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

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Collection Overview

Title: Rexford G. Tugwell Papers, 1911-1972

Primary Creator: Rexford G. Tugwell (1891-1979)

Extent: 60.56 Cubic Feet

Arrangement:

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

Abstract

Papers relating to Rexford G. Tugwell's involvement in the Brain Trust ("Brains Trust"), governorship of Puerto Rico, position as professor at the University of Chicago, and other professional activities, 1911-1972.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Tugwell Papers contain a large amount of correspondence relating to Tugwell's writings and other professional activities. There are a significant amount of files on the Agricultural Adjustment Act, the Anglo-American Caribbean Commission, the New York City Planning Commission, Puerto Rico, University of Chicago Institute of Planning and on World Government. The files contain very little on family correspondence. This collection also contains the diary and journal notes of Rexford G. Tugwell that has entries from 1932-1949 concerning his professional positions and his thoughts on government related matters, including New Deal plans and policies.

Collection Historical Note

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.

Administrative Information

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Accruals: A large accretion to the papers, received in 1982, has been integrated into the files. A list of material added is found in the back of the finding aid. Books which accompanied the Tugwell Papers have been placed in the book collection of the Library.

Access Restrictions: This collection is available for use by the general public.

Use Restrictions: Mrs. Tugwell has reserved to herself for her lifetime, copyright interests in the unpublished manuscripts; otherwise Dr. and Mrs. Tugwell’s copyright interest has been donated to the United States Government. Mrs. Grace Tugwell died March 23, 2001.

Acquisition Source: Rexford G. Tugwell

Acquisition Method: The Papers were presented to the Library by Rexford G. Tugwell.

Related Materials: President’s Official File 1 and 1K (Department of Agriculture), President’s Official File 6S (Department of Interior: Division of Territories and Island Possessions), President’s Official File 208DD (Puerto Rico), President’s Official File 400-Federal Appointments: Puerto Rico; President’s Personal File 564 (Tugwell), President’s Secretary’s File: Puerto Rico, President’s Secretary’s File: Department of Agriculture: Tugwell, President’s Secretary’s File: Tugwell, Rexford G., Ezekiel Papers, Gardner Jackson Papers, Morgenthau Diaries, Taussig Papers, Wallace Papers, Columbia Oral History Transcript on microfiche, Fragmentary tapes and transcripts of the Tugwell Oral History Project at Warm Springs, Wickard Papers.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: General Correspondence, 1927-1979],
[Series 2: Tugwell Diaries and Related Materials, 1932-1961],
[Series 3: Subject Files],
[Series 4: Speech and Writing File, 1911-1979],
[Series 5: Clippings, Scrapbooks and Memorabilia],
[All]

Series 1: General Correspondence, 1927-1979

Incoming and outgoing personal, academic, business and political correspondence arranged alphabetically by subject or surname of correspondent, and thereunder chronologically.

Box 1

Ab-Al
Abraham, Henry J., 1965-1966
Agger, Eugene E., 1933-1949
Agriculture, Department of, 1938-1941
Albert Parvin Foundation, 1962
Albury, Gordon, 1968
Alexander, John W., 1944-1968
Am
American Society of Planning Officials, 1938-1967
An-Ax
Arnold, Thurman, 1938-1967
Ascher, Charles S., 1938-1940
Ashmore, Harry S., 1966-1977
Athens Technological Institute, 1964-1970
Ba

Box 2

Baldwin, C. B., 1935-1972
Baldwin, Roger, 1941-1968
Bancroft Award, 1969
Banfield, Edward C., 1957-1977
Bartlett, Fred P., 1937-1948
Bayh, Birch, 1971
Be
Benitez, Jaime, 1959-1977
Benner, Thomas E., 1964-1977

Box 3

Berle, Adolf A., 1935-1973
Bettman, Alfred, 1941-1942
Bi-Bl
Bicentennial Conference, 1975-1976
Bliven, Bruce, 1938-1950
Bo
Book Reviews: Architect of and Era
Book Reviews: The Art of Politics
Book Reviews: The Enlargement of the Presidency
Book Reviews: How They Became President
Book Reviews: Roosevelt's Revolution and Other Tugwell Books
Book Reviews: Tugwell and the New Deal by Bernard Sternsher
Book Reviews: Tugwell on Other Writings
Bourne, James and Dorothy, 1963

