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GERMAN AND JEWISH INTELLECTUAL ÉMIGRE´ COLLECTION

Finding Aid for the
GERHARD COLM
PAPERS, 1929-1972
(GER-029)

Gerhard Colm's obituary from the New School Bulletin, Vol. 26, No.6, January 30, 1969, Series 1: Obituaries, Memorials

VOLUME: 2.0 cubic ft.

ACQUISITION: All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, by Mrs. Mascha Colm in November 1982; other items pertaining to Prof. Colm were added to the collection from the Hans Staudinger Papers.

ACCESS: Access to this record group is unrestricted.

COPYRIGHT: The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Biographical Sketch

Chronology of Events

Scope and Content Note

Series Description

Box and Folder List:

• Series 1: Biographical materials
• Series 2: Correspondence of Gerhard Colm, 1929-1967
• Series 3: Hans Staudinger Correspondence, primarily concerning the Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture series, 1969-1972
• Series 4: Writings and publications of Gerhard Colm, 1930-1967
• Series 5: Publications and papers prepared by Colm (or under his supervision) for the National Planning Association, 1952-1968
• Series 6: Manuscripts by others
• Series 7: Miscellaneous materials

Gerhard Colm Papers
Biographical Sketch

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Gerhard Colm was best known for his work as the Chief Economist of the National Planning Association and serving as a leading economic adviser for both the Roosevelt and Truman administrations.

Gerhard Colm was born on June 30, 1897 in Hamburg, Germany to Emil and Olga Strassburger Colm. He received his doctorate in 1921 from the University of Frieburg and did post-graduate work at the University of Munich and the University of Berlin (1921-1922). Colm served as a statistician for the German government from 1921-1927, but left government service to enter academia as head of the research division of the Institute of World Economics at the University of Kiel from 1927-1933.

Colm's active participation in groups agitating against the Freikorps and other pro-Hitler organizations forced him to emigrate in 1933 to the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany. Colm came to New York as one of the founding members of the University in Exile of the New School for Social Research, to which he was elected Dean of Exiled Scholars in 1938.

In 1939 Colm was named by Secretary of Commerce Harry L. Hopkins as Fiscal and Financial expert of the new industrial economics division of that department. In this capacity Colm developed national income estimates for economic planning. One year later Colm became principal fiscal analyst of the Bureau of the Budget and assistant chief of the division, a position he held until 1946. In addition, Colm lectured at George Washington University from 1940-1962 and served the U.S. government on many special economic missions to foreign countries. From 1946 to 1952 he was economist on the Council of Economic Advisors, Executive Office of the President. In 1952 Colm joined the private sector as Chief Economist for the National Planning Association, remaining in that position until his death. He died on December 26, 1968 in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Colm was married twice, first to Hanna Nicolassen on September 11, 1922 until her death on March 21, 1965. They had four children, Peter, Ann, Stine and Claus. Colm married his second wife, Mascha Gilde on April 11, 1966.

Gerhard Colm Papers
Chronology of Events

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Gerhard Colm Papers
Scope and Content Note

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The Gerhard Colm Papers, 1929-1972, (2 cu. ft.) have been divided into seven series: 1) Biographical materials; 2) Correspondence of Gerhard Colm, 1929-1967; 3) Hans Staudinger Correspondence,1969-1972; 4) Writings and publications of Gerhard Colm, 1930-1967; 5) Publications and papers prepared by Colm (or under his supervision) for the National Planning Association, 1952-1968; 6) Manuscripts by others; and 7) Miscellaneous materials.

The bulk of the collection consists of Colm's writings, both private publications (1930-1967) as well as those published under the auspices of the National Planning Association (1952-1968). Included in his writings for the National Planning Association are a number of pamphlets, his economic projections for the coming years, as well as his addresses to House and Senate Subcommittees on various fiscal matters. The collection contains only a small amount of correspondence to and from Colm (including Hans Staudinger), but also contains Staudinger's correspondence after Colm's death with various contemporaries to establish the Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture Series at the New School for Social Research.

Gerhard Colm Papers
Series Descriptions

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Series 1: Biographical materials. 7 file folders.

