Howard B. Myers
Encyclopedia
Howard B. Myers, PhD was an American statistician and economist who held executive posts with several agencies during the New Deal
. His work was key in developing the techniques used to measure unemployment
.
in 1901. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washburn University
in 1923 where he was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
. In 1922 he was inducted with five other juniors into the school's prestigious Sagamore Society
. From Washburn he went to the University of Chicago
where he earned a doctorate in economics.
In 1927 Myers married Bernice Curry. Together they had three children, Ann Curry, Howard Barton and Robert Burris. All three of Myers' brothers, Robert, Donald and Louis, were graduates of Washburn where all three were also members of Phi Delta Theta
.
In 1929, he left Chicago to become the director of research and statistics for the Illinois State Labor Department. With the Great Depression
weighing on the economy, in 1932 he added a second state position when he assumed a role with Illinois State Emergency Relief Commission.
His first posting was as assistant director in charge of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration
. He was next assistant director in charge of social research at the Works Progress Administration
. In 1942, with World War II
raging, Myers served as assistant chief of the Works Progress Administrations' munitions branch.
(CED). The CED is a private non-profit group of business and economic leaders encouraging policies that promote economic growth. After six years as an associate director, in 1949 he became its director of research. During his time as director, the CED helped American industry convert from its wartime footing to help meet the demands of the post-war economic boom.
Myers was a fellow of the American Statistical Association
and a member of the American Economic Association
and the American Industrial Labor Relations Association.
In March 1955, Myers died at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland
.
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
. His work was key in developing the techniques used to measure unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
.
Family and Education
Myers was born in Knoxville, IowaKnoxville, Iowa
Knoxville is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,731 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County. Knoxville is home of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum located next to the famous dirt track known as Knoxville Raceway.-History:The site for...
in 1901. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washburn University
Washburn University
Washburn University is a co-educational, public institution of higher learning in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional programs in law and business. Washburn has 550 faculty members, who teach more than 6,400 undergraduate students and...
in 1923 where he was a member of the Kansas Beta Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
. In 1922 he was inducted with five other juniors into the school's prestigious Sagamore Society
Sagamore Honor Society
The Sagamore Society is the most exclusive honor society for men at Washburn University. Sagamore is not as controversial or as secretive as Yale's Skull and Bones but its members are known to include a governor, a member of Congress, two Army generals, and several judges, doctors and corporate...
. From Washburn he went to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
where he earned a doctorate in economics.
In 1927 Myers married Bernice Curry. Together they had three children, Ann Curry, Howard Barton and Robert Burris. All three of Myers' brothers, Robert, Donald and Louis, were graduates of Washburn where all three were also members of Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta
Phi Delta Theta , also known as Phi Delt, is an international fraternity founded at Miami University in 1848 and headquartered in Oxford, Ohio. Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi form the Miami Triad. The fraternity has about 169 active chapters and colonies in over 43 U.S...
.
Early career
Myers worked as a research assistant at the University of Chicago from 1923 to 1927. Then, after being awarded his PhD, he was an assistant professor there for two years.In 1929, he left Chicago to become the director of research and statistics for the Illinois State Labor Department. With the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
weighing on the economy, in 1932 he added a second state position when he assumed a role with Illinois State Emergency Relief Commission.
Government Service
Myers left Illinois in 1933 to join FDR's New Deal. According to Dr. Myer's obituary in the New York Times, his appointment was unusual because of his free market ideals. "Through the years he held firm to the belief that 'government controls over the economy are undesirable except in periods of sudden and grave emergency.' Sound budgetary policy...was far more effective than Government controls over prices, production, wages and profits."His first posting was as assistant director in charge of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration
Federal Emergency Relief Administration
Federal Emergency Relief Administration was the new name given by the Roosevelt Administration to the Emergency Relief Administration which President Herbert Hoover had created in 1932...
. He was next assistant director in charge of social research at the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
. In 1942, with World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
raging, Myers served as assistant chief of the Works Progress Administrations' munitions branch.
Post-Government Work
In 1943, Myers became affiliated with the Committee for Economic DevelopmentCommittee for Economic Development
The Committee for Economic Development is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan think tank based in Washington, DC. Its membership consists of some 200 senior corporate executives and university leaders...
(CED). The CED is a private non-profit group of business and economic leaders encouraging policies that promote economic growth. After six years as an associate director, in 1949 he became its director of research. During his time as director, the CED helped American industry convert from its wartime footing to help meet the demands of the post-war economic boom.
Myers was a fellow of the American Statistical Association
American Statistical Association
The American Statistical Association , is the main professional US organization for statisticians and related professions. It was founded in Boston, Massachusetts on November 27, 1839, and is the second oldest, continuously operating professional society in the United States...
and a member of the American Economic Association
American Economic Association
The American Economic Association, or AEA, is a learned society in the field of economics, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It publishes one of the most prestigious academic journals in economics: the American Economic Review...
and the American Industrial Labor Relations Association.
In March 1955, Myers died at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
.