: S-Z, 1935-1948 1935-1948 |
3 | 11 | ||
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