Gordon Tullock papers, 1927-2009

Summary

Creators:

Tullock, Gordon

Abstract:

Writings, correspondence, studies, reports, financial records, and printed matter relating to public choice, decision-making theory, political and economic theory, and legal procedure.

Extent:

407 manuscript boxes, 1 sound tape reel, 4 sound cassettes (169.7 Linear Feet)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gordon Tullock papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers document the career of Gordon Tullock, an economist known for his work on the theories of public choice and rent seeking. The collection includes writings, correspondence, studies, reports, printed matter, photographs, and sound recordings related to public choice, decision-making theory, political and economic theory, and legal procedure. The materials are divided into three groups based on date of acquisition by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives. Although the collection has not been arranged, the index to major groups can serve as a guide to the collection.

The Biographical File includes family correspondence, photographs, awards, and resumes.

Tullock corresponded with many well-known economists and political figures, including Yale Brozen, Karl Brunner, William F. Buckley, Jr., Ronald Coase, Milton Friedman, Gottfried Haberler, F. A. Harper, F. A. von Hayek, Ludwig von Mises, Karl R. Popper, Murray Rothbard, George Stigler, and Kenneth S. Templeton. Correspondence includes Tullock's letters to and from economists and other scholars.

Tullock was a professor at several universities, including the University of Virginia, George Mason University, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and the University of Arizona. The collection includes correspondence and course materials from each of these universities, as well as a general Teaching File.

In addition to his work as an educator, Tullock was a prolific writer. Speeches and Writings contain drafts, research files, correspondence, notes, and printed copies related to Tullock's many books and articles. Further drafts of speeches, as well as meeting materials of the Mont Pelerin Society, can be found in the Conference and Travel File.

With James Buchanan, Tullock founded the economics journal Public Choice in 1966, when it was originally named Papers in Non-Market Economics. Tullock was the editor of Public Choice for many years. The Public Choice File includes papers submitted to the journal, subscriptions, orders, correspondence, meeting agendas, and sales information.

The collection also contains Writings by Others in the form of drafts and printed matter. In addition to a rough proof of Religion and Science by Bertrand Russell, the collection includes writings by Duncan Black, Yale Brozen, James M. Buchanan, James S. Coleman, Otto Davis, Milton Friedman, John Harsanyi, Thomas Ireland, Richard B. McKenzie, Fritz Machlup, Donald Mackinnon, Warren Nutter, Mancur Olson, Edgar Olson, and Vincent Ostrom.

Biographical / historical:

American economist and social scientist; editorial director, Center for the Study of Public Choice, 1968-

Date	Event
1922	Born, Rockford, Illinois
1947	J.D., University of Chicago
1947-1956	Worked in China, Hong Kong, and Korea for the United States Foreign Service
1949-1951	Chinese language studies at Yale University
1951-1952	Chinese language studies at Cornell University
1958	Started post-doctoral work at the University of Virginia
1959-1962	Assistant and associate professor, University of South Carolina
1962-1967	Associate professor, Thomas Jefferson Center for Political Economy, University of Virginia
1962	Author, with James M. Buchanan, The Calculus of Consent: Logical Foundations of Constitutional Democracy
1965	Author, The Politics of Bureaucracy
1966	Author, The Organization of Inquiry Founded Public Choice journal
1967-1968	Professor of economics and political science, Rice University
1968-	Editorial director, Center for the Study of Public Choice
1970	Author, Private Wants, Public Means
1971	Author, The Logic of the Law
1974	Author, The Social Dilemma
1976	Author, The Vote Motive
1980	Author, Trials on Trial: The Pure Theory of Legal Procedure
1983-1987	Holbert R. Harris university professor, George Mason University
1987	Author, Autocracy
1987-1999	Karl Eller professor of economics and political science, University of Arizona
1993	Author, Rent Seeking
1994	Author, The Economics of Non-Human Societies
1998	Author, On Voting: A Public Choice Approach
1999-2008	Professor of law and economics, George Mason University
1968-1983	Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
2008	Retired to Tucson, Arizona
2014 November 3	Died, Des Moines, Iowa

Acquisition information:

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1982, with several increments received between 1990 and 2012.

Arrangement:

76,89,199,230,326,377,386,396, 400

Biographical FileIncludes correspondence, photographs, awards, and resumes.

3-8,141,143,145-146, 163,171-173,181,193, 199,211-212,214-217, 230,244, 276-277,282-286, 289-301, 308-309, 341, 366, 406-407

Public Choice FileIncludes papers submitted to the journal, subscriptions, orders, correspondence, meeting agendas, and sales information.

10-18,84,86-88,95,114-126,152-153,174-182,190-192,196,198,204,206-210,214,222-225,231-233,237,239,241,243-244,247-254,267-268,270-275,278-282,287-290,303-309,311,313-321,323-324,354-355,363-365,367-377,406-407

CorrespondenceIncludes incoming and outgoing correspondence with economists and others.

2,3-5,18-39,46-54,66-75,81,85, 127-135,153, 180-182,196-197, 201,214,236,256-261,269,384-385,396-397

Writings by OthersIncludes drafts and printed matter.

2,9,17,40-45,61-65,77-80,90-91,96-99,100-111, 113,136-140, 142-144, 147-151,155-162,165-170,174-175,181-192,200-203, 213-214,218-222,226-229,233-249,251-254,262,267-273,287, 302-311,313-321, 335-336,342-343,345-354,356-363, 367-383, 387-396,399-407

Speeches and WritingsIncludes drafts, correspondence, book reviews, research files, comments and critiques, and printed copies.

55-60,82-83,90,152,193-196,225, 230,255,288, 310,321-322,325, 332

Conference and Travel FileIncludes materials from Mont Pelerin Society meetings and speeches by Tullock. Includes correspondence and travel arrangements.

82,99,112,174,191,255,327-334, 337-341,343-345, 398

Teaching FileIncludes exam prompts and lecture notes and materials from the University of Arizona and the University of Virginia, as well as other schools.

1

PhotographsIncludes slides of scenic views and images of buildings and people.

Physical location:

Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Economics
Political science
Justice, Administration of
Social choice
Decision making
Economists
Audiotapes

Restrictions:

Boxes 107, 210, 274, FH5, and FH23 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gordon Tullock papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:

Hoover Institution

Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US

Contact:

(650) 723-3563

hooverarchives@stanford.edu

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