F. A. Harper
Encyclopedia
Dr. Floyd Arthur Harper better known as F. A. Harper or "Baldy" Harper, was an American
academic, economist
and writer best known for founding the Institute for Humane Studies
in 1961.
and graduated from Michigan State University
. He went on to obtain a doctorate in agricultural economics from Cornell University
. Economist Herbert J. Davenport
was influential to Harper during his time at Cornell.
In 1930, Harper married Marguerite Kaechele. The couple had four children: Barbara, Harriet, Helen, and Larry.
for 19 years. In 1946, he left academia and helped Leonard Read
start the Foundation for Economic Education
. Harper served on the staff of the Foundation for Economic Education
until 1958, when he became a co-director of the William Volker Fund
, a position he held until 1961. In the early 1960s, Harper served as a visiting professor of moral philosophy at Wabash College
.
Harper was a member of the Mont Pelerin Society
, and was present at the group's first meeting, along with Friedrich Hayek
, Ludwig Von Mises
, Milton Friedman
, and Karl Popper
.
in 1961 in Menlo Park, California
. IHS was originally housed in Harper's garage. Harper initially served as the secretary and treasurer of IHS. He became the Institute's president in 1966, a position he held until his death. According to the Institute for Humane Studies, "Harper set up an institute devoted to research and education in the conviction that greater understanding of human affairs and freedom would foster peace, prosperity, and social harmony."
Charles Koch, who currently serves as chairman of the board of the Institute for Humane Studies, has said that Harper's book, Why Wages Rise has been influential to his philosophical framework.
Upon the Institute's 50th anniversary in 2011, three of Harper's children, Helen Harper, Larry Harper, and Barbara Keith, served as members of the honorary host committee.
wrote that "Harper's main contribution was as a strategist of the libertarian
movement, an institution builder, and a mentor to hundreds of classical liberal scholars."
At his death, Harper was eulogized by economist Murray Rothbard
.
In 1978 and 1979, the Institute for Humane Studies
published Harper's collected works in two volumes. Charles Koch wrote the tribute section. Koch wrote that, "Of all the teachers of liberty, none was as well-beloved as Baldy, for it was he who taught the teachers and, in teaching, taught them humility and gentleness."
The Mercatus Center
at George Mason University
established the F.A. Harper Professorship in Economics, a position currently held by Christopher Coyne.
In October 2011, Coyne co-authored an article entitled War and Liberty: Wisdom From Leonard E. Read and F. A. ‘Baldy’ Harper. The article reviews the main themes of Harper's anti-war pamphlet In Search of Peace http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/harper2.html and argues that Harper's ideas are as important and relevant today as they were 60 years ago.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic, economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and writer best known for founding the Institute for Humane Studies
Institute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
in 1961.
Early life
Harper was born and raised in Middleville, MichiganMiddleville, Michigan
Middleville is a village in Thornapple Township, Barry County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,721 at the 2000 census.- History :...
and graduated from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. He went on to obtain a doctorate in agricultural economics from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. Economist Herbert J. Davenport
Herbert J. Davenport
Herbert Joseph Davenport was an American economist of the Austrian School.- Life and career :Born in Vermont, Davenport began his formal career as assistant professor at the University of Chicago in 1902...
was influential to Harper during his time at Cornell.
In 1930, Harper married Marguerite Kaechele. The couple had four children: Barbara, Harriet, Helen, and Larry.
Career
Harper was a professor of marketing at Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
for 19 years. In 1946, he left academia and helped Leonard Read
Leonard Read
Leonard E. Read was an American economist and the founder of the Foundation for Economic Education, which was the first modern free market think tank in the United States....
start the Foundation for Economic Education
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
. Harper served on the staff of the Foundation for Economic Education
Foundation for Economic Education
The Foundation for Economic Education is one of the oldest free-market organizations established in the United States to study and advance the freedom philosophy. Murray Rothbard recognizes FEE for creating a "crucial open center" that he credits with launching the movement...
until 1958, when he became a co-director of the William Volker Fund
William Volker Fund
The William Volker Fund was a charitable foundation established in 1932 by Kansas City, Missouri, businessman and home-furnishings mogul William Volker. Volker founded the fund with the purposes of aiding the needy, reforming Kansas City’s health care and educational systems, and combating the...
