Paul S. Taylor

Paul S. Taylor
Name	Paul S. Taylor
Fields	Agricultural economics, Labor economics, Economic history
Workplaces	University of California, Berkeley
Alma mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison
Doctoral advisor	John R. Commons
Notable works	An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion (with Dorothea Lange)

Paul S. Taylor. He was an influential American economist and professor, best known for his pioneering studies on Mexican American labor and migrant workers during the Great Depression. His collaborative work with photographer Dorothea Lange produced a seminal documentary record of rural displacement. Taylor's rigorous field research and advocacy significantly shaped academic understanding and public policy regarding agricultural labor and rural sociology in the United States.

Early life and education

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, he developed an early interest in social conditions. He served in the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, an experience that influenced his later focus on social justice. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, a leading institution for progressive thought. Under the mentorship of institutional economist John R. Commons, he earned his Ph.D. in economics from the same university, writing a dissertation that examined labor relations in California.

Academic career

He joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley in the late 1920s, where he remained for his entire professional life. He held a joint appointment in the departments of Economics and Agricultural Economics, bridging two critical fields. At Berkeley, he mentored numerous graduate students who would become prominent scholars in labor history and Chicano studies. His teaching emphasized empirical, on-the-ground investigation, often taking students into Central Valley farm communities for firsthand research.

Research and contributions

His most significant research focused on the Mexican labor force in Southwestern agriculture. He conducted extensive field studies documenting the living conditions, wages, and migration patterns of workers, publishing a series of articles in journals like Survey Graphic. He was a key member of the California State Relief Administration's research division during the Dust Bowl migration. His collaboration with Dorothea Lange, whom he later married, combined sociological data with powerful imagery, most notably in their study of displaced Okies and Arkies. He also served as an expert for federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Senate committees investigating farm labor.

Major works and publications

His early monograph, Mexican Labor in the United States, published by the University of California Press, established his scholarly reputation. The landmark work An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion (1939), co-authored with Dorothea Lange, is a classic of documentary social science. He authored the text for *Life* magazine's influential 1951 photo-essay on migrant life. His collected research was instrumental in the hearings of the La Follette Committee, which investigated violations of civil liberties among agricultural workers. Many of his papers and photographs are archived at the Bancroft Library.

Awards and honors

He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in recognition of his contributions to social science. The Social Science Research Council awarded him grants that supported his fieldwork throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He received the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for his studies in economic history. The University of California, Berkeley honored him with the title of Professor Emeritus upon his retirement. His work is frequently cited by recipients of the Bancroft Prize in American history.

Legacy and influence

His interdisciplinary methodology, blending economics, sociology, and photography, set a standard for documentary studies. He is considered a foundational figure in the fields of Chicano history and labor studies, influencing scholars like Carey McWilliams and Mario T. García. His research provided critical evidence used in debates over the Bracero Program and later farmworker unionization efforts led by César Chávez. The Paul S. Taylor Prize is awarded by the Agricultural History Society for excellence in the field. His enduring legacy lies in his unwavering commitment to documenting the human dimension of economic change.

Category:American economists Category:University of California, Berkeley faculty Category:Agricultural economists