The First Hundred Years of the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics

The First Hundred Years of the Bureau of Labor Statistics was published by BLS in 1985. As the title indicates, it covers the first century of the Bureau's existence, which was 1884-1984. This publication is presented here on the BLS website for the first time. Below is a table of contents with a link to a PDF of each section. Also included is a link to a PDF of the entire publication.

The First Hundred Years of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Bulletin 2235  

  • Cover, foreword and table of contents (PDF 92K)
  • Chapters
    • I. Origins (PDF 177K)
    • II. Carroll Wright: Setting the Course (PDF 1.5M)
    • III. Charles Neill: Studies for Economic and Social Reform (PDF 1.6M)
    • IV. Royal Meeker: Statistics in Recession and Wartime (PDF 1.5M)
    • V. Ethelbert Stewart: Holding the Fort (PDF 1.0M)
    • VI. Isador Lubin: Meeting Emergency Demands (PDF 2.9M) -- this chapter includes photos of BLS commissioners, buildings, and staff
    • VII. Ewan Clague: An Expanding Role for Economic Indicators (PDF 1.6M)
    • VIII. Four Commissioners: An Economy Going by the Numbers (PDF 400K)
    • IX. History as Prologue: The Continuing Mission (PDF 146K)
  • Appendix (BLS Publications, Source Notes, and Index) (PDF 2.4M)
  • Entire bulletin in one very large file (PDF 14.7M)