Edward Rochie Hardy papers

Collection

Identifier: M045

Scope and Content Note

The Edward Rochie Hardy Papers span 1680-1967 (bulk ca. 1890-1950). The collection documents Hardy's career, the insurance industry, Hardy's personal life and family, and issues relating to the World Wars. The main portion of this collection documents the insurance industry and Hardy's contribution to that industry. The information relating to Hardy's personal life often overlaps with his professional life. Material relating to issues of the World Wars documents the impact on the insurance industry and life in general in both the United States and Europe.

Highlights of this collection include histories of insurance companies, lecture notes, writing drafts, correspondence between Hardy and others in the insurance field around the world, sample insurance policies from across the globe, and awards or recognition that Hardy received for his work. The professional and personal correspondence files are supplemented with a number of photographs of Hardy, his son, and Hardy's friends, acquaintances, and colleagues from around the world. The correspondence and photographs document Hardy's travels, family life, and insurance career.

Dates

Creation: 1769-1967
Creation: Majority of material found within 1890-1950

Creator

Hardy, Edward Rochie (Person)

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is unrestricted.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use:

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.

Biographical Note

Edward Rochie Hardy was instrumental in the development of insurance education and the growth of insurance libraries. He was born on October 15, 1862 in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Petty Marsh, Maine. He received his Ph.B. degree from Boston University in 1896. Through his long career he held numerous posts in insurance organizations and as head of several insurance libraries. These included the Insurance Library Association of Boston, the New York Insurance Society, and the New York Fire Exchange. He also helped found the Insurance Institute of America in 1909, and was responsible for creating its library. By October 1939, the Insurance Institute of America had grown to include 4,169 member organizations. From 1905 to 1939 Hardy was a lecturer at New York University's School of Commerce. He taught classes on topics such as fire insurance, investment and speculation, and insurance law and practice. He also wrote extensively on the topic of insurance. Included among his writings are the books "History of Fire Insurance," which chronicles the life of the insurance industry from 1724 to 1901, and "Making of the Fire Insurance Rate," a history of fire insurance and the process of rate making.

Extent

19.20 cubic feet (25 containers, 11 flat file folders)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Edward Rochie Hardy was instrumental in the development of insurance education and the growth of insurance libraries. He was born on October 15, 1862 in Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from Boston University in 1896, Hardy held numerous posts in insurance organizations and as head of several insurance libraries, including the Insurance Library Association of Boston, the New York Insurance Society, and the New York Fire Exchange. Hardy also helped found the Insurance Institute of America in 1909 and was responsible for creating its library. From 1905 to 1939, he was a lecturer at New York University's School of Commerce. Edward Rochie Hardy died in 1951.

Overview

The Edward Rochie Hardy papers document the insurance industry, his career, and personal life. The insurance policies collected by Hardy make up a majority of the collection. Also included are insurance publications, materials relating to insurance education, histories of insurance agencies, and Hardy's correspondence with others in the insurance industry, writing drafts, and lecture notes. Personal correspondence and photographs also document Hardy's travels, family life, and career.