Mueller, John Henry, 1895-1965

Professor of Sociology, Indiana University, 1935-1965. Served as a research analyst for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, 1933-1935. Known particularly for his writings on statistical methods in sociology and on music in the United States. Died in 1965.

From the description of Papers of John Henry Mueller, 1918-1977. (Indiana University). WorldCat record id: 40854823

John Henry Mueller was a Professor of Sociology on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington for thirty years, from 1935 - 1965. His activities included the usual research and teaching required of professors on a university campus. In addition, he also filled many administrative roles, such as Chairman of the Sociology Department and the Chairman for the Convocations Committee. He also served on other committees not directly affiliated with the University. While classified as a Sociology professor, Professor Mueller's expertise also extended to the arts (particularly music), and into the disciplines of Philosophy, Psychology, Linguistics, and History. This broad scope of interests is reflected in his papers.

John Henry Mueller was born in St. Charles, Missouri on February 8, 1895, the only child of John William and Mary Kuhlmeyer Mueller. Though his initial interest was in music (he was an accomplished pianist, violinist and also played the B-flat Clarinet in the Army during WWI), Mueller's father encouraged him to pursue more "practical" studies. After serving as an interpreter in France during World War I (he was fluent in both German and French), John H. Mueller remained in France for a year and received a certificate from the University of Montpellier in 1919. Mueller then returned to his home state and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri in 1920 and 1921.

Mueller taught at both the University of Missouri and the University of Chicago, earning his doctorate at the latter institution in 1928. From 1927 until 1933, John Mueller was an Associate Professor at the University of Oregon. He subsequently went on to become a Research Analyst for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration under Roosevelt's New Deal from 1933-1935.

In 1935, Professor Mueller married Kate Hevner and moved with her to Bloomington to accept an associate professorship at Indiana University. Professor Mueller was promoted to a full professor in 1947 and was made Chairman of the Sociology Department in 1954, from which he resigned in 1960 to pursue other interests and on account of health problems. During his tenure at IU, John Mueller took several sabbatical leaves of absence to devote more time to his studies and also to travel abroad for speaking engagements, visiting scholarships, and research. He retired in the summer of 1965, just a couple of months before his death on September 1, 1965 at the age of 70 years. Kate Hevner Mueller survived her husband by many years. They had no children.

John Mueller produced many books (some in conjunction with his wife, Kate, who was also a professor at Indiana University in the Education Department). In addition, he wrote articles for publications ranging from the New York Times to House Beautiful, and various other studies and reviews. His most acclaimed work, The American Symphony Orchestra (1951) dealt with how social factors affect musical trends and tastes. He also produced a Sociology textbook, Statistical Reasoning in Sociology (1961).

From the guide to the John H. Mueller papers, 1918-1977, (Indiana University Office of University Archives and Records Management http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives)