Research Guides: Economics Collections at the Mudd Manuscript Library: Government Advisors

Government Advisors

This section concerns the records of advisors to governments on a variety of economics topics, both in the United States and around the world. The international advisors include Albert O. Hirschman, Edwin W. Kemmerer, Sir W. Arthur Lewis, and the Development and Resources Corporation, all of which had a strong presence in Latin America. They advised nations on currency reforms, public finance policies, the development of natural resources, and economic development. Other individuals advised the United States government, largely on financial policies, including Paul Volcker, J. Douglas Brown on the social security system, Jacob Viner on foreign economic policies, and Harry Dexter White on post-World War II international economic systems.

Relevant Collections

Albert O. Hirschman Papers, 1900-2008 (mostly 1950-2000)
Albert O. Hirschman (1915-2012 ) was a leading scholar in the field of economic development whose work focused on Latin America but encompassed the globe. He was a professor at Yale, Columbia, Harvard, and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Hirschman's papers document his scholarship on economic development and his academic career and include his correspondence written while he was at the Institute for Advanced Study, his writings, and his research notes and materials, especially related to his work in Latin America and for the World Bank.
Development and Resources Corporation Records, 1936-1980 (mostly 1954-1970)
The Development and Resources Corporation (D&R), founded and directed by David E. Lilienthal, operated from 1955 to 1979 and was based in New York City. D&R provided regional economic development services to governments throughout the world, often with a focus on the development of water resources and the construction of dams. Its main project was the development of the Khuzestan region of Iran. D&R's records document its development projects and business operations and include correspondence, contracts, data and maps, proposals and reports, and collected materials about each country.
Edwin W. Kemmerer Papers, 1875-1945 (mostly 1920-1945)
Edwin W. Kemmerer (1875-1945), internationally known as "The Money Doctor," was an economist and government advisor with expertise in finance and currency. Kemmerer served as a financial advisor to many governments, mostly in Latin America, and spent the majority of his academic career at Princeton University. Kemmerer's papers document his advisory and scholarly career and include his professional correspondence, writings, and files from his financial advisory work.
Frank W. Notestein Papers, 1930-1977
Frank W. Notestein contributed significantly to the science of demography and to a better understanding of population problems in world affairs. The Frank W. Notestein Papers contain correspondence, speeches, and writings documenting the research, ideas, career and leadership roles of this former Princeton professor, director of the Office of Population Research, and president of the Population Council.
Harley L. Lutz Papers, 1907-1973 (mostly 1930-1950)
Harley L. Lutz (1882-1975) was an economist with expertise in taxation and public finance who spent his academic career at Oberlin College, Stanford University, and Princeton University. Lutz also served as an advisor on public finance, especially taxation, to the federal and state governments and was an outspoken opponent of increases in government spending. Lutz's papers document his career as an economist, as well as his work as a consultant on taxation and public finance, and include writings, reports, and correspondence.
Harry Dexter White Papers, 1895-2000 (mostly 1935-1948)
Harry Dexter White (1892-1948) was an economist with expertise in international finance and monetary issues. White served in the United States Department of the Treasury from 1934 to 1946, rising to the position of Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and was one of the principal architects of the Bretton Woods agreements in 1944 that established the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. White's papers document his service in the Department of the Treasury and include correspondence and memoranda, notes, and writings.
J. Douglas Brown Papers, 1910-1978 (mostly 1930-1970)
J. Douglas Brown (1898-1986) was an economist and Princeton University administrator who was an expert in the field of industrial relations, especially on the subjects of Social Security and personnel and manpower issues. He was one of the leaders in the development of the Social Security program and also served in the War Department during World War II on manpower issues. Brown's papers document his career as a government consultant, as a scholar, and as a university administrator and include his correspondence and writings, reports, meeting minutes, notes, and publications.
Jacob Viner Papers, 1909-1979 (mostly 1930-1960)
Jacob Viner (1892-1970) is considered one of the greatest economists of the twentieth century. His career was spent at the University of Chicago and Princeton University, and he also frequently served as an advisor to the United States government. His primary academic interests included international economics, international economic relations, and the history of economic thought, but his investigations ranged across many disciplines. Viner's papers document his scholarship, as well as his government service, and include correspondence, manuscripts, reports, and research materials.
Paul A. Volcker Papers, 1957-2018 (mostly 1957-1987)
Paul A. Volcker (1927-) is an economist who has served in several prominent positions in the federal government, most notably as undersecretary of the Treasury (1969-1974), chairman of the Federal Reserve (1979-1987), and chairman of President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board (2009-2011). The collection contains Volcker's subject files, mainly created during his term as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and incoming and outgoing correspondence from his tenure as chairman of the Federal Reserve. The collection also includes documentation of some of Volcker's specific duties in these two roles, such as records from the meetings of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).
W. Arthur Lewis Papers, 1892-1990 (mostly 1950-1990)
Sir W. Arthur Lewis (1915-1991) was a pioneer in the field of economic development and a leading authority on economic growth in developing countries and associated political and social changes. He was a professor at the University of Manchester and Princeton University and served as an advisor to several governments. Lewis, who was from the Caribbean, also broke through racial barriers in the academic world throughout his career. Lewis's papers document his career as a scholar and as an economic advisor and include his professional correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and writings.