Overview
The John H. McArthur papers consist of correspondence, subject files, writings, HBS teaching records, consulting records, board of director records, and HBS administrative records.
Dates
- Creation: 1948-2019
Creator
- McArthur, John H. (Person)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Materials stored onsite. This collection requires a secondary registration form. Please contact specialcollectionsref@hbs.edu for more information on access procedures and reproduction services.
Restricted material has been identified in this collection. All folder titles of restricted material have been redacted.
Conditions Governing Use
In many cases, Baker Library does not hold the copyright to the materials in its collections. Researchers are responsible for determining copyright status and identifying and contacting any copyright holders for permission to reproduce or publish content from collections. Baker Library staff have included the names of third-party copyright holders at the folder and item level when known.
Extent
230 linear feet (188 cartons, 133 boxes)The John H. McArthur papers contain correspondence, subject files, Harvard Business School teaching records, research and writing, HBS case development files, audiovisual and born-digital materials, photographs, HBS and Harvard University administrative records, and corporate directorship records. The correspondence includes letters, notes, and memos sent before and after McArthur served as Dean of the Faculty.
Correspondents include HBS professors, colleagues, students, former students, alumni, friends, and acquaintances. McArthur was a prolific letter writer and his correspondence details his close association with Harvard University, Harvard Business School, the companies where he served as director, professors, students and former students. HBS teaching and case development files include syllabi for courses taught in finance, cases taught, and annotated notes used for class teaching. Consulting materials include his work as a Trustee in the Bankruptcy of the Penn Central Transportation Company during the 1970s and its numerous subsidiaries. HBS administrative records pertain to his work as Associate Dean, MBA admissions, course development, European business programs associated with HBS, faculty meeting minutes, budget issues, memos, fellowships in his name, and HBS administrative committee work. Board of directors records include meeting minutes, board meeting information, budget concerns, restructuring and merging deals, high level strategic shifts in company philosophy, and additional work on board subcommittees including finance and audit committees.
Biographical / Historical
John H. McArthur (1934-2019) was the George Fisher Baker Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus and served as the Dean of the Faculty at Harvard Business School (HBS) from 1980-1995. McArthur was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1934. He attended the University of British Columbia and graduated in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in Forestry. He continued his studies at HBS earning an MBA (1959) and a DBA (1963). In 1959 he joined the HBS Faculty as a Research Assistant and in 1960 worked as a case writer at IMEDE in Switzerland. He began his HBS teaching career in the MBA Program in 1963 teaching classes in the corporate finance and related fields. He also held administrative titles including chairman of the First-Year Subcommittee, Associate Dean for the MBA program, Associate Dean for University Affairs, and Associate Dean of the HBS Faculty. In 1970, McArthur was appointed a Trustee in the Bankruptcy of the Penn Central Transportation Company for which he served the entirety of the 1970s.
McArthur was appointed Dean of the Faculty at HBS on January 1, 1980. During his long tenure as Dean, McArthur was responsible for reestablishing the entrepreneurship curriculum, launching the Social Enterprise Initiative, establishing the Senior Faculty Center for emeriti professors, reinvigorated the executive education program, created Harvard Business School Publishing, and oversaw the renovation and construction of new buildings on campus including Morgan Hall, Shad Hall, and the Class of 1959 Chapel. McArthur also oversaw the expansion of the MBA program enrollment by increasing the diversity of students including gender, home country, and socio-economic background. John H. McArthur was one of the most influential administrators in the history of HBS.
After his retirement as Dean, McArthur continued to be actively involved on campus while also serving as director on numerous company boards and advising start-up companies. McArthur received many awards throughout his life including honorary doctorates, the Harvard Award, Alumni Achievement Award from HBS, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. Also in his honor is the executive education residence hall at HBS, McArthur Hall was dedicated in 1999, the MBA Class of 1959 John McArthur Fellowship fund, and the John H. McArthur Canadian Fellowship.
John H. McArthur died in 2019.
Physical Location
ARCFA
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The John H. McArthur papers were received by Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, 1988-2021.
Processing Information
Processed: By: Benjamin Johnson, April 2024.
Creator
- McArthur, John H. (Person)
- Author
- Baker Library
- Date
- April 2024
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- eng
- EAD ID
- bak01879
Repository Details
Part of the Baker Library Special Collections and Archives, Harvard Business School Repository
Baker Library Special Collections and Archives holds unique resources that focus on the evolution of business and industry, as well as the records of the Harvard Business School, documenting the institution's development over the last century. These rich and varied collections support research in a diverse range of fields such as business, economic, social and cultural history as well as the history of science and technology.
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