This series consists primarily of materials concerning the establishment of The Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture Series at the New School for Social Research, 1969-1970. Also in this series are memorial addresses and obituaries after the death of Colm.

Series 2: Correspondence of Gerhard Colm, 1929-1967. 9 file folders, arranged alphabetically.

This series contains a small amount of correspondence of Colm, including correspondence with Hans Staudinger of the New School for Social Research.

Series 3: Hans Staudinger Correspondence, primarily concerning the Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture series, 1969-1972. 24 file folders, arranged alphabetically.

This series contains correspondence between Hans Staudinger and others in reference to the Colm lecture series, in particular with Mascha Colm and Walter Heller.

Series 4: Writings and publications of Gerhard Colm, 1930-1967. 56 file folders, arranged chronologically.

This series contains primarily reprints of articles published by Cohn in scholarly journals, as well as several original typescripts and mimeographed speech texts.

Series 5: Publications and papers prepared by Colm (or under his supervision) for the National Planning Association, 1952-1968. 47 file folders, arranged chronologically.

This series contains pamphlets and mimeographed typescripts of essays published under the auspices of the National Planning Association, either authored by, co-authored by or prepared under the supervision of Gerhard Colm, Director of the National Planning Association.

Series 6: Manuscripts by others, mostly undated. 14 file folders, arranged alphabetically.

Series 7: Miscellaneous materials. 6 file folders.

This series consists of additional publications of the National Planning Association as well as miscellaneous materials in German and in English.

Gerhard Colm Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 1: Biographical materials

Box 1
Folder

1. Obituaries, memorials, 1968-1969.
2. Biographical questionnaire, lexicon entries, clippings, 1965-1976.
3. Gerhard Colm Memorial Lectures. General information, 1969-1970.
4. Gerhard Colm Memorial Lectures. Hans Staudinger notes.
5. First Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture, Mar. 20, 1970: Walter W. Heller. "Excerpts from 'Economics of the Race Problem'."
6. First Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture: Samuel Bowles: Discussant.
7. First Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture: Robert S. Browne: Discussant.

Gerhard Colm Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 2: Correspondence of Gerhard Colm, 1929-1967

Box 1 (continued)
Folder

8. Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System, 1936.
9. Fachgemeinschaften und Ausschüsse des Bundes Deutscher Frauenvereine, 1929.
10. Foreman, Clark, 1936.
11. Heimann, Eduard, 1947.
12. The Journal of Political Economy, 1937-1938.
13. Mills, Wilbur D. (The National Planning Association), 1967.
14. Richter-Altschäffer, Hans, 1938.
15. Staudinger, Hans, 1957-1966.
16. Miscellaneous, 1936, 1953, 1957.

Gerhard Colm Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 3: Hans Staudinger Correspondence, primarily concerning the Gerhard Colm Memorial Lecture series, 1969-1972

Box 1 (continued)
Folder

17. Altschul, Frank, 1969.
18. Bamberg, H. George, 1970-1972.
19. Bernstein, Peter, 1970.
20. Bowles, Samuel, 1969-1970.
21. Brimmer, Andrew F., 1969-1970.
22. Browne, Robert S., 1970.
23. Buchenholz, Jane J., 1970.
24. Colm, Mascha, 1969-1970.
25. Cranford, Victoria, 1970.
26. Deyrup, Felicia, 1970.
27. Ehrlich, Edna, 1970.
28. Greenbaum, Joseph J., 1969-1970.
29. Heilbronner, Robert, 1969.
30. Heller, Walter H., 1969-1970.
31. Lowe, Adolph, 1969.
32. National Planning Association (John Miller), 1969-1970.
33. Pfleiderer, Otto, 1969.
34. Roper, Elmo, 1969.
35. Schaffner, Joe, 1969.
36. Sonenblum, Sidney, 1970.
37. Sonne, H. Christian, 1969-1970.
38. Tobin, James, 1969.
39. Vietorisz, Thomas, 1970.
40. Wallich, Henry C., 1970.

