Joseph L. Fisher papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Joseph L. Fisher papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Preferred citation:

Joseph L. Fisher papers, C0028, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
58.0 linear feet (116 boxes)
Creator:
Fisher, Joseph L.
Abstract:
This collection relates to Fisher's career as an economist, educator, and U.S. Congressman. The materials include lectures and comments on conservation and natural resources, scrapbooks, pamphlets, appointment books, and correspondence. Materials that relate to his political career in U.S. House of Representatives include correspondence, speeches, press releases, reports, newsclippings, issue papers, testimony, statements, questionnaires, background publications, guidelines, charts, and legislation.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Joseph L. Fisher papers, C0028, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is divided into three series.

Series 1 of the collection relates to Fisher's political career in the U.S. House of Representatives (1974-1981). The materials cover the years 1974-1992 and include correspondence, speeches, press releases, reports, newsclippings, issue papers, testimony, statements, questionnaires, background publications, guidelines, charts, and legislation.

Series 2 relates to Fisher's career as an economist, educator, and U.S. Congressman. The materials cover the years 1930s-1992 and include lectures and comments on conservation and natural resources, class notes, papers, and dissertation and thesis, scrapbooks, pamphlets, appointment books, and correspondence.

Series 3 consists of two flat boxes that contain awards, certificates, and diplomas for both Joseph and Margaret Fisher, as well as campaign posters, a large newspaper clipping, a large photograph, and scrapbook covers. Materials date from 1943 to 1992.

Papers relate to Fisher's political career in U.S. House of Representatives (1974-1992). The materials cover the years 1974-1992 and include: correspondence, speeches, press releases, reports, newsclippings, issue papers, testimony, statements, questionnaires, background publications, guidelines, charts, and legislation.

Adding population-density factor to definition of Urban County; Banking, finance, urban affairs.

Permit employees of House to contribute through payroll withholding; House administration.

Established within the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for claims against foreign ministers and diplomats and awards just compensation for such claims.

To require a refund value for certain beverage containers; Interstate and foreign commerce.

Federal civilian and posted service employees rights; Post Office and civil service participation in political process.

Special allowances to certain physicians employed by U.S.; Postal service and civil service.

Grants for the construction of bikeways; Public work plus transportation.

Prohibit increase in the price of food stamps; Agriculture.

Gifts to National Arboretum; Agriculture.

Human treatment of animals; Agriculture.

Disapproval of budget deferral of HUD planning program; Appropriates.

Regarding Wilson Recomputation Bill; Armed Forces.

Recomputation of military retired pay; Armed Services.

Prohibition of unions in the Armed Forces.

Maintain commissary stores; Armed Services.

National condominium and tenants rights act B,C and H.

Termination of bank insurance.

George Washington University charter; District of Columbia.

Water rate structure; D.C. and public works committees.

Metro financing; District of Columbia.

Commission to study Federal payment to D.C.; District of Columbia.

D.C. medical and dental manpower; District of Columbia.

Age discrimination in employment; Education and labor.

Small business under OSHA; Education and labor.

Federal Procurement Policy Act; Government operations.

Impact of federal property on local government; Government operations.

Interests on overdue contract payments; Government operations.

Mihailovich movement; House administration.

American Folklife Center; House administration.

Public financing of Congressional campaigns; House administration.

Withholding of state tax for House employees; House administration.

John McCormack Sr. intern program; House administration.

Potomac National River; Interior plus insular affairs.

New River; Interior plus insular affairs.

Brggs / Begich peaks in Alaska; Interior plus insular affairs.

Land use planning; Interior plus insular affairs.

Shenandoah wilderness; Interior plus insular affairs.

Shenandoah wilderness; Interior plus insular affairs.

Manassas National Battlefield Park; Interior plus insular affairs.

Diplomatic immunity bills with co-sponsors; International relations.

Diplomatic immunity; International relations.

Diplomatic relations; International relations.

Sale of arms to Jordan; International relations.

Calling an Atlantic conference; International relations.

Commission on regulatory reform; Interstate and foreign commerce.

Franchise practices; Interstate plus foreign commerce.

Radio frequency interference; Interstate plus foreign commerce.

