C. Hartley Grattan


Clinton Hartley Grattan was an American economic analyst, historian, critic, and professor emeritus, who was considered one of the leading American authorities on 20th-century Australian history.

Career

Born in Wakefield, Massachusetts in 1902, Grattan received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark College in 1923. In 1937, Grattan travelled to Australia as a Carnegie travelling scholar where he remained for two years. While studying and presenting there he provoked the ire of the Ministry for Agriculture when he stated that Australian farmers were ill-prepared to weather sudden economic downturns. This would not be Grattan's only brush with controversy. In 1942, Grattan was forced to resign as Economic Analyst to the American Board of Economic Warfare when Representatives Martin Dies, Jr. and Jerry Voorhis accused him of being both a Nazi and Communist sympathizer; allegations that were withdrawn by Voorhis a short time later. Grattan began teaching at the University of Texas at Austin in 1964. It is the Austin campus which houses the Grattan Collection of Southwest Pacifica, considered the most complete collection of such items in the United States containing artifacts from Australia as well as New Zealand, Antarctica, and the Pacific Islands.
In addition to his work as an analyst and historian, Grattan was also a freelance writer who published articles and critiques in such magazines as The American Mercury, Harper's and Scribner's. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Australian National University in 1977.

Personal life

Grattan was married and had four children.

Books