Vervon Orval Watts papers, 1920-1983

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Summary

Creators:
Watts, Vervon Orval, 1898-
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.
Extent:
23 manuscript boxes (9.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Vervon Orval Watts papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
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
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1983.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Vervon Orval Watts papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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