Edwin Francis Gay (October 27, 1867 – February 8, 1946) was an American

economist An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social sciences, social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this ...

, professor of economic history, and the first dean of

Harvard Business School Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate school, graduate business school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university. Located in Allston, Massachusetts, HBS owns Harvard Business Publishing, which p ...

.Morgen Witzel (2004) "Edwin Gay (1867-1946)" in: ''Fifty key figures in management''. Routledge. p. 136-141

Early life

Born in Detroit to a rich businessman, Gay attended schools in the United States and in Switzerland. In 1890, he obtained his A.B. in history and philosophy at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

. He returned to Europe to study agriculture, industry, trade, and history at universities in Leipzig, Göttingen, Zurich, Berlin and London. In 1892, he married his Michigan classmate Louise Randolph, with whom he shared his research. In 1902, he received his PhD from the

University of Berlin The Humboldt University of Berlin (, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin, Germany. The university was established by Frederick William III on the initiative of Wilhelm von Humbol ...

under supervision of Gustav Schmoller.

Career

Back in the United States, in 1902, Gay was appointed instructor at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

, replacing William Ashley. In 1903, he was promoted to Assistant Professor, and in 1906 to Professor in the chair of Economic History at Harvard. Gay was the first Dean of the

from 1908 to 1919. The Harvard Business School was founded in 1908 and started the first year with 59 students. In the 1920s, there were over 500 students. Gay served as chairman of the planning and statistics division of the

War Industries Board The War Industries Board (WIB) was a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies between the War Department (Department of the Army) and the Navy Department. Becaus ...

during World War I. He was a founding member of the

Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an American think tank focused on Foreign policy of the United States, U.S. foreign policy and international relations. Founded in 1921, it is an independent and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi ...

, and served as its first elected secretary and treasurer from 1921 to 1933, then as vice-president until 1944, succeeding co-founder Paul D. Cravath. Gay was elected to the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...

in 1913. In 1921, he was elected as a

Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

of the

American Statistical Association The American Statistical Association (ASA) is the main professional organization for statisticians and related professionals in the United States. It was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, on November 27, 1839, and is the second-oldest continuous ...

. He was elected to the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

in 1932. From 1929 onwards, he was the representative for America and de facto co-chairman of the International Scientific Committee on Price History. He was president of the ''

New York Evening Post The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is an American conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates three online sites: NYPost.com; PageSix.com, a gossip site; and Decider.com, an entertainm ...

'' from 1920 to 1923.

Personal life

Gay had a son and daughter, Edward R. and Margaret. He lived on Orlando Road in

San Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked country in Southern Europe, completely surrounded by Italy. Located on the northeastern slopes of the Apennine Mountains, it is the larger of two European microstates, microsta ...

. Gay died on February 8, 1946, at Huntington Memorial Hospital in

Pasadena Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial d ...

Selected publications

Books, a selection: * Burritt, A. W., Dennison, H. S., Gay, E. F., Heilman, R. E., & Kendall, H. P. (1918). ''Profit Sharing, Its Principles and Practice: A Collaboration''. Harper & Brothers. * Gay, Edwin Francis. ''The rhythm of history''. 1923. * Gay, Edwin Francis, et al. ''Facts and factors in economic history: articles by former students of Edwin Francis Gay''. Harvard University Press, 1932. * Hamilton, Alexander, Arthur H. Cole, and Edwin Francis Gay. ''Industrial and Commercial Correspondence of Alexander Hamilton: Anticipating His Report on Manufactures''. Augustus M. Kelley, 1968. Articles, a selection: * Gay, Edwin Francis. "The Inquisitions of Depopulation in 1517 and the'Domesday of Inclosures'." ''Transactions of the Royal Historical Society'' 14.1 (1900): 231-303. About Gay: * Heaton, Herbert. ''A scholar in action, Edwin F. Gay''. Greenwood Press, 1968.

Honors

To his memory, the "Edwin F. Gay Award for Economic History" was created. One of the award winners was historian Richard H. Tilly.

Archives and records

Dean's Office Correspondence Files (Edwin F. Gay, Dean)
at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gay, Edwin Francis 1867 births 1946 deaths American newspaper publishers (people) American business theorists Writers from Detroit University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni Harvard Business School faculty Fellows of the American Statistical Association Presidents of the American Economic Association Business school deans Economists from Michigan People from San Marino, California Members of the American Philosophical Society