University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Becker, Arthur P.

Papers, 1936-1978.

UWM Manuscript Collection 35

7 cubic ft. (6 record center cartons, 2 archives boxes, and 1 small archives box)

ABSTRACT: Papers (mainly 1960-1975) of an economics professor at the University of Wisconsin--Extension from 1948-1956, and the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee from 1956-1978. The collection documents his professional and volunteer activities with groups such as the Committee on Taxation, Resources and Economic Development and the Wisconsin Property Owners League. Collection also contains Becker's personal and professional correspondence, conference materials, published and unpublished works, and teaching materials. Also contains records concerning UW-Milwaukee committees on which Becker served, including the Academic Program and Curriculum Committee and the Management Science Ph.D. Review Committee, and his role in founding the UWM Credit Union and his work with the Milwaukee Urban Observatory.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: Collection documents the professional and volunteer activities of Arthur Peter Becker, a professor of economics from 1948-1978 at the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Most of the records date from 1960-1975.

The collection is divided into 3 series: general files, UW-Milwaukee files and non-UW-Milwaukee files, which reflect Becker's original arrangement of his papers. There is some overlap between the first series and the last two. Becker sometimes put similar materials concerning his personal, professional, and UWM activities into general subject folders. In other cases, he maintained distinctly separate folders for his various activities. In each series the material is arranged alphabetically by name, subject, or name of office, and chronologically thereunder. Boxes 1-8 contain letter-sized material and box 9 contains legal-sized material.

Series 1, General Files, contains a conglomeration of material in which Becker did not make distinctions between his personal, professional, and UWM activities. The series includes correspondence regarding the Taxation, Resources and Economic Development (TRED), and people associated with it, such as Weld Carter, Violetta Peterson and Perry Prentice (who was a Vice-President at Time magazine). The topics of discussion with Carter, Peterson and Prentice concern TRED Conferences, publication of books by TRED, and TRED's sometimes adversarial relationship with the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. Becker's professional contacts with other economists can also be found in his correspondence.

The general files series also contains miscellaneous files and photographs. The miscellaneous files contain materials that Becker filed in chronological order, without distinction between personal and professional activities. It contains correspondence with other economics and about TRED, memorandums from the UWM Economics Department and other UWM materials. The photographs are undated portraits shots of Becker.

Series 2, UW-Milwaukee Files, includes records of committees that Becker served on, such as the Academic Planning and Curriculum Committee, the Management Science Ph.D. Review Committee; subject files from the Economics Department, the Milwaukee Urban Observatory and the UWM Credit Union; and teaching material. The records reflect Becker's role as chair of the Social Science Subcommittee on the Academic Planning and Curriculum Committee; director of the Milwaukee Urban Observatory's Municipal Finance Project; and foundation of the UWM Credit Union.

Series 3, Non-UW-Milwaukee Files, contains correspondence and subject files from Becker's service with institutions and organizations other than UW-Milwaukee. It includes teaching and class materials that Becker created while he was at UW-Madison. The series also contains files regarding his founding and development of the Taxation, Resources and Economic Development (TRED); miscellaneous committees and panels that Becker served on; various speeches, presentations that Becker gave before panels and committees; unpublished works; and his association with the Beloit Chapter of the Wisconsin Property Owners League, which favored using land-value taxation.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Arthur Peter Becker was born on April 28, 1918 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Peter Joseph and Theresa (Hanascek) Becker. Peter and Theresa were both born near Tremesvar, Austria-Hungary in 1892 and 1897, respectively. They emigrated to the United States sometime before 1917. Peter Becker owned and operated Park View Tailors and Cleaners at 3200 West Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee. The Becker's also had another child, George C., born in 1917, who was a professor of Biology at UW-Stevens Point. Peter Becker died in 1971 and Theresa Becker in 1972.

Arthur Becker graduated from Washington High School in 1935 and attended Wisconsin State Teacher's College from 1935-1937. He received a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. from UW-Madison in economics in 1939, 1940 and 1943 respectively. Becker also served as a teaching assistant at UW-Madison. Becker married Bernita Mae Thompson in 1941 and they had six children: Jan Peter, Bonita Louise, Lee Arthur, Nancy Marie, Arthur Earnest, and Karen Ann.

