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Robb, William C.

YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT:  

1937-1956

RESEARCH INTEREST:

Labor Economics, Law

BIOSKETCH:

William Coulter Robb was born on August 11, 1888 in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Augustana College in 1914, and subsequently began a career in the public schooling system. Robb served as the principal of numerous schools in Illinois, including high schools in Maywood, Rock Island and Spring Valley. He also handled the financial arrangements resulting from the construction of the J. Sterling Morton High School in Cicero.

In 1924, Robb earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Northwestern University, and began practicing law in Chicago at the firm Ross, Boeger, and Robb. In the mid-1930s, Robb received a fellowship by the Harvard University graduate committee in law, and studied under the internationally famed law professor Felix Frankfurter.

Professor Robb joined the University of Illinois’ Department of Economics in 1937 as an associate professor. He created the College of Commerce’s successful job placement bureau in 1938 and served as its chairman during his time at Illinois. In 1939, Professor Robb was promoted to the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Commerce. He also was elevated from associate to assistant professor.

In 1956, Robb would retire from the University of Illinois as a Professor Emeritus in Economics. Professor Robb died on April 7, 1975 in his home in Urbana.

PHD:

Northwestern University, 1924 (JD)

Harvard University, 1937 (JD)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Robb, William C. Examination Problem in Conflict of Laws Seminar. Cambridge, 1937. Print.
  • Robb, William C. Administration of the Public Schools of the State of Illinois. Cambridge, 1937. Print.

OTHER LINKS/RESOURCES:

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VITA:

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