Newsletters

11th Anniversary, Still A Necessity & A Promise

Today is the 11th anniversary of Bob Swann’s death.  In 1974 Bob helped to arrange E. F. Schumacher’s first lecture tour in the USA. While on the tour, Fritz Schumacher asked Robert Swann to start a sister organization to his own Intermediate Technology Development Group, but it was not until 1980, when prompted by Resurgence editor Satish Kumar, that Bob organized the E. F. Schumacher Society [now the Schumacher Center for a New Economics] in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. 

Schumacher chose wisely. Robert Swann brought the pragmatic skills of a builder to his lifelong commitment to both community and decentralized economics. Before founding the Society he worked with Ralph Borsodi to issue a commodity-backed currency in Exeter, New Hampshire, a forerunner of today’s local currencies. In 1978 he launched the Community Investment Fund, one of the first investment initiatives with socially responsible criteria, anticipating a national movement in social investment.

His 1960s civil rights work led to an effort to secure land for African-American farmers. With Slater King he founded New Communities in Albany, Georgia, using documents modeled on those of the Jewish National Fund. As founder of the Institute for Community Economics he helped other groups around the country form similar community land trusts, which earned him the title of father of the American land reform movement.

Bob passed away peacefully at his home in South Egremont, Massachusetts on January 13, 2003. He continues to  inspires our work on local currencies and the commons. The essay “Stirred by Necessity and Promise” was written for his tribute pamphlet.  It anticipates the BerkShares loan program and the Agrarian Trust.

Join us in remembering Bob.

Share: