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Paul Samuelson and Economics: Evolution of a Classic

New memorial exhibit opens in Dewey Library
Institute Professor Emeritus Paul A. Samuelson
Caption:
Institute Professor Emeritus Paul A. Samuelson

Dewey Library for Management and Social Sciences (E53-100) is hosting a memorial exhibit in honor of Institute Professor Emeritus Paul A. Samuelson. The exhibit will be on display on the first floor of the library from now until May 6, 2010.

Samuelson, who passed away in December 2009, was a defining figure of 20th century economics who transformed many of the fundamentals of the discipline and shaped the department at MIT. He was the recipient of numerous awards over his lifetime, including the Nobel Prize in economics in 1970; the National Medal of Science in 1996; and the John Bates Clark Medal in 1947.

The exhibit will highlight the development of Samuelson’s influential textbook, Economics, the best-selling economics textbook that was translated into 40 languages.

It will also feature books, archival documents and photographs from the collections of Dewey Library; the Institute Archives; the MIT Museum; and Samuelson’s personal collection, courtesy of the Department of Economics. Items include:
  • excerpts of editions of Economics containing Samuelson's hand-written edits;
  • letters between Samuelson and past leaders of MIT concerning the textbook;
  • foreign-language translations of Economics;
  • photographs and archival documents commemorating his life and work, and more.
This exhibit is being held in coordination with an upcoming memorial service for Paul A. Samuelson scheduled for Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m.


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