Roy Victor Peel (July 26, 1896 – 31 August 1978) was a political scientist and academic, and the director of the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

from 1950 to 1953.

Early life and education

Born in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...

in 1896, Peel's service in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

interrupted his college education; he was a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the Army Air Service. After the war, he completed his B.A., graduating from

Augustana College Augustana College may refer to: *Augustana College (Illinois) *Augustana University Sioux Falls, South Dakota *Augustana University College, Alberta See also *Augustana Divinity School (Neuendettelsau) The Augustana-Hochschule Neuendettelsau is ...

in 1920. From there, Peel moved between teaching and post-graduate education, eventually earning a

Ph.D A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common Academic degree, degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields ...

. from the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

in 1927.

Career

While an assistant professor of government at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...

, Peel researched and wrote extensively, publishing several articles and books. By 1934, he was the director of research in public administration at NYU and had achieved the rank of full professor. That same year he managed the successful mayoral campaign of Fiorello LaGuardia. In 1935, Peel began a nearly two-year research expedition to

Scandinavia Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...

, planning to survey public administration in those countries. Returning to the United States in late 1936, he took a position at

Indiana University Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Peel worked for the government in a confidential civilian capacity. This tour of service included a stint as chief of the United States Information Service in Copenhagen in 1945. In 1948 he authored a book, ''State Government Today'', published by the University of New Mexico Press. President Truman appointed him director of the Census Bureau in February 1950, only months before the decennial census. Peel stayed on at the Census Bureau until 1953, when he returned to the academic world. He was appointed the chair of the political science department at the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

in 1953, and in 1961 he was hired at

California Lutheran College California Lutheran University (CLU, Cal Lutheran, or Cal Lu) is a private university in Thousand Oaks, California. It was founded in 1959 and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but is nonsectarian. It opened in 1960 ...

. He then took a faculty position at

San Fernando Valley State College California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it has the second largest un ...

(now

California State University, Northridge California State University, Northridge (CSUN or Cal State Northridge) is a public university in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. With a total enrollment of 38,551 students (as of Fall 2021), it has the second largest un ...

) in 1963 and taught there until his retirement in 1976.

Personal life

Peel was married for many years to Esther (Peggy) Peel and had two children and five grandchildren.

Death

Peel died of cancer after a long illness on August 31, 1978.

Honors, grants, and awards

* Social Science Research Council Grant (1930-1931) *

Rockefeller Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation is an American private foundation and philanthropic medical research and arts funding organization based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The second-oldest major philanthropic institution in America, after the Carneg ...

Spelman Fund Grant (1934-1936) * Honorary Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.),

(1950) * Gold Medal for Exceptional Service,

U.S. Commerce Department The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for busin ...

(1952) * Remington-Rand Grant (1953-1954) * Local Government Survey Commission, State of Utah Grant (1955-1956) * IBM Grant (1971-1972) * Guest of Honor, West German Government (1964)

Publications

* ''The 1928 Campaign: An Analysis'' (1931) (co-authored with Thomas C. Donnelly) * ''The 1932 Campaign: An Analysis'' (1935) (co-authored with Thomas C. Donnelly) * ''The Political Clubs of New York City'' (1935, republished in 1968) * ''Better City Government'' (1938) * ''Introduction to Politics'' (1944) (co-editor with Joseph S. Roucek) * ''State Government Today'' (1948) * ''The Ombudsman or Citizen's Defender: A Modern Institution'' (1968)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peel, Roy 1896 births 1978 deaths Augustana College (Illinois) alumni California State University, Northridge faculty Indiana University faculty New York University faculty United States Army Air Forces officers United States Census Bureau people University of Chicago alumni University of Utah faculty Truman administration personnel