John D. Black, one of the eminent figures in the field of agricultural economics during the first half of the 20th century, probably encountered his first introduction to farm problems during his childhood and youth in a dairy region of southern Wisconsin. However, it was not until after he had spent several years studying and teaching English that he developed his interest in agricultural economics and he returned to the University of Wisconsin to earn his Ph.D. in that subject in 1919. He then taught at the University of Minnesota, becoming chief of the Division of Agricultural Economics in 1921. In 1927, he joined the economics faculty at Harvard University, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Black was vitally concerned with the economic and agricultural problems of this country. His ideas became influential among those charged with forming agricultural policies, and he is credited with formulating some of the earliest domestic allotment plans which were used as models when the New Deal came to power in 1933. Although he undoubtedly could have had innumerable offers of government positions, Black evidently never felt any desire to sever his ties with the academic world. As a teacher, researcher, and writer, he influenced the ideas of many men who were already, or who were destined to become, government administrators. He also served different government agencies in various capacities (for instance, he was chief economist for the Federal Farm Board, 1931-1932, and consultant for the Tennessee Valley Authority starting in 1940, among others), and participated in many research projects studying the operation of government agricultural agencies. Black was also influential in the establishment of the Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration, and his seminars in land use policy attracted many government personnel, both as students and as speakers and participants.
From the start of his career to the end, Black proved to be a prolific writer and researcher. His projects and publications were far too numerous to list here. However, additional biographical information may be found in a folder in Box 32, and a bibliography listing most of his publications accompanies this inventory.
