LeFort, Emilio Carlos, b. 1896.

Emilio Carlos LeFort worked to bring about a better understanding and appreciation of the Latin American world here in the United States.

From the description of Emilio Carlos LeFort papers, 1937-1945. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 63280194

Emilio LeFort, B.S. (1923) National University in Buenos Aires; M.S. (1926), M.A. (1927) University of Wisconsin, Ph.D. (1935) University of Minnesota. Professor of romance languages at the University of Minnesota (1928-1952). Served the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, Southern South American Section, Washington D.C. (1943-1944).

Emilio LeFort was born in Argentina on February 8, 1896. He received a B.S. in 1923 from the National University in Buenos Aires. From 1923-1925 he held a scholarship from the Argentine Government to study at the University of Wisconsin, where he received an M.S. in 1926 and an M.A. in 1927. From 1924-1927 he was an Assistant in Spanish at the University of Wisconsin.

In 1928, LeFort came to the University of Minnesota as an instructor of Spanish in the department of romance languages, while continuing his graduate study for a Ph.D. degree which he received in June 1935, with a major in Spanish and a minor in Italian and French. Dr. LeFort held the rank of full professor at the time of his death.

From March 1943-October 1944, LeFort was on leave from the University to the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs in Washington D.C. He was appointed head of the Southern South American Section, and promoted to the position of Consultant to the Regional Division. This position necessitated administrative duties in personal research, research in various fields of political economy, press activities, historical, social, and economic matters. He was chosen for a mission involving visits to all the capitals of South America, contacts with embassies, newspapers and inter-American cultural institutes.

Emilio LeFort died on March 31, 1952 in Minneapolis.

From the guide to the Emilio LeFort papers, 1937-1945, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])