Marshall E. Dimock Papers | Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Title: Marshall E. Dimock Papers

Primary Creator: Dimock, Marshall E.

Extent: 26.9 Cubic Feet

Arrangement: In seven series.  The first through third, sixth and seventh series are arranged alphabetically.  The fourth and fifth series are arranged chronologically.

Date Acquired: 07/12/1972

Marshall Edward Dimock was born in San Bernadino, California, October 24, 1903. He was graduated from Pomona College with honors in history in 1925 and received his Ph.D. from John Hopkins University in 1928, after which he became instructor (1928-30) and assistant professor (1930-32) of political science at the University of California at Los Angeles. During 1932-33, Mr. Dimock was awarded a Social Science Traveling Fellowship, spent a year in France and England and as a result of this published British Public Utilities and National Development.

In 1932 Dimock was appointed Associate Professor of Public Administration at the University of Chicago, a post he held until 1941. While at the University of Chicago, he completed studies of, and published monographs relating to, public corporations, inland waterways and principles of administration. He served as Second Assistant Secretary of Labor (1938-40), his main duty being chairman of the Secretary of Labor’s Commission on Immigration Administration. He became Associate Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service when that organization was transferred to the Justice Department in 1940 and retained this position until 1942. From 1942 to 1944 Dimock served as Director of the Recruitment and Manning Organization of the War Shipping Administration, which was responsible for insuring that manpower was available for the U.S. Merchant Marine.

In 1944 Mr. Dimock became Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University and remained in this position until 1948. During this period he served as a consultant to the War Department (1944) and to the General Accounting Office (1946-48). From 1949 to 1950 he was a member of the Vermont State Legislature. In 1953-54 he was also a consultant to the Administrative Staff College in England. Dimock was appointed professor and head of the Department of Government at New York University in 1955 and remained in this position until 1962.

In addition, he was a member of the Unitarian-Universalist Association, a religious organization of which he was moderator (lay leader) from 1961 to 1964; President of the Shinner Foundation (1947-50) which promoted research on how to preserve small businesses; International and American Political Science Associations; American Society of Public Administration; Society for the Advancement of Management (President of the Washington Chapter, 1941-1942, National Director, 1942-43, National Vice President, 1945-46); Phi Sigma Alpha (National President, 1962-64); and Director and member of Executive Committee, United Seaman’s Service (Chairman, 1946-56).

Repository: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

Access Restrictions: These papers contain documents restricted in accordance with Executive Order 11652; also material which might be used to embarrass, harass or injure living persons has been closed.

Use Restrictions: Mr. Dimock’s copyright interest in these papers has been donated to the United States Government.

Acquisition Source: Marshall E. Dimock

Acquisition Method: Marshall E. Dimock donated his papers to the Roosevelt Library on July 12, 1972.

Related Materials: Material relating to Marshall Dimock will be found in PPF 6287 (Marshall Dimock) and in the Oscar Cox papers (Marshall Dimock). Material related to his service in the government will be found in OF 15 (Department of Labor); OF 25-1 (War Department-Panama Canal Zone); OF 136 (Radio); and OF 407 (Labor).