Box 4

Br
Brains Trust
1963-1964
Branch, Melville C., 1951-1975
Brookings Institution, 1931-1934, 1960
Bu
Bunche, Ralph J., 1947-1951
Burger, Warren E., 1968-1970
Burns, James M., 1963-1971
Ca-Ce
Cadenhead, Gary, 1971
Carballo, Manuel, 1971
Carlyle, Elaine, 1963-1964
Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, 1961-1964

Box 5

Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions-Reorganization, 1969
Ch-Cl
Chapman, Oscar, 1945-1949
Chase, Stuart, 1933-1978
Chautauqua Institution, 1964
Citizens Housing Council of New York, 1939-1941
City Planning Commission (New York City), 1939-1941
City Planning Commission (New York City)-Press Clippings, 1938-1941
City Planning Commission (New York City)-Robert Moses, 1938-1940
Cob-Col
Columbia University, 1929-1939

Box 6

Columbia University, 1940-1963
Com-Cow
Committees: Honorary Memberships, 1941-1944
Common Sense, 1937-1942
Congratulatory Letters, 1933-1942
Consumers' Research, Inc., 1933
Cook. Thomas, 1947-1950
Cooke, Morris, 1939-1952
Cosmos Club, 1933-1977
Cr-Cu
Cronin, Thomas E., 1970-1978

Box 7

Da
Daniels, Jonathan, 1966-1977
Davis, Jerome, 1933-1949
De
del Mar, Roland H., 1962-1963
DeMars, Vernon, 1944-1964
Descartes, Sol Luis, 1969-1978
Deutsch, Boris, 1971-1972
Di
Do-Dy
Dorfman, Joseph, 1935-1976
Douglas, Paul H., 1933-1971
Douglas, William O., 1948-1971
E
Elmhirst, Leonard, 1939-1974
Emmerich, Herbert, 1937-1949
Encyclopedia of Social Science, c. 1932-1933
Expenses, 1965-1972
Ezekiel, Mordecai, 1933-1939

Box 8

Fa-Fe
Ferry, W. H. vs. The Fund for the Republic, Inc. et al, 1969
FI-Fl
Filler, Louis, 1949-1954
Fisher, Louis, 1971-1976
Fleming, John R., 1937-1977
Florence, P. Sargant, 1950-1971
Fo
Food and Drug Administration, 1968
Forest Service, 1940-1941
Forum for Contemporary History, 1971-1976
Fox, Dixon Ryan, 1934-1940
Fr
Frank, Jerome, 1939-1953
F.D.R. Avenue, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico-Use Study, 1962
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, 1951-1979

Box 9

Freidel, Frank, 1951-1976
Friedmann, John, 1969-1975
Fryer, Lee, 1970
Fu
Ga-Ge
Garst, Jonathan, 1938-1972
Gaus, John M., 1938-1951
General Education Board, 1932
Gi-Go
Gilfond, M. E., 1937-1942
Ginsburg, Norton, 1971-1976
Goodsell, Charles, 1964-1974
Gottman, Jean, 1966-1973
Government Planning, 1953
Gr-Gu
Graham, Otis, 1970-1976
Grodzins, Morton, 1949-1958
Gruchy, Allan G., 1939-1948

Box 10

Ha
Haig, R. M.-Tax Study, 1945-1947
Hansen, Millard, 1952-1974
Harden, Charles M., 1966-1978
Haiser, Alonzo, 1970-1974
Hayes, Thomas, 1958
Hays, Brooks, 1937-1972
He-Hi
Helfeld, David M., 1965-1970
Helmer, John, 1977
Hewes, Laurence I., 1934-1975
Ho

Box 11

Homan, Paul T., 1930-1952
Hoover, Calvin B., 1936-1953
Howard University, 1959
Hu-Hy
Hultgren Thor, 1929-1931
Hutchins, Robert M., 1966-1976
Huxley, Julian, 1963
I
Ickes, Harold and Jane, 1937-1965
Inquiries and Requests, 1963-1964
Institute of Public Affairs, 1941
Insular Affairs-Bell Commission, 1941-1945
Inter American Defense College, 1964-1966
International Development Services, Inc., 1962
Inventory of Center Papers and Publications, 1966-1968

Box 12

Invitations, 1938-1941
Invitations to Speak or Write, 1938-1946
J
Josephson, Matthew, 1962-1963
Ka-Ke
Karsten, Thomas L., 1942-1971
Keyseling, Leon H., 1933-1978
Key West, 1939-1940
Ki-Kl

