ROBSON WILLIAM ALEXANDER 1895-1980 PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Correspondence, mainly concerning the foundation of the Political Quarterly. 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 to work 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 to the bar. called to bar (Lincoln's Inn). Robson was a lecturer in industrial and administrative law at the LSE 1926 - 1933, a reader in administrative law 1933 - 1947. He was the first professor of public administrative law at London University 1947 - 1962. He was also a founder and joint editor of Political Quarterly 1930 - 1975. The journal was established in 1930, and has '...explored the key issues of the day from a centre left perspective and promoted debate about them. It is dedicated to political and social reform and has long acted as a conduit between policy-makers, commentators and academics. The Political Quarterly addresses current issues through serious and thought-provoking articles, written in clear jargon-free English'.

Robson was an active member of the Fabian Society, and helped create the Greater London Council in 1963. During World War II Robson worked in the Mines Department and other government ministries. He was also president of the 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 hundred years (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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