The Henry George Foundation of America

Collection Overview

Title: The Henry George Foundation of America Collection, 1926-2001

Predominant Dates: 1930-1989

Arrangement: 1) HGFA Officer Correspondence and Publication; 2) HGFA Publications; 3) Material related to the Henry George Memorial Congresses; and, 4) Material related to the Center for the Study of Economics.

Biographical Note

Frederic C. Howe, William McNair, George E. Evans, Percy R. Williams, Charles Eckert, and other disciples of Henry George established the Henry George Foundation of America (HGFA) in 1926 to popularize the ideas of the great economist and work for their adoption. The headquarters were in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where many of the founders had participated in the property tax reform movement.

Among the earliest activities of the HGFA included the purchase of the birthplace of Henry George in January 1927 and the establishment of a Birthplace Restoration Fund to restore the building to its original 1839 appearance. The HGFA also continued the tradition started by the Joseph Fels Fund Commission of sponsoring annual conferences to celebrate the legacy of Henry George.

At the Third Annual Henry George Memorial Congress held in Pittsburgh, HGFA President George Evans described the purpose of these annual meetings, stating:

It has been our aim to have all elements and shades of opinion represented and this variety of ideas should make our conference very stimulating and profitable. We aim to make the annual Congress a clearing house for the presentation of helpful ideas and reports of activities in all lines of endeavor.

The HGFA sponsored a conference every year until 1941. After WWII, the Henry George School of Social Science became the principal sponsor of the national meetings.

The HGFA established the Graded Tax League of Pennsylvania in 1950 to promote the passage of a new state law that would authorize other cities in the state to enjoy the same graded tax system in place in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s former Chief Assessor Percy R. Williams and one-time Pennsylvania Congressman Charles R. Eckert led the political campaign while a team of volunteers from the HGFA staffed League offices across the state. Both Eckert and Williams also held HGFA offices. Eckert served as President from 1949 until his death in 1958 and Williams was Executive Secretary from 1926 until his death in 1977.

In 1951, the League enlisted Pittsburgh State Senator Bernard B. McGinnis to sponsor a new graded tax bill that authorized any “third class” city—a city with a population less than 250,000—in Pennsylvania to adopt the graded tax system pending approval of the city council. By 1989, 10 Pennsylvania cities taxed land at a higher rate than buildings.

Indiana University Professor of History and Social Science Steven Cord became President of the HGFA in 1977. Under his leadership, the HGFA established the Center for the Study of Economics (CSE) in 1980 to serve as the official and independent educational arm. Unlike the HGFA, which is a 501(c)4, the CSE is a 501(c)3; donations to the CSE are tax deductible. According to its website, the CSE aids local governments in the evaluation and reform of current property tax policy.

The HGFA began publishing Equal Rights, a quarterly newsletter edited by Percy Williams in 1970. Penny Colgan succeeded Williams as editor in 1977 and in 1980, publication of Equal Rights became the responsibility of the CSE. The CSE also publishes a monthly bulletin called Incentive Taxation.