John R. Commons, economics professor at the University of Wisconsin, was one of America's most eminent scholars in the fields of labor history and economics. Born in Hollandsburg, Ohio, in October 1862, Commons' life followed no familiar pattern in his rise to great distinction among American economists. Commons attended Oberlin College, following the tradition set by his mother. Earning his way through college as a typesetter, Commons did not graduate until the age of 26. After graduation, he attended graduate school at Johns Hopkins University where he studied under the direction of Richard T. Ely. At Johns Hopkins, Commons acquired a strong base for the study of political economics. After his graduate studies, Commons engaged in a range of activities, which included teaching sociology and economics at Wesleyan University, Oberlin College, Indiana University, and Syracuse University. Commons made use of current investigations as material for class work and kept his teaching hours at a minimum, for he felt he had no great ability for teaching and considered himself a failure. Mild mannered, small in stature, frail in health with a low voice, and slow of speech, he did not fit student images of a great lecturer, though he later proved his competency.
In 1899, Commons began to work with the National Industrial Commission in connection with a study of the effects of immigration on unionism in the clothing industry and in coal mining. He also became assistant secretary of the National Civic Federation, a conciliatory body composed of representatives of labor and management. As a member of these two organizations, Commons began work relating to taxation, and to labor conciliation and collective bargaining. Then in 1904 Commons accepted a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin and joined Richard T. Ely in editing the Documentary History of American Industrial Society. This was the start of a new career as a scholar and teacher for Commons. Work on the Documentary History lasted until 1910, during which time he wrote, taught graduate courses part time, and became involved in Wisconsin politics. Commons applied innovative approaches to teaching his graduate seminar which grew in size and became increasingly successful. Economic theory was not presented in the standard form, but philosophical insight was incorporated, as well as students' ideas. Over time Commons' seminar became one of the outstanding features of the graduate curriculum. In addition his advice and cooperation were repeatedly sought by both state and federal governments. In Wisconsin he drafted the civil service bill of 1905, the public utility law of 1907, and a variety of other reform bills.
