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A Guide to his Papers at the Indiana University Archives

Finding aid prepared by Archives staff.

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
Weimer, Arthur Martin, 1909-

Title
Arthur M. Weimer papers, 1909-1987,  bulk 1963-1985

Collection No.
C392

Extent
4.6 cubic feet (5 boxes)

Language
Materials are in English

Abstract
Arthur M. Weimer served in various capacities at Indiana University, beginning with his initial hiring as professor in the School of Business in 1937. He ascended quickly, serving as Dean of the Indiana University School of Business from 1939-1963, a seminal period in the school’s fundamental development into a national leader and academic model for business education. Weimer was active in numerous professional business organizations and assumed a number of federal consultant positions with the U.S. Government. The collection consists of materials related to Weimer’s academic and professional life, including correspondence, Indiana University course materials, writings, various awards and items of recognition, as well as items related to his involvement in professional organizations and federal committees.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice is required.

Biographical Note

Arthur M. Weimer was born May 19, 1909 in Rock City, Illinois to parents Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Henry Weimer. Following a rural upbringing, Weimer attended Beloit College, earning his A.B. in 1929. He immediately went on to study at the University of Chicago, where he attained an A.M. in 1931 and a Ph.D. in 1934. Weimer was later awarded honorary LL.D.s from the American Graduate School of International Management (1946), Beloit College (1950), and Indiana University (1982). He completed a mid-career term of military service in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he attained the rank of major (1942-1945).

At the outset of his professional career beginning in 1934, Weimer taught briefly at Alma College and the Georgia School of Technology. He also served as a field research supervisor and housing economist for the Federal Housing Administration from 1934-1937. In 1937, Weimer was hired as a faculty member at the Indiana University School of Business; he was elevated to the position of Dean of the I.U. School of Business in 1939, succeeding Herman B Wells.

During the nearly twenty-five years that he served as Dean, Weimer played a key role in developing the Indiana University School of Business into a national leader and model for business education. He was a recognized expert in real estate and land economics, and his widely circulated published texts, articles, and lectures on the topic had extensive influence on the discipline’s academic formation.

Upon his resignation as Dean in 1963, Weimer remained a presence at Indiana University in various capacities, including: Professor of Real Estate Administration, Professor of Real Estate and Land Economics, Savings Association Professor Emeritus of Real Estate and Land Economics, Special Assistant to the President (John W. Ryan), and founding Director of the University’s Aerospace Research Applications Center. After his official retirement from Indiana University in 1979, the University established the Weimer Chair of Business Administration and the Weimer Fund for Innovation in his honor.

Throughout his career, Weimer was highly active in business and philanthropic organizations. He served with the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (president), Beta Gamma Sigma—national business honor society (president), the American Finance Association (president), and the Indiana Educational Services Foundation (vice president). He also maintained positions on various boards of directors, including Ball Corporation, Mead Johnson, Midwest Research Institute, National Homes, Railroadmen’s Federal Savings and Loan Association, Real Estate Trends, Inc., and Thunderbird Graduate School.

In the latter part of his life (1970s-1980s), Weimer worked on the national level as an economic consultant to the U.S. League of Savings Associations, consultant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, consulting economist for the U.S. League of Savings Associations, and a member of the Presidential Task Force on Low-Income Housing and the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

At the age of 77, Arthur M. Weimer died in Bloomington on April 6, 1987 after a long battle with illness.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into six series: Biographical, Correspondence, Indiana University, Publications and research, Subject files, and Awards.

Scope and Content Note

The papers of Arthur M. Weimer span the period from 1909 to 1987 and document Weimer’s life in relation to his professional and academic pursuits. Documentation in this collection is concentrated on the later years of Weimer’s life (1963-1985). Materials are organized into six series: Biographical, Correspondence, Indiana University, Publications and research, Subject files, and Awards. Within each series, files are organized alphabetically by folder. When multiple folders exist on the same subject, they are arranged chronologically.

The first series, Biographical, 1909-1987, contains materials which lend evidence to Weimer’s personal life and character. These include academic hoods, autobiographical writings, diplomas, personal correspondence and files related to Weimer, letters of appreciation and support regarding retirement and contributions, a carved portrait, war service records, and a Beloit College yearbook.

The second series, Correspondence, 1966-1980, includes professionally oriented incoming and outgoing correspondence between Weimer and associates. Notable correspondents include Lyle Bryant, the Indiana Trustees & Administration, W. George Pinnell, and John W. Ryan. Records are organized into a single folder per individual correspondent. Less frequent correspondence between Weimer and other individuals is grouped under general files arranged chronologically.

The third series, Indiana University, 1962-1979, is further organized into four subseries: Class notes and materials, Future Studies, Publications, and Subject files. The Class notes and materials subseries contains handouts, articles, notes, a notebook, and other materials in support of courses Weimer taught late in his career. The Future Studies subseries contains agendas, minutes, funding materials, publications, and other documents related to the Center for Future Studies and Committee on Future Studies activities with which Weimer was heavily involved. The Subject files subseries contains other topical files related to Indiana University initiatives in which Weimer played a role.

The fourth series, Publications and research, 1957-1981, contains materials written by Arthur Weimer. Documents include articles, a eulogy (for Stan Pressler), texts from speeches, correspondence in relation to permissions for Weimer’s Real Estate textbook, and the speech “The University and Economic Growth” from Weimer’s tenure as Special Assistant to President John Ryan. Many of the writings are in draft stages.

The fifth series, Subject files, 1939-1987, contains documents sorted and arranged by topic. Most topics relate to specific professional organizations, positions, or initiatives pursued by Weimer but not overtly related to Indiana University. These include, among others, the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business, the Aerospace Research Advisory Committee, the Director’s Study, the Institute for Real Estate and Urban Economics, and the National Citizen’s Advisory Committee. A number of files relate to Weimer’s terms of involvement with various facets of the federal government; these include, among others, the Sub-Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs, the House Subcommittee on Census and Population, the President’s Task Force on Low Income Housing, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The sixth series, Awards, 1939-1986, is divided into two subseries: Plaques and certificates. The Plaques subseries includes an assortment of three-dimensional honors and awards bestowed upon Weimer. The Certificates subseries includes an assortment of paper certificates denoting membership, awards, appreciation, appointments, and other honors bestowed upon Weimer. All are arranged alphabetically by the title of the granting institution.

• Indexing Terms

• The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in IUCAT, the IU Libraries' online catalog. Materials about related topics, persons or places can be found by searching the catalog using these terms.

• • Names
  • Weimer, Arthur Martin, 1909- --Archives.
  • Weimer, Arthur Martin, 1909- --Correspondence.
  • Indiana University, Bloomington --Faculty --Archives.
  • Indiana University. School of Business --Faculty --Archives.
• • Topics
  • Business teachers --Indiana --Bloomington.
  • Business education --Indiana --Bloomington.

Separated Material

Five photographs and a photo album were pulled from the collection and are stored with the Archives photo collection. Consult the Archives Photographs Curator for access information. The four individual photographs are in relation to the “NASA’s House of the Future” project, which Weimer investigated for use in a text book. The fifth photograph is a White House photograph featuring Weimer, four people from Indianapolis, and Rosalynn Carter. The photo album was presented as a gift to Weimer from Dr. Hermann Schuon after a visit to Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Administrative Information

Container List

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