Joseph Dorfman papers, 1890-1983

Creator:

Dorfman, Joseph, 1904-1991

Extent:

40.5 linear feet 88 boxes

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Correspondence, manuscripts, notes, documents, book typescripts, photographs, and printed materials covering the time from Dorfman's early interest, as a graduate student, in the economic thought of Thorstein Veblen until his retirement. There is correspondence with his academic colleagues, students, publishers, and the family and students of Thorstein Veblen, as well as manuscripts, typescripts, drafts, revisions, notes, photographs, pamphlets, and related materials for his articles and books which include: THORSTEIN VEBLEN AND HIS AMERICA, 1934; THE ECONOMIC MIND IN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION, 1946-1959; EARLY AMERICAN POLICY, 1960; INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMICS, 1963; TYPES OF ECONOMIC THEORY, 1967; and NEW LIGHT ON VEBLEN, 1973

There are manuscript and typescript notes for articles on John Bates Clark, Wesley C. Mitchell, Edwin R. A. Seligman, and Rexford G. Tugwell, as well as lectures and articles by these professors. There are Dorfman's own lectures, lecture notes, reading lists, and other course materials, drafts for articles, as well as notes and related papers for many conferences on economics.

There are small groups of correspondence files and papers acquired from other economists, such as John Bates Clark, John Maurice Clark, H. J. Davenport, N. A. L. J. Johannsen, Roswell C. McCrea, Wesley C. Mitchell, Edwin R. A. Seligman, Rexford G. Tugwell, and Thorstein Veblen. Among the cataloged correspondence are: Roger Nash Baldwin, Wesley C. Mitchell, Lewis Mumford, George Bernard Shaw, Upton Sinclair, and Thorstein Veblen.

Biographical / historical:

American economic historian, teacher. Professor of Economics at Columbia University since 1931. He died in 1991.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Dorfman, Mrs. Joseph. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--10/29/87. Accession number--M-87-10-29.

Microfilm of 2 W.C. Mitchell manuscripts: Method of acquisition--Addition; Date of acquisition--1993. Accession number--M-1993.

Custodial history:

Gift of Mrs Joseph Dorfman, 1987 & 1992.

Processing information:

Processed HR 11/21/89.

Microfilm of 2 W.C. Mitchell manuscripts Processed HR 10/14/94.

Arrangement:

Box 1-2, Cataloged correspondence, A-Z; Box 3-4, Arranged correspondence, A-Z; Box 5-77, Subject and name file, A-Z; Box 77, Miscellaneous; Box 78-88, Mss. by Dorfman.

Accruals:

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

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Alternative form available:

2 W.C. Mitchell manuscripts from Box 38 ("Criticism of Modern Civilization", 40p. & "Money, Economy and Modern Civilization", 56p.): are also available on microfilm.

Boxes 61-64 containing correspondence of and about Veblen are also available on microfilm.

Boxes 67-70 containing student's class notes on Thorstein Veblen's lectures are also available on microfilm.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 3-88. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library 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 of access:

Reproductions 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); Joseph Dorfman papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection