Louis E. Kirstein Professorship in Human Relations Established at Harvard University

Creation of a Louis E. Kirstein professorship in Human Relations at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration was announced here by James B. Conant, president of the University. The new chair will continue the life-long work of the late Jewish leader and philanthropist in the improvement of human relations in business and community life.

Funds totalling more than $200,000 have been donated by 125 friends and business associates of Mr. Kirstein for the establishment of the professorship. Several trade unions have also contributed to the fund, marking the first time that labor groups have given in this way to the University.

“The purposes of the professorship, first, to honor Mr. Kirstein and, second, to encourage teaching and research in the neglected area of human relations, make it a project of especial significance, both to the University and to the nation,” President Conant said. “Kirstein typified many of those characteristics and qualities which universities should represent, encourage and pass on to future generations. Also, no thoughtful citizen can escape being greatly disturbed by the sectional and group conflicts developing in this country, very often based on misunderstanding and poor human relations. It will be a purpose of this professorship to point the way toward maximum cooperation among all groups in the nation.

“National unity and group understanding are necessary if this country is to have the great influence for good which it should have in international affairs in the future, and if our own democracy, itself, is to survive. Of great importance, also, is the symbolic meaning of this new chair. It will be a focal point where labor and business, as well as other groups, can meet and discuss their problems in a judicial atmosphere–in a neutral area, as it were,” President Conant concluded.