Gerhard Colm Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 4: Writings and publications of Gerhard Colm, 1930-1967

Box 1 (continued)
Folder

41. Der Mensch im Wirtschaftlichen Kreislauf. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1930.
42. Wege auf der Weltkrise. Excerpts, undated.
43. Essays in Public Finance and Fiscal Policy. New York: Oxford University Press, 1955.
44. "Über den Inhalt und den Erkenntniswert der Zahlungsbilanz." Reprint, undated
45. "Democracy and Arbitration of Industrial Disputes." Typescript, undated.
46. "Is Economic Planning Compatible with Democracy?" Typescript, undated.
47. Review of Arnd Jessen, Der vollkommene Haushaltsplan. Ein Beitrag zur Theorie der Haushaltsform. Reprint, 1929.
48. Review of Staatseinnahmen aus Steuern und Zöllen im Deutschen Reich und im Auslande. Reprint, 1930.
49. "Wege aus der Weltwirtschaftskrise." Reprint, Nov. 1931.
50. "Deutschland und die Weltkrise." Reprint, 1932.
51. Review of Öffentliche Hand und Wirtschaftsgestaltung. Reprint, July 1932.
52. "Zahlungsbilanz." Reprint, 1933.
53. "Politique commerciale allemande." Reprint, May 1933.
54. "Theory of Public Expenditures," The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 183 (Jan. 1936), 1-11.
55. "Public Spending and Recovery in the United States." Reprint, May 1936.
56. "Public Revenue and Public Expenditure in the National Income." Text of paper, Dec. 29, 1936; reprints.
57. Review of Hans Richter-Altschäffer, Volkswirtschaftliche Theorie der öffentlichen Investitionen. Reprints, Dec. 1937.
58. "The Revenue Act of 1938." Reprint, Sept. 1938.
59. "Tax Policy and Capital Formation." Reprint of paper, Feb. 1939.
60. "Gerhard Colm Discusses the Basis of Federal Fiscal Policy." Reprints, June 1939.
61. "Who pays the taxes?" Reprint, 1940.
62. "Comments on I. W. King: 'Are We Suffering from Economic Maturity?'" Reprint, Feb. 1940.
63. "How to Finance Defense." Text of paper, Mar. 4, 1941.
64. "Round Table Discussion – Who Pays the Taxes?" Text of discussion, June 10, 1942.
65. "On the Road to Economic Stabilization." Reprint, Sept. 1948.
66. "Why Public Finance?" Reprint, Sept. 1948.
67. "Experiences in the Use of Social Accounting in Public Policy in the United States." Text of conference paper, Cambridge, England, Aug. 27-Sept. 3, 1949.
68. "A Plan for the Liquidation of War Finance and the Financial Rehabilitation of Germany." Reprint, ca. 1950.
69. "'Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bath'. Comments on recent articles on Progressive Income and Corporate Income Taxes." Reprint, 1953.
70. "Entwicklungen in Konjunkturforschung und Konjunkturpolitik in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika." Reprint, 1954.
71. "Economic Analysis for a Time of Change." Abstract of a paper, May 24, 1954.
72. "Die Selbstverpflichtung des amerikanischen Volkes zur Vollbeschäftigungs-politik." Reprint, 1956.
73. "Economic Implications of Disarmament." Reprints, July 1957.
74. "Wirtschaftsverfassung, Finanzwirtschaft und Finanzwissenschaft." Reprint, 1959.
75. "Financial Needs and Resources over the Next Decade at All Levels of Government." Typescript, Apr. 10-11, 1959.
76. "Observations of a Foreign Visitor on the Japanese Economic Development." Typescript, May 1960.
77. "In Defense of the Public Interest." Reprint, Autumn 1960.
78. "Amerikanische Konjunkturpolitik am Scheideweg." Typescript of speech, July 28, 1961.
79. "A National Economic Budget," The New Republic, No. 16, Oct. 20, 1962, 34-39.
80. "Discussion." Reprint, 1963.
81. "The Economics of the Current Fiscal Policy Proposals in the United States." Mimeographed typescript, Sept. 1963.
82. "Economic Planning in the United States." Reprint, 1964.
83. "Weltwirtschaftliche Forschung im Zeitalter der Koexistenz." Reprint, 1964.
84. "Economic Prospects." Mimeographed typescript, Mar. 20, 1964.
85. "Projecting Federal Revenues and Expenditures." Reprints, June 1965.
86. "On Goals Research." Typescript, June 28, 1965.
87. "National Goals Analysis and Marginal Utility Economics." Reprint, July 1965.
88. "Projecting Federal Revenues and Expenditures. Highlights of Federal Budget Projections. A New Study by Gerhard Colm and Peter Wagner." Reprint, Fall 1965.
89. "On Goals Research." Reprint, Apr. 1966.
90. Review of Andrew Shonfield, Modern Capitalism. The Changing Balance of Public and Private Power. Typescript, Aug. 23, 1966.
91. "The Role and Impact of Government R & D Information." Typescript, photocopy, Dec. 2, 1966.
92. "Comments on the proposed Full Opportunity and Social Accounting Act of 1967." Seminar paper prepared for the Subcommittee on Government Research, Senate Committee on Government Operations, June 26, 1967.
93. "Letter to Gert von Eynern." Typescript, reprint, July 4, 1967.
94. "On the Problems of Program Appraisal in the Field of Development of Human Resources." Paper, Nov. 28, 1967.
95. "The Planning-Programming-Budgeting System." Reprint, Dec. 1967.
96. "Concluding Comments." Reprint, undated