Becker began his teaching career as an instructor at the University of Connecticut from 1942-1944. After serving as an instructor at the University of Kansas City in the summer of 1944, Becker transferred to Eastern New Mexico University in 1944-1945 as an assistant professor and chair of the economics department before moving to Morningside College (Sioux City, Iowa) from 1945-1946, where he served as professor of economics and also chaired the department. Becker then became a professor of economics at Ohio State University from 1946-1948. Becker was appointed professor at the University of Wisconsin-Extension from 1948 and then served with UWM from 1956-1978. Becker also served as head of the Economics Department at UW-Extension from 1948-1956 and at UWM from 1957-1963. Becker was a Fulbright-Hays Faculty Scholar in 1968 to study land taxation in Mexico.

Becker founded the Economic Policy Association of Milwaukee in 1954 and the UWM Credit Union in 1962. He served as a member of the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority from 1963-1978, and its vice-chair from 1973-1978. He also served as chair of the Milwaukee Urban Institute Director from 1970-1975 and implemented a study of the fiscal behavior of local governments in conjunction with eight other Urban Observatories, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the National League of Cities. He also served as Chair of the Milwaukee Association for the Observance of United Nations Day from 1965-1967, and the Milwaukee Chapter of United World Federalists.

Becker was especially active in the Committee on Taxation, Resources and Economic Development (TRED), and its affiliated association, the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. The Schalkenbach Foundation was a foundation established to promote the principles of nineteenth century economist Henry George. George had dedicated his life's work to the advancement of uniform taxation, or a single tax, on natural resources. Becker served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Schalkenback Foundation from 1962-1973.

Becker co-founded TRED in 1962 as a national study group of academic economists whose purpose was to stimulate research, writing and discussion in the field of natural resource taxation and in relation of this taxation to other concerns of economists as to the allocation and utilization of natural resources, economic development, income distribution and employment. TRED would have the government finance its necessary activities by collecting the unearned income arising from land and natural resources. TRED asserted that an adequate tax on land would encourage speculators to put it to use or to sell it to someone who would; when land is used, jobs are created and prosperity results.

Becker frequently wrote in periodicals and books about land-value taxation. His monographs include:

The Erosion of the Ad Valorem Real Estate Tax Base, 1972
Land and Building Taxes; Their Effect on Economic Development, 1969
Land-Value Taxation and Contemporary Economic Thought, (ed.), 1964
Local Government Finance in the Milwaukee Standard Metropolitan Area, 1974
Public Utility Valuation and the Economic Theory of Regulation; or The Economic Basis for an Investment Rate in Public Utilities, 1943
Recent Developments in General Property Tax Assessments in California, (ed.), 1965
The Wisconsin State Tax Dilemma, 1963

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Becker, Arthur P. Papers, 1936-1978. UWM Manuscript Collection 35. University Manuscript Collections. Golda Meir Library. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

University of Wisconsin--Extension. Records, 1896-[ongoing]. (UWM Archival Collection 71)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Academic Program and Curriculum Committee. Records, 1936-1993. (UWM Archival Collection 137)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Dept. of Economics. Records, 1942-1984. (UWM Archival Collection 130)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Milwaukee Urban Observatory. Records, 1965-1983. (UWM Archival Collection 73)

ACQUISITION: An unknown donor donated the collection before 1989.

