The First Hundred Years of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Joseph P. Goldberg · William T. Moye

Jan 1985 · U.S. Department of Labor

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This book describes various aspects of the historical development of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The first chapter, entitled "Origins," sketches the factors leading up to authorization of the BLS in June 1884. A chapter entitled "Carroll Wright: Setting the Course" discusses the views and contributions of the BLS's first commissioner. The next chapter covers the studies for economic and social reform that were undertaken during the administration of the bureau's second commissioner, Charles Neill. The BLS's history during the pre-World War I recession and war years, when Royal Meeker headed the bureau, are examined next. The fifth chapter is devoted to Ethelbert Stewart's term as commissioner of the BLS, which lasted from 1920 to 1932. The BLS's efforts to meet the emergency demands imposed on it first by the Great Depression and then by the New Deal agencies that were created to deal with the Depression are discussed against the framework of Isador Lubin's term as BLS commissioner. Ewan Clague's term as BLS commissioner (from 1946 to 1965) is discussed in terms of the expanding role that economic indicators began to play in the BLS. The eighth chapter summarizes the limited terms of the next three BLS commissioners, Arthur M. Ross, Geoffrey H. Moore, and Julian Shiskin, as well as the term of Janet L. Norwood, who was well into her second term as commissioner when the book was published. A brief discussion of the BLS's continuing mission, an appendix describing BLS publications, source notes for each chapter, and an index conclude the book. (MN)