Bureau of Government Research (Rec. Gr. 14)

Historical note

On February 19, 1959, the Rhode Island Public Finance Officers Association passed a resolution requesting that the Board of Trustees of State Colleges establish a bureau within the University of Rhode Island to provide fact finding, analysis, and research services to municipal governments in the State of Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Public Finance Officers Association had long worked to establish criteria for municipal annual reports to State government, and wanted an organization to assist municipal officials in this task.

The Board of Trustees voted on July 20, 1959 to establish the Bureau of Government Research, assigning to the Bureau the ability to provide research services when requested by municipal officials, as well as providing training and teaching services to assessors, clerks, treasurers, and other state and municipal officials and employees. The Board of Trustees placed the Bureau under the Vice-President for Academic Affairs, and intended for the Bureau to work in conjunction with the History and Political Science Departments.

President Francis H. Horn appointed John O. Stitely, Associate Professor of history and political science, as the Director of the Bureau on November 6, 1959. Horn also appointed an Advisory Council consisting of both faculty and non-faculty members to assist in the formulation of Bureau policies and to aid in the guidance of its activities. The Bureau began operating on February 1, 1960 with offices in Bliss Hall. The following year the offices relocated to Washburn Hall, and finally, in March 1962, relocated once again to their final location in Taft Hall. Stitely remained Director until his retirement in 1973. Robert J. Hoffman was named as Stitely's replacement in November 1973, and served in the position of Director until the Bureau lost its funding from the University in 1982.

During the time the Bureau was active, it was responsible for the administrative control of the Masters of Public Administration graduate program, including helping students in the program obtain internships with local governments. In addition to its research role, the Bureau also hosted and sponsored conferences, provided teaching services to state and municipal employees (including an annual school for Rhode Island assessors and Boards of Review), and established three series of publications: the Research Service, Information Service, and Metropolitan Studies series.