I find it interesting to note only two male colleagues in economics, Jacob Viner and Simeon Leland, and three female colleagues overlapping with the economics department, Grace Abbott (Social Work), Mary Gilson (College of UC), and Sophonisba Breckinridge (Social Work), were among the sponsors of his campaign. Incidentally, Paul Douglas won a narrow victory over the Democratic Party candidate James Cusack in a runoff election.
I regret not having the staple undone at the University of Chicago archives to get an image of Douglas’ campaign platform.
February 1, 1939
To Members of the Faculty and Administrative Officers of the University of Chicago
Dear Colleagues:
In response to the insistent demands of the citizens of the Fifth Ward and of civic-minded persons in other parts of Chicago, our colleague, Paul H. Douglas, has agreed to become an independent candidate for alderman at the coming primaries. Those of us who know him intimately feel that he is unusually well qualified for the office he seeks and that he is unusually well qualified for the office he seeks and that he will not only adequately represent the people of this ward but will be an important force in the improvement of government and of the conditions of life in the city at large. He has already announced a platform, which we believe will appeal to the vital interests of this community and of all Chicago, and which will especially commend itself to the members of the University community.
Since this undertaking involves considerable personal sacrifice on the part of Professor Douglas himself and is undertaken in the public interest, we feel an obligation to support him. We therefore invite the endorsement and support in the form of personal aid and financial contributions.
If you believe, as we do, that our colleague should be supported in this campaign to the limit of our ability, we urge you to sign the enclosed pledge card and return it with whatever contribution you wish to make to Harold F. Gosnell, Faculty Exchange, University of Chicago. Checks should be made out to Joseph J. Levin, Treasurer for the Douglas campaign.
| Donald P. Bean | Mary B. Gilson |
| George G. Bogert | Harold F. Gosnell |
| Percy H. Boynton | Earl S. Johnson |
| Sophonisba P. Breckinridge | Jerome G. Kerwin |
| Anton J. Carlson | Wayne McMillen |
| Alfred E. Emerson | Charles E. Merriam |
| Henry G. Gale | T. V. Smith |
| Charles W. Gilkey | Louis Wirth |
Source: University of Chicago Library, Department of Special Collections. Office of the President. Hutchins Administration. Records. Box 72, Folder “Economics Department, 1937-1939”.