Access
Use
Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
Biographical Note
Scope and Content of Collection
Title: Vervon Orval Watts papers
Date (inclusive): 1920-1983
Collection Number: 83064
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
23 manuscript boxes
(9.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, speeches and writings, notes, instructional materials, research materials, clippings, and other printed matter
relating to economic conditions in the United States and economic theory, especially laissez-faire economics.
Creator:
Watts, Vervon Orval, 1898-
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1983.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Vervon Orval Watts papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical Note
1898 March 25 |
Born, Manitoba, Canada |
1918 |
Graduated from University of Manitoba |
1923 |
M.A., Harvard University |
1939 |
Economic counsel, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce |
1944 |
Author,
Do We Want Free Enterprise?
|
1946 |
Editorial director, Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) |
1952 |
Author,
Away From Freedom
|
1954 |
Author,
Union Monopoly
|
1955 |
Author,
United Nations: Planned Tyranny
|
1963-1984 |
Director of economic education and chairman of the Division of Social Studies, Northwood University |
1976 |
Author,
Politics vs. Prosperity
|
post-1923 |
Ph.D., Harvard University |
circa 1925-1939 |
Taught at various colleges and universities, including Clark University, Harvard University, Wellesley, Antioch College,
Carlton College, Claremont Men's College, Pepperdine University, and Campbell College
|
1938 |
Author,
Why Are We So Prosperous?
|
1967 |
Author,
Free Markets or Famine
|
1993 |
Died, Palm Springs, California |
Scope and Content of Collection
The Vervon Orval Watts papers document the life and career of a conservative economist, academic, and opinion maker. An early
critic of the New Deal, Watts maintained a lifelong commitment to laissez-faire principles, opposing government intervention
in the economy and most social welfare programs. He sought to popularize these ideas by communicating them to a broad audience.
His papers are largely comprised of writings, research materials, writings by others, and printed matter.
The extensive
Speeches and Writings series contains many of Watts' articles, speeches, and pamphlets, as well as several monographs that he wrote or edited.
The series also includes work that Watts did as a publicist and speechwriter for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, including
the texts of many lectures that he gave. The collection also has an extensive
Subject File, comprised largely of clippings and articles, that reflects Watts' many research interests. Prior to serving as an economic
advisor to organizations, Watts had a long teaching career, and the
Academic File contains course materials, lecture notes, and syllabi relating to classes he taught at several institutions. Additionally,
the academic file has a number of materials from Watts' time as a student, including papers that he wrote, as well as reading
and lecture notes.
The collection also has a significant number of
Speeches and Writings by Others, mainly on economic issues. There are also many pamphlets collected by Watts in the
Printed Matter series, largely written by conservative authors.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Free enterprise
Economics
Economists
United States -- Economic conditions