PROCESSING: Mark Shelstad processed the collection from August to October 1992 at the Milwaukee Urban Archives.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Economic teachers--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Economics--Study and teaching--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Economics--Land use.
Land use--Effect on taxation.
Land value taxation.
Milwaukee (Wis.)--History--Sources.
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Faculty--Archives.
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee--History--Sources.
Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee--Faculty--Archives.
Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee--History--Sources.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 35. General Files.	BOX	FOLDER
Academic Program and Curriculum Committee, Audit Subcommittee, 1975-1976	3	27
Academic Program and Curriculum Committee, General File, 1973-1976	3	28-32
Academic Program and Curriculum Committee, Social Science Subcommittee, 1974-1976	3	33
Alyea, Paul, 1962-1975	1	2
Anderson, William H., 1961-1965	1	1
Annual Summary of Academic Activities, 1962-1976	3	34
Beck, Morris, 1966-1969	1	3
Behrens, John, 1971-1975	1	4
Berkman, Herman G., 1961-1963	1	5
Bickley, John, 1966	1	6
Break, George, 1966-1978	1	7
Brown, Harry G., 1977-1978	1	8
Browning, Clyde, 1962-1968	1	9
Bruce, Paul, 1971	1	13
Brueck, Robert L., 1966-1969	1	10-12
Carter, Weld S., 1961-1978	1	14-17
Cher, Yung-Ping, 1965-1972	1	18
Classes, Senior Seminar in Urban Economics, 1972-1973	3	35
Classes, Urban Economics Seminar, 1973	3	36
Cord, Steven, 1965-1977	1	19
Doering, Werner W., 1967	1	20
Doyle, Richard, 1975-1977	1	21-22
Falk, Karl, 1961-1978	1	23-24
Federal Reserve Bank Bill, 1959	1	25
Fordemwalt, Andy, 1970-1973	1	26
Fuller, Aaron, 1976	1	27
Gaffney, M. Mason, 1962-1975	1	28-29
Gaston, Paul, 1960-1963	1	30
George, Henry, School of Social Science, 1965-1973	1	31
Goldfinger, Alexander, 1972	1	32
Gray, Horace, 1962-1970	1	33
Groves, Harold, 1963-1969	1	34
Harris, C. Lowell, 1969-1975	1	35
Harris, Morgan, 1976	1	36
Heilbrun, James, 1966-1967	1	37
Hill, Carol V., 1970-1976	1	38
Lampard, Eric, 1962-1966	1	39-40
Lindholm, Richard, 1964-1977	2	1-2
Lindholm, Richard, 1964-1977	1	41
Lissner, Will, 1965-1978	2	3
Mai, Ludwig, 1962-1969	2	6
McCelland, Harold, 1970-1977	2	4
McGuire, Carl, 1962-1974	2	5
Millman, Jerome, 1961-1965	2	20
Miscellaneous, 1944-1960	2	7-9
Miscellaneous, 1961-1965	2	10-12
Miscellaneous, 1964-1972	3	12
Miscellaneous, 1966-1969	2	13-14
Miscellaneous, 1970-1974	2	15-17
Miscellaneous, 1973	3	13
Miscellaneous, 1974	3	14
Miscellaneous, 1975	3	15
Miscellaneous, 1975-1978	2	18
Miscellaneous, 1976	3	16
Miscellaneous, 1977-1978	3	17
Morrow, Lloyd, 1975-1977	2	19
Neutze, Max, 1966-1969	2	22
Newcomb, William, 1958-1978	2	21
Peterson, Violetta, 1950-1976	2	23-25
Photographs, undated	3	18
Pleydell, Albert, 1963-1968	2	26
Pollack, Richard, 1960-1972	2	27
Prentice, Perry, 1966-1977	2	28-30
Rodda, Albert S., 1974-1975	2	31
Shapiro, Harvey, 1966-1968	2	33
Sleastone, Don, 1966	2	32
Smale, John G., 1961-1965	3	1
Strasma, John, 1966-1967	3	2
Teague, Keith, 1969-1973	3	3
Tideman, Henry, 1972-1974	3	4
Truehart, William, 1976-1977	3	5
Vaqar, Nasrollah, 1961-1964	3	6
Wasserman, Louis, 1951-1964	3	7
Welch, Ronald B., 1966-1972	3	8
Wolfe, Myer, 1962-1964	3	9
Woodruff, A.M., 1965-1967	3	10
Zingler, Ervin, 1961-1965	3	11

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 35. UW-Milwaukee Files.	BOX	FOLDER
College of Letters and Science, Department Chair, Minutes, 1956-1962	3	19
Credit Union, Annual Meetings and Reports, 1962-1977	3	37
Credit Union, Annual Meetings and Reports, 1962-1977	4	1-2
Credit Union, Board of Director's Minutes, 1974-1975	4	3
Credit Union, Board of Director's Minutes, 1976-1978	4	4-5
Credit Union, By-Laws, Guidelines and Policies, 1961-1971	4	6
Credit Union, Insurance Policies, 1975	4	7
Credit Union, Miscellaneous, 1974-1977	4	8
Credit Union, Newsletters and Publicity, 1962-1978	4	9-10
Credit Union, Operational Security Analysis, 1968	4	11
Economics Department, 1958-1969	4	12-13
Economics Department, 1970	4	14
Economics Department, 1971	4	15
Economics Department, 1972	4	16
Economics Department, 1973-1975	4	17
Economics Department, 1976-1978	4	18
Management Science Ph.D Review Committee, 1972-1976	4	20-21
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Miscellaneous, 1970-1975	4	25-27
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Director's Meeting Minutes, 1970-1973	4	22
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, First Year Project, 1970-1973	4	23-24
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Prospectus, 1970	5	1
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Reports, Volume 1, 1973	5	4-7
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Reports, Volume 2, 1974	5	8
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Reports, Volume 3, 1975	5	9
Milwaukee Urban Observatory, Municipal Finance Project, Second Year Project, 1971-1973	5	2-3
Miscellaneous, 1944-1970	5	10
University Economics Club, 1963	5	11
Urban Planning Steering Committee, 1973	5	12
Visitor Program Service Symposium, 1978	5	13

