Barnes, Harry Elmer

Barnes, Harry Elmer, 1889–1968, American historian and sociologist, b. Auburn, N.Y. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia in 1918 and taught economics, sociology, and history at various institutions of higher learning, notably at the New School for Social Research. His wide interests generally centered on the main themes of the development of Western thought and culture. His ability to synthesize information from various fields profoundly affected the teaching of history. Notable among the works that show his remarkable scope are Social History of the Western World (1921), Psychology and History (1925), History and Social Intelligence (1926), History of Western Civilization (1935), An Intellectual and Cultural History of the Western World (with some contributions from others, 1937, 3d rev. ed. 1965), and Social Thought from Lore to Science (with Howard Becker, 3d ed. rev. and enl. 1961).

Bibliography

See A. Goddard, ed., Harry Elmer Barnes (1968).