Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Joseph L. Fisher papers, Collection #C0028, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by Margaret Fisher in 1992-1995.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty.

Biographical Information

Joseph Lyman Fisher (1914-1992), economist, educator, author, and congressman, was born in Salesville, Rhode Island on January 11, 1914. After earning his undergraduate degree at Bowdoin College, Fisher went on to graduate work at the London School of Economics, Harvard University, and George Washington University. In 1942 he married the former Margaret Saunders Winslow. Fisher's career, spanning over fifty years, included planner for the National Resources Planning Board, economist for the United States Department of State, executive officer and economist for the Council of Economic Advisors, president of Resources for the Future, a member of the United States House of Representatives (1974-1981), Virginia Secretary of Human Resources, special assistant to the president of George Mason University, and president of the National Academy of Public Administration. In addition, Fisher was deeply involved in community activities, having been chairman of the Arlington County Board, chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), president and chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG), and moderator and chairman of the board of the Unitarian Universalist Association. He also wrote several books, including World Prospects for Natural Resources (1964) and Resources in America's Future (1963).

Scope and Content

This collection is divided into two series. Series 1 relates to Fisher's career as an economist, educator, and U.S. Congressman. The materials cover the years 1962-1991 and include lectures and comments on conservation and natural resources, scrapbooks, pamphlets, appointment books, and correspondence.

Series 2 of the collection relates to Fisher's political career in U.S. House of Representatives (1974-1981). The materials cover the years 1974-1981 and include correspondence, speeches, press releases, reports, newsclippings, issue papers, testimony, statements, questionnaires, background publications, guidelines, charts, and legislation.

Arrangement

Organized into two series.

Related Material

Special Collections and Archives also holds the papers of other local and national politicians from Northern Virginia.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Fisher, Joseph Lyman, 1914-1992.

Corporate Names:

• George Mason University.
• United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means.

Geographical Names:

• Arlington County (Va.)

Subjects:

• Conservation of natural resources--Law and legislation--United States.
• Energy policy--Law and legislation--United States.
• Taxation--Law and legislation--United States.

Adjunct Descriptive Data