PAUL SKEELS PEIRCE, 1874-1951

(PAPERS, 1899-1907, n.d.)

---

BIOGRAPHY

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 '29. 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.

Further Information

• Title Page
• Scope and Content
• Inventory

This page is maintained by:

Last updated: 26 April 1999