Charles P. Loomis papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0442
Scope and Content
The collection contains Charles P. Loomis' and Olen E. Leonard's diaries and research files created for their sociological study of El Cerrito, New Mexico, carried out in 1940 and 1956. The file contains correspondence, research notes, interviews, social data, survey schedules, photographs, and other materials. Also in the collection are materials from Loomis' professional career as an educator, including lecture notes, papers, notes on textbooks, and clippings that pertain to sociology, marriage, family and criminology. Letters and memoranda from Roger B. Corbett and Gerald Thomas are also included. Generally, Loomis' original arrangement was kept throughout.
Dates
- 1940-1969
Language of Materials
English.
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Copyrights associated with this collection have not been transferred and assigned to New Mexico State University.
Biographical Sketch
Charles P. Loomis was born October 26, 1905 in Broomfield, Colorado to George Foote Loomis and Sarah Price Loomis. He came to Las Cruces, New Mexico with his parents during his teens and attended New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1928. While attending NMCA & MA Loomis participated on the football team, lettered in track, edited the school paper, played in the band, and was salutatorian of his graduating class. He taught agriculture classes and coached at the college in 1928. Loomis received his master's degree in Sociology and Economics from the University of North Carolina in 1929. His thesis topic was The History of North Carolina Farmers' Union. He was a research fellow in sociology at North Carolina State College in 1929 and an instructor of sociology in 1930 and 1931. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology and Economics at Harvard University in 1933. His dissertation topic was Family Composition and Socio-Economic Activities of the White Farmers in Wake County, North Carolina. He was a research fellow in sociology at Harvard University in 1932 and assistant professor and tutor in sociology in 1933. He studied on a Social Science Research Council research fellowship at the universities of Heidelberg and Koenigsberg, Germany, 1933-1934, and completed post-doctoral work at the University of Mexico in 1942. Loomis's professional experience began as an agricultural economist for the United States Department of Agriculture in 1934. He served as Senior Social Scientist for the USDA from 1935 to 1944, and became Assistant Chief, Division of Extension and Training for the department in 1944. He was a visiting lecturer at Harvard University in 1944 and head of the Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, from 1944 to 1957. He continued as a research professor of Sociology from 1957 to 1971. In 1967 he was honored with an M.S.U. Distinguished Faculty Award. He retired from M.S.U. October 1, 1971. Shortly afterward, he returned to Las Cruces, New Mexico where he was semi-retired but continued to teach at New Mexico State University. Loomis died in Chicago, Illinois on July 6, 1995 at age 89. He was survived by his wife, Zona; three daughters, Vera, Elizabeth, and Laura. Loomis's numerous publications in the area of sociology include: Standards of living in an Indian-Mexican village (Tortugas, New Mexico) and on a Reclamation Project, 1938; Readings in Latin American Social Organizations and Institutions, 1953; Rural Sociology: The Strategy of Change, 1957; Modern Social Theories, 1962; Socio-Economic Change and the Religious Factor in India: An Indian Symposium of Views on Max Weber, 1969; Social Systems: The Study of Sociology, 1976. Loomis belonged to several professional organizations, including: Rural Sociological Association (President, 1948) American Society for Applied Anthropology (President, 1948), and American Sociological Association (President, 1966-67). He was also board member of the Michigan State University Press (President, 1963), advisory editor of the Journal of International Sociometry, and advisory editor of European Journal for Cooperation.
Extent
1.75 Linear Feet
Abstract
Charles P. Loomis was a sociologist, university professor and author whose textbooks on rural sociology became standards in their field. He conducted sociological research in Tortugas, New Mexico in the late 1930s, while working for the United States Department of Agriculture, and at El Cerrito, New Mexico in 1940 and 1956. The collection comprises Loomis' research papers for the El Cerrito study, including diaries, correspondence, statistics and photographs, as well as some of Loomis' professional papers, lecture notes on rural sociology, notes on textbooks, and clippings.
Acquisition
- Gift of Mr. Clyde Eastman
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections
- New Mexico StateUniversity Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico88003-8006
- Phone: (575) 646-3839
- Fax: (575) 646-7477
- Email: archives@nmsu.edu
- URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/
General
- Title
- Register of the Charles P. Loomis papers, 1940-1969
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Processed by Amelia Waldon and Cecelia Carrasco
- Date
- © 2002
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico State University::Archives and Special Collections//TEXT (US::NmLcU::Ms 442::Charles P. Loomis Papers)//EN" "nmlcu1ms442.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository