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Summary

Abstract

Penn State professor of finance, assistant director of the Bureau of Business Research, and director of research in the College of Business Administration (1937-1958), George Leland Leffler, was an expert on the organization and operation of the stock market. He died in 1958.

Dates

  • Creation: 1933-1961

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Background

Biographical / Historical

George Leland Leffler was born in Maryville, Missouri, on January 11, 1899. He received a bachelor of arts from the University of Kansas in 1927, a master of arts in 1931 and doctor of philosophy degree in 1932 from the University of Wisconsin. He came to the Pennsylvania State College in 1937 as associate professor of economics. In 1950 he was appointed professor of finance and assistant director of the Bureau of Business Research. From 1956 to 1958 he served as professor of finance and director of planning and assistant dean of research in the College of Business Administration. Leffler authored many books including The Stock Market (1951), Your Bank (1952), and Industrial Trends in Pennsylvania Since 1914 (1941). Leffler developed a new stock market system known as Modified Scale Trading especially for the use of small investors and traders rather than for large institutional buyers. Leffler died on February 14, 1958 at the age of 59.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains personal papers, class and lecture notes, manuscripts, speeches, and his publications. Leffler's personal papers (Subgroup A) contain correspondence and memoranda, newspaper clippings, and photographs. The photographs have been removed and integrated within the Archives photographic collection.

Subgroup B: Class and Lecture Notes contains course outlines and notes for classes dated 1956-1957; student papers for Commerce 506; and suggestions for an adult class in The Stock Market.

The bulk of the collection (Subgroup C) consists of manuscripts, research notes, and galley sheets created for the two editions of The Stock Market. This subgroup also contains newspaper clippings and reviews, other publications, and correspondence with his publisher.

Subgroup D: Speeches contains notes and outlines for speeches delivered between 1955-1956.

Subgroup E: Department of Economics and Commerce and School of Business contains materials on promotion and tenure policies. It also contains a list of course offerings submitted to the College Senate for the curriculum in Business Administration.

Copies of Leffler's publications have been shelved within the Penn State Book Collection.

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection consists of manuscripts, research notes, and galley sheets created for the two editions of his book, The Stock Market, as well as newspaper clippings and reviews, other publications of his (1942-1958), and correspondence with his publisher.

Arrangement

Organized into five subgroups: I. Personal papers; II. Class and lecture materials; III. Writings; IV. Speeches; and V. Dept of Economics and School of Business records.

Physical Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.

Subjects

Using These Materials

Repository Details

Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository

Contact:
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies. Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], George Leland Leffler papers, 00566, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.

Title
Guide to the George Leland Leffler papers
Status
Published
Author
Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2021: As part of bulk updates, Benjamin Mitchell updated standardized notes to current standard