Box 13

Kn-Ky
Kohr, Leopold, 1962
La
Laboratory School, Chicago, 1947
LaFollette, Robert, 1931-1938
Laidler, Harry, 1931-1940
Laski, Harold, 1940-1948
Le
Leatherwood, Thomas O., 1975
LeCron, James, 1947-1957
Lee, Atherton, 1937-1944
Letham, Gordon, 1946-1949
Li-Ll
Living History Awards, 1960

Box 14

Lo-Ly
Look Magazine, 1940, 1951
London School of Economics, 1948-1950
Lord, Russell, 1959-1962
Lovett, Robert M., 1946-1951
Lowdermilk, W. C., 1938-1941
Lynd, Robert, 1933-1952
Mc
Ma
Maps
Mathews, Thomas, 1958-1973

Box 15

Me
Meyerson, Martin, 1952-1978
Mi
Mitchell, Broadus, 1964-19778
Mo
Moley, Raymond, 1934-1974
Moos, Malcolm, 1974
Morgenthau, Henry, Jr., 1932-1946
Moscoso, Teodoro, 1946-1972
Moses, Robert (See also City Planning Commission-Robert Moses), 1942-1961
Mosher, Frederick C., 1972
Mu-My

Box 16

Museum of Modern Art, 1938, 1971
Na
The Nation, 1938-1962
National Advisory Council, 1930-1932
National Archives, 1959-1963
National Broadcasting Company, 1932, 1960-1963
National Conference on Planning, San Francisco, July 8, 1940-July 11, 1940
National Interregional Highway Committee, 1941-1943
National Planning Association, 1938-1946
National Resources Planning Board-Land Committee, 1938-1943
National Roosevelt Day Dinner, 1962-1963
National Science Foundation, 1961, 1971

Box 17

Ne
Nearing Scott, 1942-1973
Nevins, Allan, 1932-1951
Newark City Planning Project, 1940
New Deal Dinner, 1977-1978
The New Republic, 1929-1977
New York City, 1931-1979
New York University, 1940-1959
Ni-Ny
Norman, Robert T., 1972
O
O'Connor, Basil, 1931-1963
Odegard, Peter, 1933-1965
Ogburn, Charlton, 1933-1968
Ogburn, William F.
Oppenheimer, Monroe, 1969-1977
Orton, Lawrence, 1940-1957

Box 18

Pa-Pe
Packard, Walter E., 1937-1966
Padilla, Salvador M, 1966-1971
Palmer, Charles F., 1958-1965
Peel, Roy V., 1968-1975
Permission t Reprint, 1969-1971
Pf-Pl
Pico, Rafael, 1954-1976
PM-Pu
Portraits of Presidents

Box 19

Presidential Facts
Press Clippings, 1970-1971
Press Clippings, 1972-1974
Presthus, Robert, 1965-1972
Pritchett, C. Herman, 1946-1975
Proffitt, Charles G., 1932-1929
Proposed Symposia on" The Limits of 'Implied Powers'", 1975
Public Roads, 1939-1941
Publishers: Alfred A. Knopf
Publishers: Augustus M. Kelley
Publishers: Browning Editorial Services
Publishers: Columbia University Press (1 of 2)
Publishers: Columbia University Press (2 of 2)
Publishers: Doubleday
Publishers: Encyclopedia Britannica
Publishers: Frederick A. Praeger
Publishers: Great Ideas Today

Box 20

Publishers: Harcourt, Brace and Company
Publishers: Harper and Row
Publishers: Harpers and Brothers
Publishers: Harper's Magazine Press
Publishers: Harvard University Press (1 of 2)
Publishers: Harvard University Press (2 of 2)
Publishers: John Day Company
Publishers: McGraw-Hill
Publishers: Macmillan Company (1 of 2)
Publishers: Macmillan Company (2 of 2)
Publishers: Others

Box 21

Publishers: Penguin Books
Publishers: Political Science Quarterly
Publishers: Prentiss-Hall
Publishers: Russell and Volkening-Literary Agents (1 of 4)
Publishers: Russell and Volkening-Literary Agents (2 of 4)
Publishers: Russell and Volkening-Literary Agents (3 of 4)
Publishers: Russell and Volkening-Literary Agents (4 of 4)
Publishers: Simon and Schuster
Publishers: Southern Illinois Press
Publishers: University of Chicago Press
Publishers: University of Pennsylvania Press
Publishers: Viking Press
Publishers: W. W. Norton and Company
Puerto Rico: Constitution, 1965

