David J. Saposs' studies of twentieth century labor history and economy were so extensive that by the 1930's he was known internationally as a walking encyclopedia of labor-related information. In addition to his careers in teaching and federal government service, between 1913 and 1968 he published fourteen books and numerous articles, pamphlets, and reports concerning U.S. and international labor, socialism, and communism. His life is described in more detail in the following chronology.
| 1886, Feb 22 |
David Joseph Saposs was born in Kiev, Russia, to Isaac and Shima (Erevsky) Sapostnik.
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| 1895 |
The Sapostnik family moved to the United States and settled in Milwaukee. They shortened the family name to Saposs.
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| 1900 |
David Saposs quit school after completing the fifth grade.
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| 1900-1907 |
Held a variety of jobs, among them stenographer and worker at the Blatz and Schlitz breweries, where he was shop steward for the Brewery Workers' Union.
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| 1907-1911 |
Undergraduate student in economics at the University of Wisconsin.
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| 1913-1915 |
Graduate student in economics at the University of Wisconsin and research assistant to John R. Commons.
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| 1917-1918 |
Expert in charge of Accident Prevention and Industrial Service, New York Department of Labor.
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| 1917, July 3 |
Married Bertha Tigay, with whom he later had two daughters, Corinne and Barbara.
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| 1918-1919 |
Investigator of Immigrant Workers and Trade Unions, Americanization Study, Carnegie Corporation.
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| 1920 |
Investigator, Inquiry into Steel Strike of 1919, Inter-Church World Movement Commission.
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| 1920 |
Educational Director, Amalgamated Clothing Workers.
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| 1920-1922 |
Economic Consultant, Labor Bureau, Inc.
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| 1922-1933 |
Instructor, Brookwood Labor College, Katonah, N.Y.
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| 1924-1926 |
Graduate student in economics and labor history, Columbia University.
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| 1926-1928 |
Head of the Labor Division, Social and Economic Study of Post-War France, conducted by Columbia University. Resided in France during this time.
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| 1934-1945 |
Senior Research Associate, Twentieth Century Fund, Inc.
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| 1935 |
Director, Company Union Study, U.S. Department of Labor.
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| 1935-1940 |
Chief Economist, National Labor Relations Board. Although Saposs was a militant liberal and an early critic of Communist intervention in the American labor union movement, the House Committee on Un-American Affairs accused him of being a red and he was forced to resign from the NLRB. His work on the Board was an integral part of the New Deal's efforts to better the status of the American worker.
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| 1940-1942 |
Labor Consultant to the U.S. Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, a position then held by Nelson A. Rockefeller.
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| 1945-1946 |
Chief, Reports and Statistics Office, Manpower Division, U.S. Office of Military Government for Germany.
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| 1946-1948, 1952-1954 |
Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
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| 1948-1952 |
Special Advisor to the Director of the European Labor Division, U.S. Economic Cooperation Administration.
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| 1954 |
Retired from federal government service.
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| 1954-1956 |
Senior Research Associate, Littauer Center, Harvard University.
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| 1955-1963 |
Lecturer on American and International Labor, Foreign Service Training Institute, U.S. Department of State.
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| 1957-1958 |
Visiting Professor, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Illinois.
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| 1959-1965 |
Professor of American and International Labor, American University.
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| 1961-1964 |
Lecturer on International Labor, Defense Intelligence School, U.S. Defense Department.
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| 1962, 1964 |
Senior Specialist, East-West Center, University of Hawaii.
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| 1968, Nov 13 |
David J. Saposs, known throughout the scholarly world as Mr. Labor History, died in Washington, D.C.
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For additional biographical information, see box 1, folder 1.
