Description
Papers of John S. Galbraith, professor of history and university administrator. Galbraith specialized in the history of the
British Empire and taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (1948-1964 and 1968-1984) and the University of California,
San Diego (1984-1987). He also served as the second chancellor of UCSD (1964-1968). The papers include correspondence, photographs,
drafts of speeches, biographical information, and recommendations. Although the bulk of the materials documents Galbraith's
professional activities, some correspondence relates to the administration of UCSD.
The collection is arranged in eight series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) EPHEMERA, 3) MISCELLANY, 4) SPEECHES, 5) PHOTOGRAPHS, 6)
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION, 7) WRITINGS BY GALBRAITH, and 8) RECOMMENDATIONS. The accession processed in 1994 contains recent
correspondence (1992-1993) and miscellaneous materials. The accessions processed in 1997 are arranged in five series: 1)
JOURNAL ARTICLES, 2) SPEECHES, 3) UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS, 4) COURSE OUTLINES, and 5) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.
Background
A native of Glasgow, Scotland, John Semple Galbraith was born on November 10, 1916. His family emigrated to the United States
in 1925, and he received his primary and secondary education in Ohio. He graduated from Ohio's Miami University with a bachelor's
degree in 1938, and pursued graduate studies at the University of Iowa, where he obtained a master's degree in 1940 and a
Ph.D. in history in 1943. Shortly after his graduation, Galbraith joined the U.S. Air Force and served as an historian until
1946.