Wharton School. Industrial Research Unit

The Industrial Research Unit of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1921 as the Industrial Research Department with a mission to "study the economic and social problems of business." Sponsored by the Trustees of the University and financially assisted by the Carnegie Corporation, the Department worked in close relationship with a group of representative Philadelphia firms, which furnished data for research and analysis. From its inception to World War II, the Department, under the direction of two faculty members, Joseph H. Willits and Anne Bezanson, attracted world-wide attention for its pioneering studies of industrial relations. Its research results were well received by employer associations, government agencies, and international organizations. Major research associates working under the two directors during this period were C. Canby Balderston, Hiram S. Davis, Eleanor L. Dulles, Marion Elderton, W.E. Fisher, Miriam Hussey, Gladys L. Palmer, and George W. Taylor.

Budgetary problems after the War caused a restructuring of the institution. In 1953, the Department became a unit of the Wharton School's Department of Industry (later known as the Department of Management). Gladys L. Palmer was appointed director of the newly formed Industrial Research Unit. The Unit made new progress in areas of labor mobility, pricing, and productivity. In 1964, Herbert R. Northrup succeeded Palmer as IRU director. Under his leadership, the Unit gained resources to fund new initiatives. By the summer of 1968, the Unit completed two book series, the Racial Policies of American Industry series and the Studies of Negro Employment, and established three new series--the Labor Relations and Public Policy Series, the Multinational Industrial Relations Series, and the Manpower and Human Resources Studies.

The Unit was renamed "The Center for Human Resources" in 1990. Instead of the traditional area of industrial relations, the present institution focuses more on the study of human resources and labor and personnel management. Organizationally, the Center comprises four major groups for research and consultation services. These include the Research Advisory Group, the Multinational Research Advisory Group, the Financial Employee Relations Study Group, and the Labor Relations Council. The Center issues news letters to its corporate members and makes the proceeds part of its income.

From the description of Records, 1900-1993. (University of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 145429699

The Industrial Research Unit of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School was founded in 1921 as the Industrial Research Department. for the purpose of studying the economic and social problems of business. The department, which received funding from the Carnegie Corporation, worked with representative local firms that supplied data for analysis and received widespread praise for its pioneering studies of industrial relations.

In 1953, the Industrial Research Department was merged into the Department of Industry (later the Department of Management) as the Industrial Research Unit. Although faced with new budgetary constraints, the Unit made progress in areas of labor mobility, pricing and productivity. Under the leadership of Herbert Roof Northrup, director from 1964 to 1988, the Unit was revivified and became the largest academic publisher of industrial labor relations and personnel materials. It was renamed the Center for Human Resources in 1990.

From the description of Records, 1941-2001 (bulk, 1968-1988). (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122648691