Emilio LeFort papers

Collection

Identifier: uarc 743

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains two scrapbooks kept by Professor LeFort, which document some of his travels, activities, and teaching. A reprint of his article Latin American Studies,is included, in which he describes the workshop he conducted at Montana State University. A study program entitled "The Republics of Latin America," which is not identified, but which could have been used in connection with the course on Latin American culture, the lectures Mr. LeFort delivered to prospective tourists (he was leading a group in 1940-1941), or in connection with his activities in the Office of Inter-American Affairs. A War Service Certificate extended to him by the Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs (1940-1944) and the Office of Inter-American Affairs is also included.

Dates

1937-1945

Creator

LeFort, Emilio Carlos, 1896- (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection materials in English and Spanish

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.

Biographical Sketch of Emilio Carlos LeFort (1896-1952)

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.