Call Number:

03

Repository:

The Henry George Birthplace, Archive and Historical Research Center

Extent:

3.0 linear feet

Language:

English

Date:

1939-2014 (bulk) and 1905-2014 (inclusive)

Creator:

The Henry George Birthplace, Archive and Historical Research Center (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Abstract:

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Henry George (1839-1897) was a journalist and political economist best known for writing about and popularizing the idea of the "Single Tax." His work led to several reform movements in the Progressive Era and inspired the economic philosophy known today as "Georgism." George published his most popular work, Progress and Poverty, in 1879 while working as a journalist in San Francisco, California. Shortly after its publication, he moved to New York, NY, where he passed away in 1897. The Henry George Birthplace, Archive and Historical Research Center collection on Henry George and Progress and Poverty anniversary celebrations, 1905-2014 (bulk 1939-2014), consists of materials from or relating to various events celebrating the anniversaries of Henry George's birth and the publication of his best known work Progress and Poverty. Documents include correspondence, programs, evaluations, addresses and speeches, ephemera, and other materials from the events; articles relating to George or his work; and other items.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Henry George (1839-1897) was a journalist and political economist best known for writing about and popularizing the idea of the "Single Tax." His work led to several reform movements in the Progressive Era and inspired the economic philosophy known today as "Georgism." George published his most popular work, Progress and Poverty, in 1879 while working as a journalist in San Francisco, California. Shortly after its publication, he moved to New York, NY, where he passed away in 1897.

Since the death of Henry George in October of 1897, Georgists around the world have hosted celebrations and meetings to honor the anniversary of his birth and the publication of his masterpiece, Progress and Poverty. Among the most widely attended and publicized events include the centennial celebrations of Henry George's birth in 1939 and the publication of Progress and Poverty in 1979. Georgists organized international conferences in New York City and San Francisco, respectively, to honor both occasions.

For the celebration of the 100th anniversary of George's birth, Georgists from around the world gathered at the Commodore Hotel in New York City where they presented papers on and discussed a variety of issues including the progress and effects of land value taxation around the world. Fifteen years later, Georgists celebrated the 75th anniversary of the publication of Progress and Poverty in 1954. A special postage stamp was created and the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. organized a special exhibit to honor the occasion.

Sometime during the early 1950s, Georgists around the country began asking local governmental leaders to recognize "Henry George Day" with official proclamations. Series Six of this collection contains dozens of the proclamations issued by city, county, and state leaders.

Planning for the centennial celebration of Progress and Poverty began as early as 1974 and included the creation of a Centennial Celebration Committee. George's granddaughter, Agnes George de Mille served as Honorary Chairwoman while Terry Newland, executive director of Land Equality and Freedom (LEAF), chaired the committee. Several groups sponsored the event including the Henry George School of Social Science, the Henry George Institute, the Henry George Foundation, and the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.

The Centennial Celebration of Progress and Poverty took place at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco from August 20 to August 25, 1979. More than 300 people participated in the week-long event which included speeches, discussions, and special events. Paul Nix, president of the Henry George School gave the opening address. The Robert Schalkenbach Foundation published a special anniversary edition of Progress and Poverty that included special tributes to Henry George by a wide-variety of prominent thinkers and social leaders.

In 1989, ten years after the centennial celebration of Progress and Poverty, an international conference was organized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to commemorate the Sesquicentennial anniversary of George's birth. Some of the conference events took place at the newly restored Henry George Birthplace at 413 South 10th Street.

This collection consists of materials from or relating to various events celebrating the anniversaries of Henry George's birth and the publication of his best known work Progress and Poverty. Documents include articles and pamphlets related to Henry George and his work; event programs and evaluations; correspondence related to anniversary events, especially the centenary anniversary of the publication of Progress and Poverty; papers, addresses, and speeches given at anniversary celebrations; press reviews and other publicity materials related to anniversary exhibitions and celebrations; Henry George Day proclamations; and other materials.

There are very few original documents in this collection; most of the materials are photocopies or scans of original materials. Series VI. of this collection contains dozens of Henry George Day proclamations issued by city, county, and state leaders in the states of California, Illinois, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania.

The collection is arranged chronologically into six series:

Series I. Material from the centenary celebration of Henry George's birth, 1939

Series II. Material from the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of Progress and Poverty, 1954

Series III. Material from the centennial celebration of Progress and Poverty, 1979

Series IV. Material from the sesquicentennial of Henry George's birth, 1989

Series V. Material from other anniversary celebrations of Henry George and Progress and Poverty, 1905-1981

Series VI. State, county, and city Henry George Day proclamations, 1953-2014

Most, if not all of the items in the collection have been digitized. These images and a more detailed finding aid with an inventory are available at: https://hgarchives.org/historical-collections-2/the-henry-george-and-progress-and-poverty-anniversary-celebrations-collection/.