Rare Book & Manuscript Library
 

Robert Staughton Lynd papers, 1933-1945, bulk 1933-1935

Summary Information

Abstract

Robert Staughton Lynd's papers consist primarily of correspondence, meetings' minutes, proposals, studies, and reports regarding the National Recovery Administration and the Consumers Advisory Board. In addition, there are newspaper and magazine clippings about consumer interests during the early 1930s.

At a Glance

Call No.: MS#0812
Bib ID 4079056 View CLIO record
Creator(s) Lynd, Robert Staughton, 1892-1970
Title Robert Staughton Lynd papers, 1933-1945, bulk 1933-1935
Physical Description .42 linear feet (1 Document box)
Language(s) English .
Access You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in four series.

Description

Summary

Lynd's papers primarily consist of letters, memos, proposals, meetings' minutes, studies, newspaper and magazine clippings, releases, and legal documents pertaining to the National Recovery Administration regulation and the Consumer Advisory Board during the early 1930s. In addition, the collection contains policies and reports on educational reform in Great Britain and of the National Maritime Union.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Robert Staughton Lynd papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material--At Other Repositories

Robert and Helen Lynd Family Papers, Staughton Lynd Collection Kent State University

Lynd Correspondence and Papers, 1922-1982, Ball State University Libraries

Middletown Studies Collection Ball State University

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Lynd, Robert S. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1961. Accession number--M-61.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.

Papers processed Marilyn Chin, Queens College, 2011 2/--/2011.

Finding aid written Marilyn Chin, Queens College, 2011 2/--/2011.

Revision Description

2011-04-08 xml document instance created by Carrie Hintz

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject

Heading "CUL Archives:"
"Portal"
"CUL Collections:"
"CLIO"
"Nat'l / Int'l Archives:"
"ArchivedGRID"
College teachers Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Columbia University -- Faculty Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Lynd, Helen Merrell, 1896-1982 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
National Maritime Union of America Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Sociologists Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945 Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
United States. National Recovery Administration. Consumers' Advisory Board Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Working class -- Education -- Great Britain Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID
Working class -- Education -- United States Portal CLIO ArchiveGRID

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Robert Staughton Lynd was born on September 26, 1892 in New Albany, Indiana. He was a professor of sociology at Columbia University for thirty years (1931-1961.) He married Helen Merrell in September, 1922. They had two children, a son, Staughton, in 1929, and a daughter, Andrea, in 1934.

Lynd is best known for the book, Middletown: A Study in Contemporary American Culture, that he and his wife wrote. The book was based on a landmark study of a typical American community in 1929 from a cultural anthropological standpoint. It was one of the first sociological analyses done in the country of a modern, urban community. The book proved to be a bestseller and was noted for its scientific perspective. Lynd and his wife followed up with a sequel titled, Middletown in Transition in 1937 by returning to the same community to observe the effects of the Great Depression on its people. Known as the Middletown studies, these analyses are still used and referred to by American sociologists.

Lynd died on November 1, 1970 in Warren, CT, at the age of seventy-eight.