, a position he held until 1961. In the early 1960s, Harper served as a visiting professor of moral philosophy at Wabash College
Wabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
.
Harper was a member of the Mont Pelerin Society
Mont Pelerin Society
The Mont Pelerin Society is an international organization composed of economists , philosophers, historians, intellectuals, business leaders, and others who favour classical liberalism...
, and was present at the group's first meeting, along with Friedrich Hayek
Friedrich Hayek
Friedrich August Hayek CH , born in Austria-Hungary as Friedrich August von Hayek, was an economist and philosopher best known for his defense of classical liberalism and free-market capitalism against socialist and collectivist thought...
, Ludwig Von Mises
Ludwig von Mises
Ludwig Heinrich Edler von Mises was an Austrian economist, philosopher, and classical liberal who had a significant influence on the modern Libertarian movement and the "Austrian School" of economic thought.-Biography:-Early life:...
, Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
, and Karl Popper
Karl Popper
Sir Karl Raimund Popper, CH FRS FBA was an Austro-British philosopher and a professor at the London School of Economics...
.
Institute for Humane Studies
Harper founded the Institute for Humane StudiesInstitute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
in 1961 in Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
. IHS was originally housed in Harper's garage. Harper initially served as the secretary and treasurer of IHS. He became the Institute's president in 1966, a position he held until his death. According to the Institute for Humane Studies, "Harper set up an institute devoted to research and education in the conviction that greater understanding of human affairs and freedom would foster peace, prosperity, and social harmony."
Charles Koch, who currently serves as chairman of the board of the Institute for Humane Studies, has said that Harper's book, Why Wages Rise has been influential to his philosophical framework.
Upon the Institute's 50th anniversary in 2011, three of Harper's children, Helen Harper, Larry Harper, and Barbara Keith, served as members of the honorary host committee.
Legacy
Ronald Hamowy of the Cato InstituteCato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
wrote that "Harper's main contribution was as a strategist of the libertarian
Libertarian
Libertarian may refer to:*A proponent of libertarianism, a political philosophy that upholds individual liberty, especially freedom of expression and action*A member of a libertarian political party; including:**Libertarian Party...
movement, an institution builder, and a mentor to hundreds of classical liberal scholars."
At his death, Harper was eulogized by economist Murray Rothbard
Murray Rothbard
Murray Newton Rothbard was an American author and economist of the Austrian School who helped define capitalist libertarianism and popularized a form of free-market anarchism he termed "anarcho-capitalism." Rothbard wrote over twenty books and is considered a centrally important figure in the...
.
In 1978 and 1979, the Institute for Humane Studies
Institute for Humane Studies
The Institute for Humane Studies is a classical liberal non-profit organization whose stated mission is “to support the achievement of a freer society by discovering and facilitating the development of talented students, scholars, and other intellectuals who share an interest in liberty and in...
published Harper's collected works in two volumes. Charles Koch wrote the tribute section. Koch wrote that, "Of all the teachers of liberty, none was as well-beloved as Baldy, for it was he who taught the teachers and, in teaching, taught them humility and gentleness."
The Mercatus Center
Mercatus Center
The Mercatus Center at George Mason University in the United States is a non-profit market-oriented research, education, and outreach think tank affiliated with the Koch family. It works with policy experts, lobbyists, and government officials to connect academic learning and real-world practice...
at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
established the F.A. Harper Professorship in Economics, a position currently held by Christopher Coyne.
In October 2011, Coyne co-authored an article entitled War and Liberty: Wisdom From Leonard E. Read and F. A. ‘Baldy’ Harper. The article reviews the main themes of Harper's anti-war pamphlet In Search of Peace http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/harper2.html and argues that Harper's ideas are as important and relevant today as they were 60 years ago.
Works
- The World's Hunger (with F. A. Pearson)
- The Crisis of the Free Market (1945)
- High Prices (1948)
- The Collected Works of F.A. Harper, 2 volumes (Institute for Humane Studies, 1978 & 1979)