MenuInventory of the Lloyd Appleton Metzler Papers, 1937-1974
Abstract
Economist, University of Chicago faculty member, and consultant to a number of U.S. government agencies.
Collection spans the years 1937-1974 and consists chiefly of Metzler's correspondence, notes and drafts, printed material, course-related materials, and typed copies of works by Metzler and others. Significant correspondents include Paul Samuelson and Kenneth Arrow. Most items relate to his career as an economic consultant for several U.S. government agencies including the Federal Reserve Board (1940s). Others relate to his work as a professor of economics at the University of Chicago. Topics covered by his papers include post-World War II policy and planning, British-American economic negotiations after the war, German monetary reform, monetary aspects of international trade, exchange rates, income transfer, instability theories, and the application of mathematics to economic theory. Collection is minimally processed and may need further processing before materials can be used.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- Metzler, Lloyd A. (Lloyd Appleton).
- Title
- Lloyd Appleton Metzler Papers, 1937-1974
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 14.0 Linear Feet, Approximately 10,300 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
The Lloyd A. Metzler Papers span the years 1937-1974 and consist chiefly of professional correspondence, research notes ad drafts, printed material, teaching material, and typed drafts or reprints of works by Metzler and others. Significant correspondents include Moses Abramovitz, Kenneth Arrow, Harry Johnson, James Meade, and Paul Samuelson, with many letters, particularly between Meade, Metzler, and Johnson (1940s-1950s), containing in-depth exchanges about economics. There are a few exchanges with Gottfried Haberler on international trade. Several folders contain significant notes from Metzler's own student days at Harvard in the 1930s with Joseph Schumpeter, Wassily Leontief, and O. H. Taylor. Many items in the collection relate to Metzler's wartime service as an economic consultant for several U.S. government agencies including the Federal Reserve Board, as well as his post-war work with the Department of State and with the Secretary of the Treasury on monetary policy, among other issues. Other items relate to his work as a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, and offer insights into the views he held on economics in the context of the Chicago School. Topics represented by materials in the collection include post-World War II policy and planning, including British-American economic negotiations after the war and German monetary reform; monetary aspects of international trade; exchange rates; income transfer; instability theories; and the application of mathematics to economic theory. Some files of research notes and paper drafts contain unpublished work; one draft contains handwritten comments by Viner. Collection is minimally processed and needs further processing before materials can be used.
Administrative Information
Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
Contents of the Collection
Browse List of Series
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Expand AllLloyd A. Metzler Papers, 1937-1974
Correspondence (A-H)
Historical Note
Lloyd Appleton Metzler was born in Kansas in 1913. As an economist he became known for his research on international trade, tariffs, the business cycle, macro-monetary theory, mathematical economics, and instability. The "Metzler paradox" relating to tariff theory was named for him, and in mathematical economics the "Metzler matrix" also bears his name. Graduating from Harvard in 1942, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. He served as a consultant to several U.S. Government commissions and the Federal Reserve Board during World War II, and was a member of the Yale faculty from 1946-1947. He subsequently spent most of his career at the University of Chicago, where he was a Keynesian economist rather than following the Chicago School of thought. In 1973 Harvard University Press published Metzler's Collected Papers, which were chiefly written between 1941 and 1951. After 1952 a brain tumor presented major health problems and affected his scholarly output. Metzler was honored as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association in 1968. He died in 1980.
Subject Headings
- Abramovitz, Moses.
- Arrow, Kenneth Joseph, 1921-
- Economics--History--20th century.
- Economics--Study and teaching (Higher)--United States.
- Economists--United States--Correspondence.
- Foreign exchange rates--History.
- Government economists--United States.
- Great Britain--Economic conditions--1945-1964.
- Haberler, Gottfried, 1900-
- Harvard University--Dept. of Economics--Faculty.
- International trade--Economic aspects.
- Johnson, Harry G. (Harry Gordon), 1923-1977.
- Meade, J. E. (James Edward), 1907-1995.
- Metzler, Lloyd A. (Lloyd Appleton).
- Monetary policy--Germany.
- Monetary policy--United States.
- Samuelson, Paul A. (Paul Anthony), 1915-
- Stabilization, Economic.
- United States--Economic conditions--1918-1945.
- United States. Federal Reserve Board.
- University of Chicago--Faculty.
- University of Chicago. Dept. of Economics--Faculty.
- World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Lloyd Appleton Metzler Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
Provenance
The Lloyd Appleton Metzler Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift from Richard Appleton Metzler in October 1987.
Processing Information
Processed by Rubenstein Library staff, January 1988
Collection is minimally processed and needs further processing before materials can be used.
Encoded by Robert Carlson and Paula Jeannet Mangiafico, October 2009
Accessions 87-126 and 87-162 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.