Life support centers act; Interstate plus foreign commerce.

Returnable beverage container act of 1975; Interstate plus foreign commerce.

Relief of Edward J. Shea; Private Judiciary.

Condemning murders of Letelier and Moffitt; Judiciary.

Federal financial disclosure; Judiciary.

Federal lobbying registration act; Judiciary.

Relief of Ruth Guilder; Judiciary.

Financial disclosure; Judiciary, official conduct.

Relief of Luisa Lavandez de Alvarez.

Robert E. Lee citizenship; Judiciary.

D.C. Representation in Congress; Judiciary.

Fish and wildlife service administration; Merchant Marine and fisheries.

Tinicum National Environmental Center; Merchant Marine plus fisheries.

Hatch Act revision; Post Office plus service.

Allowances for physicians; Post Office plus civil service.

Increase civil service commission membership; Post Office plus civil service.

Closing of Post Office; Civil service.

Thomas Jefferson Day; Post Office plus civil service.

Nation volunteer firemen week; Post Office plus civil service.

Civil service retirement for armed forces employees; Post Office plus civil service.

Department of Defense employees under civil service; Post Office.

Federal employees political activities act; Post Office plus civil service.

Federal employees relocation; Post Office plus civil service.

Regarding changes in federal employee health insurance; Post Office plus civil service.

Executive branch employees pay comparability; Post Office plus civil service.

Court leave for federal employees; Post Office plus civil service.

Disallow presidents plan for federal pay raise; Post Office plus civil service.

Congressional pay freeze; Post Office plus civil service.

Public works capital development; Public works.

Government economy plus spending reform act; Rules.

Select committee on nuclear proliferation; Rules.

Remove limitations on number of co-sponsors; Rules.

Investigations by committee on official conduct; Rules.

Ex-members prohibited from lobbying on House floor; Rules.

Open conference committee; Rules committee.

Select committee on MIA's; Rules committee.

Select committee on energy; Rules.

Unknown revolutionary war soldier; Veterans affairs.

Life insurance for vets with service; Connected disabilities, Veterans affairs.

Lobbying by public charities; Ways and means.

Renters tax credit; Ways and means.

Auto insurance for diplomats; Ways and means.

Prohibit oil tariff for 90 days; Ways and means.

Estate tax on farms; Ways and means.

Condominium tax exemption; Ways and means.

Nursing care under medicare; Ways and means.

Lobbying by tax exempt organizations; Ways and means.

Taxation of legal service fees; Ways and means.

Tax privacy act of 1975; Ways and means.

Social security claims procedures; Ways and means.

Prohibit oil tariff until April 1, 1975; Ways and means.

Resolution disapproving ceiling on social security benefits; Ways and means.

Press releases, clippings, newsletters.

Papers relate to Fisher's career as an economist, educator, and U.S. Congressman. The materials cover the years 1930s-1992 and include: lectures and comments on conservation and natural resources, class notes, papers, and dissertation and thesis, scrapbooks, pamphlets, appointment books, and correspondence.

Two prints signed by Fisher, one negative

Two 10 x 8 black and white photographs

Newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, invitations, newsletters, letters from the White House, removed from a scrapbook.

Newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, invitations, newsletters, letters from the White House, removed from a scrapbook.

Newspaper and magazine clippings, photographs, invitations, newsletters, letters from the White House, and photographs removed from a scrapbook.

This series consists of two flat boxes that contain awards, certificates, and diplomas for both Joseph and Margaret Fisher, as well as campaign posters, a large newspaper clipping, a large photograph, and scrapbook covers.

Biographical / historical:

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).

Acquisition information:
Collection donated by Margaret Fisher in 1992-1995.
Processing information:

Processed and finding aid compiled by Barbara Haase and Kay Liebermann in 1995. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Finding aid updated in June 2013 by Greta Kuriger Suiter. Updated in September 2018 by Amy Blake.

Arrangement:

Organized into three series.

  1. Series 1: U.S. House of Representatives, 1974-1992
  2. Series 2: Academic Career/Government Appointments, 1930s-1992
  3. Series 3: Oversize, 1943-1992
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard