James A. Gross
Encyclopedia
James A. Gross is an American
educator and historian who teaches United States labor law
and labor history
at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
. He is the author of a highly regarded three-volume history of the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) and is considered the leading historian of the NLRB.
. He played baseball as a youth, and for many years pursued a career as a major league ball player. He graduated from La Salle University
with a Bachelor of Science
in 1956.
He entered the United States Army
after college. But after only a short time on active duty he left the military and enrolled at Temple University
, where he received a Master of Arts
in 1957. Although he still wanted to play professional baseball, at the urging of friends he enrolled in the graduate doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dissatisfied with the degree program, he decided to leave and take a job with the Continental Can Company
in New York City
. But the university offered him a teaching assistant position, and he stayed in school. Although he almost left again, he was asked to teach a class (which gave him more money to live on) and discovered that he very much enjoyed teaching. Gross received his Ph.D.
from the University of Wisconsin in 1962.
Gross taught as an assistant professor at Holy Cross College
from 1960 to 1966 before joining the faculty at Cornell. He was named an associate professor in 1968 and a full professor in 1975.
His three-volume history of the National Labor Relations Board has been called "authoritative" and "exhaustive". The second volume in the trilogy, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947, won the prestigious Philip Taft Labor History Book Award in 1983.
, the American Arbitration Association
, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
. He has also worked as a labor relations mediator for the National Hockey League
and Major League Baseball
.
Gross is the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
, and in 2007 was Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility at McGill University
in Canada
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and historian who teaches United States labor law
United States labor law
United States labor law is a heterogeneous collection of state and federal laws. Federal law not only sets the standards that govern workers' rights to organize in the private sector, but also overrides most state and local laws that attempt to regulate this area. Federal law also provides more...
and labor history
Labor history of the United States
The labor history of the United States describes the history of organized labor, as well as the more general history of working people, in the United States. Pressures dictating the nature and power of organized labor have included the evolution and power of the corporation, efforts by employers...
at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations is an industrial relations school at Cornell University, an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, USA...
. He is the author of a highly regarded three-volume history of the National Labor Relations Board
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is an independent agency of the United States government charged with conducting elections for labor union representation and with investigating and remedying unfair labor practices. Unfair labor practices may involve union-related situations or instances of...
(NLRB) and is considered the leading historian of the NLRB.
Career
James Gross was born in 1934 and raised near Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He played baseball as a youth, and for many years pursued a career as a major league ball player. He graduated from La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1956.
He entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
after college. But after only a short time on active duty he left the military and enrolled at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, where he received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1957. Although he still wanted to play professional baseball, at the urging of friends he enrolled in the graduate doctoral program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dissatisfied with the degree program, he decided to leave and take a job with the Continental Can Company
Continental Can Company
Continental Can Company was an American producer of metal containers and packaging company.The Continental Can Company was founded by Edwin Norton T.G. Cranwell in 1904, three years after the formation of its greatest rival, American Can Company...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. But the university offered him a teaching assistant position, and he stayed in school. Although he almost left again, he was asked to teach a class (which gave him more money to live on) and discovered that he very much enjoyed teaching. Gross received his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the University of Wisconsin in 1962.
Gross taught as an assistant professor at Holy Cross College
Holy Cross College
Holy Cross College may refer to:*Holy Cross College , Bangladesh*Holy Cross College , in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States*Holy Cross College , Western Province, Sri Lanka*Holy Cross College...
from 1960 to 1966 before joining the faculty at Cornell. He was named an associate professor in 1968 and a full professor in 1975.
His three-volume history of the National Labor Relations Board has been called "authoritative" and "exhaustive". The second volume in the trilogy, The Reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board: National Labor Policy in Transition, 1937-1947, won the prestigious Philip Taft Labor History Book Award in 1983.
Memberships and awards
Gross is a member of the National Academy of ArbitratorsNational Academy of Arbitrators
The National Academy of Arbitrators is a not-for-profit 501 honorary and professional organization of labor arbitrators in the United States and Canada founded in 1947....
, the American Arbitration Association
American Arbitration Association
The American Arbitration Association is a private enterprise in the business of arbitration, and one of several arbitration organizations that administers arbitration proceedings. The AAA also administers mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It is headquartered in New York...
, and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service may refer to either:*Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service *Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service...
. He has also worked as a labor relations mediator for the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Gross is the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, and in 2007 was Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.