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 35. Non-UW-Milwaukee Files.	BOX	FOLDER
Bibliography on Urban and Regional Economics, 1967-1968	5	14-15
Collier's Encyclopedia, Articles, 1960-1967	5	16
Curriculum Vitae and Bibliographical Listings, 1970-1978	5	17
Institute on Land-Value Taxation and Contemporary Economic Problems Research, 1961-1965	5	18
Letters of Appointment, 1940-1950	5	19-20
Mayor's Citizen Committee for Tax Revenue Distribution, 1960-64	5	21-23
Men's Sketch Club of Milwaukee, 1960-1961	5	24
Milwaukee Department of City Development, Redevelopment Plans, Menomonee Valley Industrial Areas, "A-C," 1976-1978	9	1
Milwaukee Department of City Development, Redevelopment Plans, Menomonee Valley Industrial Areas, "E-F," 1976-1978	9	2
Milwaukee Department of City Development, Redevelopment Plans, Miscellaneous, 1978	9	3-4
Milwaukee Department of City Development, Redevelopment Plans, Special Committee on Assessment Freezes, 1964-1965	5	25
Milwaukee Division of Economic Development, Public Finance Information System Proposal	9	26-27
Morningside College Graduation Address, 1946	3	21
National Tax Association, One Way to Better Cities Film, 1970	5	28
New York City Land Value Tax Study, 1969-1979	5	29
Ohio State University, Economics 406, 1946	3	20
Ohio State University, Poetry and Writings, 1936-1939	5	30-31
Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, 1964, 1978	6	1
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, 1961-1964	6	2-4
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, 1965-1969	6	5-7
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, 1970-1974	6	8-10
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, 1975-1978	6	11-13
Seals of Membership in Honor Societies and Associations, 1967-1973	6	14
Speeches and Presentations of Papers, 1947-1977	6	15-21
State and Local Tax Problem Symposium, 1967	6	22
TRED, Book Sales and Prices, 1965-1977	6	23
TRED, Conferences, 1962	6	24
TRED, Conferences, 1963	6	25
TRED, Conferences, 1964	6	26
TRED, Conferences, 1965	6	27
TRED, Conferences, 1966	6	28
TRED, Conferences, 1967	6	29
TRED, Conferences, 1968	6	30
TRED, Conferences, 1969	6	31
TRED, Conferences, 1971	7	1
TRED, Conferences, 1972	7	2
TRED, Conferences, 1973	7	3
TRED, Conferences, 1975	7	4
TRED, Conferences, 1976	7	5
TRED, Conferences, 1977	7	6
TRED, Conferences, 1978	7	7
TRED, General File, 1963-1970	7	8
University of Connecticut, Economics 111, 1943-1943	3	19
University of Wisconsin, Class Papers, 1940-1941	3	23-24
University of Wisconsin, Class Papers, 1941-1942	3	25-26
University of Wisconsin, Economics 250, 1941-1942	3	22
University of Wisconsin, Press, 1965-1977	7	9
University of Wisconsin, Press, 1965-1977	8	1-2
Unpublished Manuscripts, 1948-1950	8	3
Urban Affairs Quarterly, 1965-1974	8	4
Urban Redevelopment Laws, 1964-1967	8	5
Urban Redevelopment Laws, 1964-1967	9	5
Wisconsin Land Resources Committee, 1972-1975	8	6
Wisconsin Property Owners League, Beloit Chapter, 1969-1973	8	7
Wisconsin Property Owners League, Beloit Chapter, 1974	8	8
Wisconsin Property Owners League, Beloit Chapter, 1975	8	9
Wisconsin Property Owners League, Beloit Chapter, 1976-1978	8	10