Box 22

Q
Ra-Re
Rand, J. H., 1932-1933
Refusals: Invitations not accepted
Requests: Books for RGT of the Center Library
Requests: Center Mailings
Requests: Reproductions of Tugwell Material
Requests: Use of Tugwell Papers at Roosevelt Library
Retired Professors Registry
Rh-Ri
Ritchie-Calder, 1970-1972
Ro

Box 23

Robson, W. A., 1950-1952
Rockefeller Foundation, 1932, 1949
Rodell, Fred, 1964-1965
Roeser, Thomas F., 1973-1974
Rogers, Lindsay, 1939-1969
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1934-1963
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1934-1946
Rosen, Elliot, 1964-1977
Rosenman, Samuel I., 1933-1969
Ross, Emory, 1950-1951
Ru-Ry
Ryerson, Knowles, 1934-1977
Sa
Salamon, Lester, 1974-1976

Box 24

San Juan Star, 1962-1965
San Juan Star: Tugwell Column, 1961-1962
Saturday Review
Sc
Schick, F. B., 198-1954
Schlesinger, Arthur, Jr., 1947-1970
Schubert, Glendon, 1965-1966
Se
Sh-Si
Sm
Sn-Sp
"Snag" Club, 1939-1941
Social and Economic Rehabilitation Committee, 1941
Sorensen, Theodore C., 1963
Southeastern Planning Commission, 1939-1941
Southern Illinois University-Commencement, 1964

Box 25

St
Staff Memoranda
Steel Case, 1951-1952
Stephansky, Ben S., 1965
Sternsher, Bernard, 1956-1975
Stevenson, Adlai, 1952-1959
Strau-Dalton Material, 1932-1933, 1964
Strau, Robert K., 1962-1973
Stryker, Roy E., 1933-1964
Su-Sz
Ta-Te
Taussig, Charles, 1937-1947
Taylor, Horace, 1927-1933
Taylor, Paul S., 1947-1972
Television Appearances, 1969

Box 26

Th-To
Thatcher, M. W., 1937-1946
Tomlin, M. J., 1944-1949
Tr-Ty
Travel Arrangements 1968, 1968
Truman, Harry S., 1945-1950
Tugwell, Charles H. and Dessie (Parents), 1933-1946
Tugwell, Rexford G.: Insurance, 1946-1948
Tugwell, Rexford G.: Mailing Lists
Tugwell, Rexford G.: Personal (1 of 2)
Tugwell, Rexford G.: Personal (2 of 2)

Box 27

Tugwell, Rexford G.: Press Clippings
Tugwell, Tanis (Daughter)
U
Unidentified
United States Government Departments
Unitarian Church
University of California-Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
University of Puerto Rico: Agricultural Experimental Station
University of Puerto Rico: Agriculture and mechanical Arts
University of Puerto Rico: Botanical Garden
University of Puerto Rico: Caribbean Studies Institute
University of Puerto Rico: Circulars
University of Puerto Rico: General
University of Puerto Rico: Law School
University of Puerto Rico: Memoranda
University of Puerto Rico: Planning Office
University of Puerto Rico: Public Administration

Box 28

University of Puerto Rico: Retirement Fund
University of Puerto Rico: Social Science
University of Puerto Rico: Superior Education Council
V
Valeur, Robert, 1939-1946
Valiant, Margaret, 1938
Veblen-Commons Award
Venezuela Trip, 1962-1963
Von Simson, Piers, 1969-1971
Wag-Wal
Wallace, Henry A., 1932-1965
Wan-Wav
Warm Springs Memorial Commission, 1960-1965
Wasserman, Max, 1929-1947

Box 29

We
Welles, Sumner
Wells, Henry, 1952-1969
Westin, Alan F., 1965-1966
Wh
Wi
Wildavsky, Aaron, 1964-1966
Williams, Aubrey, 1938-1958
Wilson, M. L., 1932
Witte, Edwin E., 1953
Wo-Wu
Wood, Ben D., 1934-1943
Works Progress Administration, 1938-1939
World's Fair, 1938-1940
X-Y-Z