ROBSON WILLIAM ALEXANDER 1895-1980PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Correspondence, mainly concerning the foundation of the PoliticalQuarterly. Correspondents include:

• Beatrice (1858 - 1943) and Sidney Webb (1859 - 1947)
• George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)
• Kingsley Martin (1897 - 1969)
• Harold Macmillan (1894 - 1986)

William Alexander Robson 1895 - 1980

William Robson was educated at Peterborough Lodge School, but left at 15 towork as a clerk. He served in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force 1915- 1919. He entered the London School of Economics in 1919; BSc (Econ.),first-class honours, 1922; PhD., 1924; LLM, 1928. In 1922 he was called tothe bar. called to bar (Lincoln's Inn). Robson was a lecturer in industrialand administrative law at the LSE 1926 - 1933, a reader in administrative law1933 - 1947. He was the first professor of public administrative law atLondon University 1947 - 1962. He was also a founder and joint editor ofPolitical Quarterly 1930 - 1975. The journal was established in 1930, andhas '...explored the key issues of the day from a centre left perspective andpromoted debate about them. It is dedicated to political and social reformand has long acted as a conduit between policy-makers, commentators andacademics. The Political Quarterly addresses current issues through seriousand thought-provoking articles, written in clear jargon-free English'.

Robson was an active member of the Fabian Society, and helped create theGreater London Council in 1963. During World War II Robson worked in theMines Department and other government ministries. He was also president ofthe International Political Science Association 1950 - 1953.

His publications include:

• Aircraft in war and peace (1916)
• The British civil servant (1937)
• The British system of government (1940)
• A century of municipal progress: the last hundredyears (1935)
• China in transition (1975)
• Civilization and the Growth of Law (1935)
• The Government and Misgovernment of London (1939)
• Great Cities of the World (1954)
• Justice and Administrative Law (1928)
• Local Government in Crisis (1966)
• Nationalized Industry and Public Ownership (1960)
• Welfare State and Welfare Society (1976)

By correspondent in nine sections

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Robson, WA

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