Gerhard Colm Papers
Box and Folder List

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Series 5: Publications and papers prepared by Colm (or under his supervision) for the National Planning Association, 1952-1968

Box 2
Folder

1. The American Economy in 1960. Economic Progress in a World of Tension.
Planning Pamphlets, No. 81 (Dec. 1952).
2. Can We Afford Additional Programs for National Security? Planning Pamphlets, No. 84 (Oct. 1953).
3. "The Economic Outlook for 1954" (Jan. 1954).
4. Opportunities for Economic Expansion. Planning Pamphlets, No. 87 (July 1954); also preliminary draft.
5. "The Economic Outlook for 1955" (Jan. 1955).
6. "The Economic Outlook for 1956" (Dec. 1955).
7. "Summary of Testimony on Budget Policy and Economic Growth Presented to. the Subcommittee on Tax Policy and the Joint Committee on the Economic Report, December 5, 1955." Mimeographed typescript.
8. The Employment Act Past and Future. A Tenth Anniversary Symposium. National Planning Association, Special Report No. 41 (Feb. 1956).
9. "The Economic Outlook for 1957" (Dec. 1956).
10. "Statement of Gerhard Colm before the Subcommittee on Disarmament of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, March 7, 1957." Mimeographed typescript.
11. "General Economic Feasibility of National Security Programs." Mimeographed typescript of paper, March 20, 1957.
12. "Statement of Dr. Gerhard Colm, National Planning Association." Text of House of Representatives Subcommittee hearings, April 5, 1957.
13. "Statement of Gerhard Colm before the Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy of the Joint Economic Committee, June 4, 1957." Mimeographed typescript.
14. "The Economic Outlook for 1958" (Dec. 1957).
15. The Economy of the American People. Progress, Problems, Prospects. Planning Pamphlet No. 102 (Mar. 1958); also preliminary draft; reprint of summary version.
16. "Statement of Gerhard Colm before the Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy of the Joint Economic Committee, April 29, 1958." Mimeographed typescript.
17. "Statement of Gerhard Colm, Chief Economist, National Planning Association before the House Ways and Means Committee, June 11, 1959." Mimeographed typescript.
18. Long-Range Projections for Economic Growth: the American Economy in 1970. A Staff Report. Planning Pamphlet No. 107 (Oct. 1959).
19. "The Economic Outlook for 1960" (Dec. 1959).
20. "The Economic Outlook for 1961" (Dec. 1960).
21. "Economic Prognosis as Basis of Economic Policy" (Jan. 1961).
22. "Targets for U.S. Economic Growth in the Early 60's." Mimeographed typescript, Jan. 6, 1961.
23. "Targets for U.S. Economic Growth. A Statement by the NPA Steering Committee and A Staff Report by Gerhard Colm." Mimeographed typescript, Jan. 6, 1961.
24. "A Joint Statement on The Rise of Chronic Unemployment." Mimeographed typescript, April 3, 1961.
25. "Budgetary Projections in the Framework of Economic Projections and their Adaptations." Mimeographed typescript, July 1961.
26. "Budgetary Projections in the Framework of Economic Projections and Planning. Concluding Comments." Mimeographed typescript, September 1961.
27. "Statement by Gerhard Colm before The Ways and Means Committee of the United States House of Representatives." Mimeographed typescript, July 26, 1962.
28. "Economic Potentials and Prospects: A New Look." Mimeographed typescript, June 1, 1963.
29. "World Economic Research in an Age of Competitive Coexistence" (Mar. 1964).
30."The Use and Misuse of Statistics" (Apr. 1964).
31. "The Economic Outlook for 1965" (Dec. 1964).
32. Modernizing the American Economy. A Joint Statement by the NPA Joint Subcommittee on Improving America's International Competitive Position and the NPA Steering Committee. National Planning Association, Special Report No. 61 (Dec. 1964).
33. "Two Economic Reports: Canada and the United States" (Feb. 1965).
34. "Economic Aspects of Technological Development." Mimeo. typescript, May 17, 1966.
35. "Comments on Price-Wage Guideposts" (Nov. 1966).
36. "The Economic Outlook for 1967" (Dec. 1966).
37. "Response by Gerhard Colm to Inquiry on Federally-Sponsored Social Research from the House Government Operations Committee, Research and Technical Programs Subcommittee." Mimeo. typescript, Dec. 23, 1966.
38. "Statement of Gerhard Colm on The Economic Report of the President of January 1967, prepared for the hearing of the Joint Economic Committee." Mimeographed typescript, Feb. 21, 1967.
39. "Short and Long-term Outlooks." Mimeographed typescript, Apr. 1967.
40. "Re: Comments on SDC's View of 1988." Mimeographed typescript, July 24 1967.
41. "The Economic Outlook for 1967" (Dec. 1967).
42. "'Questions' related to the Report of the Economic Advisors, to W. Heller's writings, and to the 1968 Forecast by Gerhard Colm (National Planning Assoc.)" (undated).
43. Integration of National Planning and Budgeting. Planning Methods Series No. 5 (Mar. 1968).
44. "Hearings before the Joint Economic Committee on Implications of the Kerner Report: Employment and Manpower Problems in the Cities, June 4, 1968." Mimeographed typescript.
45. "The Next Step: Concerted Planning." Mimeographed address, Oct. 24, 1968.
46. Program Planning for national goals. Planning Pamphlet No. 125 (Nov. 1968).
47. "The Economic Outlook for 1969" (Dec. 1968).

