Identity elements
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Collection
Title
Richard A. Kahn papers
Date(s)
- 1932-1957 (Creation)
Extent
8 Boxes
Name of creator
Biographical history
Richard A. Kahn (1891-1958), a lawyer and economist, taught economics and business law courses, published numerous articles and held a variety of positions in the United States government. Born in Germany, Kahn studied in Heidelberg and served as counsel for the city government of Ludwigshafen-Rhine. During the 1920s, Kahn became executive director of the Tobacco Association of Mannheim. He later worked as a financial consultant and then as Vice President of the Electric Works Company in Berlin during the 1930s.
A research fellowship from Johns Hopkins University brought Kahn to the United States, where he conducted research and taught at American University and later at the Catholic University of America. Kahn also served as economic advisor to the Railroad Retirement Board, before joining the Office of Price Administration (OPA) during World War II. Kahn represented the fisheries industries, and participated in efforts to settle labor disputes and establish price ceilings for the OPA. He handled appeals cases and corresponded with other government agencies including the War Department and the Federal Trade Commission.
In 1944, Kahn became Chief of the Economic and Cooperative Marketing Section of the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Working in the Branch of Commercial Fisheries, Kahn planned and directed economic research, wrote economic reports for the U.S. Congress and government agencies and produced bulletins and pamphlets for the public. Kahn recorded and analyzed investments, cost and consumption statistics and frequently appeared before congressional committees to give reports and represent the interest of commercial fisheries.
Kahn wrote several articles on economics and law published in America and Germany. A member of the Investment Bankers Association and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, he also participated in the activities of these organizations.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
Richard A. Kahn was a lawyer and economist who taught
economics and business law courses, published numerous articles and held a variety of positions in the United States government. The Richard A. Kahn Papers, arranged in three series, contain correspondence, newspaper clippings, book manuscripts, copies of published articles, and marketing research. Much of the content of this collection concerns his work with various fishery institutions, such as the U.S. Branch of Commercial Fisheries and the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute.
System of arrangement
SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE
Concerns the publication of Kahn's books, Law and Economics and Price Legislation as well as several articles. Correspondence relating to the Department of the Interior appears in chronological order from 1943-57. Kahn, as Chief of the Economic and Cooperative Marketing Section in the Branch of Commercial Fisheries, received letters involving the problems of the fisheries industries, marketing research, legislation and other issues. Drafts of Kahn's letters and reports also appear in the files. Correspondence involving the Office of Price Administration (OPA), dated 1942-43, includes letters, memos, clippings, and reports. Other correspondence relates to his academic career, family, and to his niece, a German refugee who fled to France during World War II.
SERIES II: WRITINGS
Includes copies of articles, periodicals containing Kahn's articles, and two untitled manuscripts. Notes for his articles and classroom lectures as well as published course outlines are also included.
SERIES III: MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS
Includes works by James Montague Clark, including a play and short story, and several by economist Myron H. Lewis, including plays, poems, and "Campaign Songs" for the 1936 presidential election.
Also included in this series are papers relating to the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, 1953-54, and the Investment Bankers Association. Kahn's research notes and welcoming addresses, registration lists, papers and abstracts of papers document the activities of this organization which held annual
conferences sponsored by the University of Miami Marine Laboratory. Papers relating to the Investment Bankers Association include registration lists, and reports dated 1954.
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
This collection is open for research.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Richard A. Kahn Papers finding aid © 1993 University of Miami. Requests to reproduce or publish materials from this collection should be directed to asc.library@miami.edu.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (Subject)
- United States. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries (Subject)
- United States. Office of Price Administration (Subject)
- United States. Railroad Retirement Board (Subject)