Fainsod, Merle

Fainsod, Merle (1907–72) Russia specialist, educator; born in McKees Rocks, Pa. Teaching government at Harvard (1932–72), he was director of the Russian Research Center (1959–64) and directed the university library (1964–72). In addition to his academic work, he held several government posts: staff member of President Franklin Roosevelt's Committee on Administrative Management (1936); price executive for the U.S. Office of Price Administration (1941–42); and director of the department's retail trade and services division (1942–43). His many books and articles focused largely on Russia and the Soviet Bloc.