Title: Paul Skeels Peirce Papers, 1899-1907, n.d.

ID: RG 30/139

Extent: 0.2 Linear Feet

Paul Skeels Peirce was born in Johnson Creek, New York on October 25 1874. He taught economics at Oberlin College from 1921 to 1940. Peirce received his Ph.B. from Cornell University in 1897 and his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1900. He later went on to study at The University of Chicago and at the London School of Economics.

Before coming to Oberlin, Peirce taught at three other institutions. He served as professor of history at Hedding College, Abingdon, Illinois (1900-02); instructor in history at the State University of Iowa (1902-04); assistant professor of history at Iowa State College (1904-06); and, he returned to the State University of Iowa as an assistant professor of history and economics (1906-11), and professor of economics (1911-19). In 1919, he became educational director of the Central Division of the American Red Cross, and he served in that position until 1921 when he accepted the position of professor of economics at Oberlin College.

His publications include The Freedman's Bureau (1904), Social Surveys of Rural Townships in Iowa (1917), and he co-authored International Commercial Politics (1923). Peirce also contributed articles to the American Economic Review, American Political Science Review, North American Review, and World Affairs Interpreter. In addition to his work with the Red Cross, Peirce served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Iowa State Conference of Social Work (1912-16), and as President (1913). He was also Chairman of the Iowa State Child Labor Committee (1913-19).

In 1906 he married Hattie M. Wasmuth, and they had one daughter, Faith (Mrs. C.B. Colton), OC 1929. After his retirement from Oberlin in 1941, Peirce moved to Florida with his wife, where he resided in Winter Park, until his death on March 30, 1951.

Sources consulted

Faculty file of Paul S. Peirce (RG 28); and, William E. Bigglestone's unpublished "[preliminary] Guide to the Oberlin College Archives," which was prepared on individual entry sheets in a three-ring binder during the early 1980s.

Forms of Material (links to similar genres)

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Administrative Information

Scope and Contents:

One of Peirce's early publications (1904) was "The Freedman's Bureau: A Chapter on the History of Reconstruction" (The State University of Iowa Studies in Sociology, Economics, Politics, and History, Vol. III, No. 1). During his research for this study, Peirce wrote to a number of persons who had knowledge of the workings of the Freedmen's Bureau and these papers consist of the 34 replies received. The letters written in 1889-1900 generally concern questions Peirce raised about the Bureau whereas those in 1904 are in response to the publication of his study. Among the respondents are military men and educators, a number of whom were southerners. The complete list of correspondents can be found in the inventory of this finding guide.

Note: Entry taken from William E. Bigglestone's unpublished "[preliminary] Guide to the Oberlin College Archives," which was prepared on individual entry sheets in a three-ring binder during the early 1980's.

INVENTORY

The letters are filed chronologically in four folders:

Mid October-November 1899 (this file also contains

a photocopy of thetitle page and preface to

"The Freedmen's Bureau")

December 1899

1900

1904-07

The correspondents are:

Balloch, G.W., February 23, 1900

Battle, K.P., October 28, 1899

Battle, R.H., January 1,1900

Boggs, A.A. , December 29, [1899 ?]

Bromberg, Frederick G., December 29, 1899

Chambers, Mrs. P.B., November 7,1899

Curry, J.L.M., October 26, 1899

Davis, R. Means, October 28, 1899 (postcard)

Deupress, J.G., n.d.

Garner, James W., January 15, 1900

Hamilton, Peter J., November 7, 1899

Hill, Robert A., December 29, 1899

Horton, Guy B., May 21, 1904

Howard, C.H. May 28,1904 and July 20,1904

Howard, General 0.0., December 11,1904 (by his

son H.S. Howard), December 11, 1907

Leavell, R.M., November 11, 1899

Lee, General Stephen D., January 2, 13, and 20,

1900, n.d.

Riley, Franklin L., November 20, 1899; April 26, 1904

Swayne, General Wager, December 19, 1899

Thomas, J.P., October 27, 1899

Washington, Booker T., December 22, 1899

West, A.W., May 22,1904

White, Thomas G., November 2, 1899; November 29,

1899; April 26, 1904; and, May 18, 1904

Whittlesey, E., May 22,1904