Rose, Arnold Marshall, 1918-1968

Arnold M. Rose was a University of Minnesota sociology professor, who was widely known for his studies on African Americans, the aged, mental health, and the unions in America. He was elected to the Minnesota legislature in 1962. In 1964, Rose successfully brought a libel suit against the Christian Research Inc. group, although the award was set aside by the State Supreme Court. The case was viewed as a defense of academic freedom.

From the description of Papers, 1935-1968. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 63314463

Arnold Rose was born on 2 July 1918. He received his B.A. in sociology in 1938, his B.A. in economics in 1939, his M.A. in sociology in 1940, and his Ph.D. in sociology in 1946, all from the University of Chicago. Arnold Rose came to the University of Minnesota in 1949 as an associate professor of sociology, being promoted to full professorship in 1952.

Rose was widely known for his studies on African Americans, the aged, mental health, and unions in America. He was the author of 20 books and 150 articles. In 1941, at age 23, he assisted Swedish sociologist Gunnar Myrdal on the research and writing of An American Dilemma: the Negro problem and modern democracy . Other books by Arnold Rose included The Negro in America, a condensation of Myrdal's book, published in 1948 and The Power Struggle, published in 1967, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Caroline Baer married Arnold Rose in 1943. She also served on the faculty in the Department of Sociology at the University of Minnesota and co-authored several books and articles with her husband.

In 1964, Rose successfully brought a libel suit against the right-wing Minneapolis group, Christian Research Inc., Gerda Koch, its head and Adolph Grinde. Rose charged the group had libeled him in an article that implied he was a Communist sympathizer because of his collaboration with Gunnar Myrdal. Rose won the suit, but the $20,000 in damages was thrown out by the Minnesota Supreme Court on the grounds that Rose was a public figure. The case was viewed as a defense of academic freedom.

Rose was elected to the Minnesota state legislature in 1962, serving the 41st District, which included the University of Minnesota, but declined to run again in 1966 after being diagnosed with cancer. Arnold Rose died on 2 January 1968 in Minneapolis at the age of 49.

From the guide to the Arnold Marshall Rose papers, 1935-1968, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])