Chicago. Visiting Economics Professors, 1896-1943.

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On April 10, 1945, the chairman of the University of Chicago’s economics department, Professor Simeon E. Leland, submitted a 77 page (!) memorandum to President Robert M. Hutchins entitled “Postwar Plans of the Department of Economics–A Wide Variety of Observations and Suggestions All Intended To Be Helpful in Improving the State of the University”.

In his cover letter Leland wrote “…in the preparation of the memorandum, I learned much that was new about the past history of the Department. Some of this, incorporated in the memorandum, looks like filler stuck in, but I thought it ought to be included for historical reasons and to furnish some background for a few of the suggestions.” 

The memorandum deserves reproduction in its entirety sometime (and will probably be done by somebody else), but I intend to serve at least several blogpost-sized portions from Leland’s memo. So look forward for more tables/excerpts to come.

Today we have (1) a list compiled by Leland of visiting professors to the department of economics who had not been absorbed into the faculty as of 1945 (e.g. George Stigler was still at Minnesota at the time of the memo was written. Later posts include (2) data on economics faculty 1944/45 and the trend of enrolments and (3) talent-scouting lists for possible permanent, visiting and joint appointments.

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List of visiting professors
(excluding faculty members who frequently were visitors before joining the University)

[An asterisk (*) for deceased colleagues]

Source: University of Chicago Library, Department of Special Collections. Office of the President. Hutchins Administration Records. Box 73, Folder “Economics Dept., “Post-War Plans” Simeon E. Leland, 1945″.

Image Source: Detail of Simeon E. Leland photograph. University of Chicago Photographic Archive, apf1-03717, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.