Scope and Content Note
The papers of Abba Ptachya Lerner (1903-1982) span 1929-1986, with the majority of the papers concentrated from 1939 to 1982. The bulk of the papers documents Lerner's activities as a professor, lecturer, and adviser in various fields of economics and economic theory. By working on the logic of using government fiscal policy to adjust the economy to allow full employment without inflation, Lerner was a significant contributor to the economic policy revolution associated with the "new economics." His papers consist of five series: Family Papers; General Correspondence; Subject File; Lectures, Speeches, and Writings; and Miscellany. Interfiled throughout the collection are a few items of Lerner's wife, Daliah Goldfarb Lerner. The collection is fragmentary, however, because Lerner also gave a portion of his papers to the University of California at Berkeley.
The Family Papers (1929-1985) consist primarily of letters between Lerner and family members and pertain mostly to family matters. Lerner's early letters, especially those to his parents, often contain a detailed account of his professional and personal activities.
The General Correspondence series (1939-1986), consisting chiefly of incoming letters, relates to personal and professional matters. One item worthy of mention is a copy of a letter of 26 December 1979 from Lerner to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini encouraging the reestablishment of peaceful relations between Iran and the United States and the release of the American hostages. Also included are a few letters to other national government officials concerning economic policy.
Papers in the Subject File (1930-1984) constitute almost half the collection. The Subject File reflects a wide range of topics of interest to Lerner: money and wealth, welfare economics, and peace in the Middle East. This series includes correspondence, research material, and writings by Lerner and other academics. Also included are a few items relating to Lerner's work for the RAND Corporation.
The Lectures, Speeches, and Writings series (1932-1981) chronicles Lerner's prolific work as a speaker and writer. Although material relating to Lerner's books are fragmentary, this series contains numerous lectures, speeches, articles, papers, reviews, and letters to editors. Lerner's speeches and writings reflect the influence of one of his teachers, John Maynard Keynes, who theorized that government should use monetary and fiscal problems to increase employment and spending. Lerner's efforts to explain the British economist's theories have been credited by some with making Keynes understandable to the rest of the economic profession, particularly in the United States
The final series, Miscellany (1932-1983), relates primarily to Lerner's artistic endeavors. The papers document his interest in photography, art mobiles, and pen and ink portraits. A file of diary and dream notes provide a frank and intimate glimpse of Lerner's personal thoughts.
Among the most significant or frequent of Lerner's correspondents are Haim Ben-Shahar, Raymond L. Buell, Arthur Edward Burns, David C. Colander, Gerald R. Ford, Milton Friedman, John Kenneth Galbraith, Alfred E. Kahn, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, William Proxmire, Alice M. Rivlin, and Robert A. Taft (1889-1953).