Rexford G. Tugwell Papers, 1911-1972 | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

The Tugwell Papers are divided into five series as follows:

Series 1: General Correspondence, 1927-1962

Series 2: Diaries, 1932-1961 and Related Materials

Series 3: Subject Files

Series 4: Speech and Writings File, 1911-1979

Series 5: Clippings, Scrapbooks and Memorabilia

Biographical Timeline:

1891, July 10 Born, Sinclairville, New York

1911-1915 Attended Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania

1915-1918 Taught at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington

1918 Served as manager of American University Union in Europe

1920 Began teaching at Columbia University

1922 Awarded doctorate from University of Pennsylvania

1932 Became a member of the “Brains Trust”

1933 Appointed Assistant Secretary of Agriculture

1934 Appointed Under Secretary of Agriculture

1935 Director of the Resettlement Administration

1936 Resigned from the Department of Agriculture

1937 Resigned from Columbia University and became a vice president of the American Molasses Co.

1938 Appointed Chairman of the Planning Department of the New York City Planning Commission

1941 Appointed Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico

1942 Appointed Governor of Puerto Rico and member of the Caribbean Commission

1946 Became professor of economics and director of the Institute of Planning at the University of Chicago

1949 Acted as visiting professor of political science at the London School of Economics

1957 Retired for the University of Chicago and the Caribbean Commission

1959 Served as Hillman Lecturer at Howard University

1961-1964 Acted as Puerto Rican development counselor

1962-1963 Taught at Columbia University Summer Session

1964-1965 Was counselor for the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions

1965-1966 Served as research professor in political science at the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale

1966-1979 Served as senior fellow in political science at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions

1979 Died July 21, 1979

Biography:

Rexford Guy Tugwell was born in Sinclairville, New York, on July 10, 1891, and grew up in the rural areas of western New York. He was educated at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania, obtaining his doctorate in economics from that institution in 1922.

Throughout most of his adult life, Tugwell was associated with the academic community. In 1932 he had an opportunity to put his economic theories to practical use. With two Columbia colleagues, Raymond Moley and Adolf Berle, he became a member of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Brains Trust”. Among other things, he was involved in planning the Agriculture Adjustment Act. Tugwell was a champion of the public interest and advocated more government control over business. His strong opinions and aversion to compromise made him a very controversial figure and a target for critics during his years in public life.

In 1933, Tugwell was appointed an assistant secretary in the Department of Agriculture. He soon became involved in an attempt to reform the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. A year later he was made Under Secretary of Agriculture and, in 1935, Director of the Resettlement Administration. His particular interest was in suburban resettlement which was relfected in his plan to introduce the concept of greenbelt towns.

After the 1936 election, Tugwell resigned from the Government. Following a brief stint as vice president of the American Molasses Company, he was appointed chairman of the planning department of the New York City Planning Commission in 1938. In this post, Tugwell displayed both a thorough knowledge of planning and a talent for administration which won for him the admiration of his colleagues. He was also able to use the talents effectively as governor of Puerto Rico. When he was appointed governor in 1942, plans for a socio-economic revolution in Puerto Rico had already been made. Tugwell’s greatest contribution was in helping to set up a strong and efficient administration to serve as a base for the revolution. He was the last colonial governor appointed to office. After his term in office the citizens of Puerto Rico were given the power to elect their own public officials.

Tugwell returned to teaching in 1946, becoming professor of political science and director of the Institute of Planning at the University of Chicago. He continued to serve as a member of the Caribbean Commission and as an advisor on Puerto Rican affairs.

In 1957, Tugwell retired from the University of Chicago and from the Caribbean Commission but remained active as a lecturer and writer. The many books he wrote include The Stricken Land, 1946; A Chronicle of Jeopardy, 1955; The Democratic Roosevelt, 1957; The Enlargement of the Presidency, 1960; The Light of Other Days, 1962; F.D.R.: Architect of an Era, 1967; The Brains Trust, 1968; and In Search of Roosevelt, 1972. Tugwell was affiliated with the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara, California for 1957 until his death on July 21, 1979.