Gerhard Colm Papers
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Series 6: Manuscripts by others, mostly undated

Box 2 (continued)
Folder

48. "Experiences in the Use of Social Accounting in Public Policy in the United States." Mimeographed typescript, undated
49. "The National Peril. An International Committee Statement." Mimeographed typescript, undated
50. Bloch, Ernest. "The Effect of Foreign Investment on the Balance of Payments: Comment." Reprint (1951).
51. Denison, Edward F. "National Goals for Americans." Mimeographed typescript, undated
52. Diwan, Romesh K. "Identification of the Elasticity of Factor Substitution when Factor Markets are Imperfect." Mimeographed typescript, Dec. 8, 1967.
53. Eynern, Gert von. Reprint.
54. Mann, Fritz Karl. Reprint.
55. Nelson, Benjamin. Reprint.
56. Pantuliano, C. B. "The Cyclical Performance of Federal Cash Receipts and Expenditures, 1953-1961." Mimeographed typescript, Mar. 28, 1963.
57. Rechtenwald, Horst Claus. Reprint.
58. Schiller, Karl. Reprint.
59. Schmidt, Kurt. Reprint.
60. von der Gablentz, Otto Heinrich. Reprint.
61. Wallich, Henry C. and William J. Dodson. "Economic Models and Black Economic Development." Mimeographed typescript, undated

Gerhard Colm Papers
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Series 7: Miscellaneous materials

Box 2 (continued)
Folder

62. National Planning Association. Individual issues of Looking Ahead (1955-1967).
63. National Planning Association. Press releases, 1960-1961.
64. National Planning Association. Miscellaneous publications.
65. Miscellaneous materials, English.
66. Miscellaneous materials, German.
67. Miscellaneous materials, German.