Keller, Albert Galloway, 1874-1956

Albert Galloway Keller was born on April 10, 1874 in Springfield, Ohio. He graduated from Yale (B.A., 1896; Ph.D., 1899), where he studied with William Graham Sumner. Keller joined the Yale faculty and taught from 1899-1942. He published many sociological works, edited much of Sumner's work (after Sumner's death in 1910), and struggled to keep Sumner's place in Yale history secure. Keller wrote various anti-New Deal works in the 1930s and 1940s. He died on October 31, 1956.

From the description of Albert Galloway Keller papers, 1888-1956 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702153767

Albert Galloway Keller was born on April 10, 1874 in Springfield, Ohio. He graduated from Yale (B.A., 1896; Ph.D., 1899), where he studied with William Graham Sumner. Keller joined the Yale faculty and taught from 1899-1942. He published many sociological works, edited much of Sumner's work (after Sumner's death in 1910), and struggled to keep Sumner's place in Yale history secure. Keller wrote various anti-New Deal works in the 1930s and 1940s. He died on October 31, 1956.

Albert Galloway Keller was born in Springfield, Ohio, 10 April 1874, the son of Jeremiah and Laura Keller. Raised in Connecticut, Keller entered Yale College in 1892 and immediately fell under the influence of Yale economist and sociologist William Graham Sumner. Keller proved to be an exceptional student. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and after graduating in 1896 continued to study with Sumner as a graduate student in sociology. While in graduate school Keller met Caroline Louise Gussman, whom he married 7 July 1898. They had three children: Caroline, Deane, and Elsa.

In 1899 Keller received his Ph.D. Impressed with this young graduate student, Sumner secured a place for him on Yale's faculty. Keller remained there for the rest of his career, joining Sumner in espousing the "inductive" approach to sociology. They argued that the study of society could indeed become a real science if the institutions and behavior of many cultures were objectively compared and catalogued. Sumner died in 1910, but before his death he entrusted the completion of his mammoth work, Science of Society, to Keller. Keller accepted the assignment and dedicated his life to carrying on the sociological work of his mentor.

The years 1900 through 1927 were Keller's most productive years as a sociologist. He published many books, including Homeric Society (1901), Societal Evolution (1915), and the four volume magnum opus begun by Sumner, Science of Society (1927). He also edited several collections of Sumner's essays and spent a brief period in 1918 with the Morale Division of the Army's General Staff, writing educational lectures for the common soldier.

In addition to his research, Keller was very committed to his teaching at Yale. He became known as one of the most dynamic, albeit dogmatic, Yale professors of the early twentieth century and soon developed an enthusiastic following. At the time of his retirement Keller estimated he had taught sixteen thousand students.

Despite his popularity among students and alumni, Keller often clashed with Yale administrators. As early as 1910 Sumner's ideas were challenged by many in the profession, and Keller felt that Yale Presidents Hadley, Angell and Seymour made no effort to defend the "Sumner tradition." Relations between Keller and official Yale, as a result, were always strained at best.

While Keller devoted the first three decades of his career to academic sociology, he devoted his remaining years to political education. The cause of this shift was the New Deal. After 1932 he spent much of his time writing articles and books, denouncing the New Deal, and supporting such diverse leaders as Wendell Wilkie, Douglas MacArthur, Benito Mussolini and Joseph McCarthy.

This shift in Keller's career also influenced the policy of the William Graham Sumner Club. Founded in 1914 by Julius and William Peter, the club originally supported Keller's efforts to carry on Sumner's work. With its financial support Science of Society was published, as was Man's Rough Road (1932). But with the advent of the New Deal, the club under Keller's guidance became an instrument to oppose Roosevelt's policies. Never a particularly strong or wealthy organization, the club foundered in the early 1940s and disbanded in 1949.

Keller retired in 1942 a bitter man, angry at official Yale for allegedly disowning Sumner and angry at Roosevelt for instituting the changes of the New Deal. Following his retirement he concentrated on writing books. Keller died 31 October 1956.

From the guide to the Albert Galloway Keller papers, 1888-1956, (Manuscripts and Archives)