Institute for Humane Studies

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is a United States nonprofit educational organization focused on advancing the study and teaching of classical liberalism in higher education. Its work is directed primarily toward university students, graduate students, faculty, and people pursuing academic or intellectual careers. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer brand, IHS functions as an educational platform and professional-development network: it provides fellowships, scholarships, research support, seminars, conferences, career guidance, and online materials intended to develop scholarship about liberty, individual autonomy, free exchange, peace, property rights, limited government, and related subjects. F. A. "Baldy" Harper established IHS in Menlo Park, California, in 1961. Harper’s stated objective was to encourage peace, prosperity, and social harmony through a deeper understanding of human affairs and freedom. Friedrich A. Hayek was influential in the institute’s creation, and the organization’s intellectual environment later included speakers and scholars associated with Austrian economics and libertarian thought, including Murray Rothbard during IHS conferences in the 1970s. Harper initially served as secretary and treasurer and became president in 1966, remaining in that role until his death in 1973. Over time, IHS developed from a small intellectual organization into a broader academic-support institution. It formed an association with George Mason University and moved to Fairfax, Virginia, in 1985. It is now based at 3434 Washington Boulevard on George Mason University’s Arlington campus, alongside the Mercatus Center. The university relationship is an affiliation rather than ownership by a conventional corporate parent. IHS has also received support from a range of private foundations, including Koch-related foundations, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, the F. M. Kirby Foundation, the John William Pope Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and others. The organization has described itself as educational rather than a political organization. Its program portfolio has included free summer and academic-year seminars covering economics, history, philosophy, law, and political science; advanced discussion programs conducted with Liberty Fund; graduate research colloquia; policy-research and career-development seminars; and several forms of scholarship and grant support. The Humane Studies Fellowship, Summer Graduate Research Fellowship, PhD Scholarship, and conference-related grants have been aimed at students and early-career scholars whose work engages with the classical-liberal tradition. The institute has stated that it distributes more than $1 million annually in scholarships, although such figures are time-specific and may change. IHS has also used digital media to reach audiences beyond university seminars. In 2010 it launched LearnLiberty.org, an educational video project presenting arguments and questions related to free societies, the nature of government, and the organization of human affairs. Learn Liberty was acquired by Students for Liberty in 2019. IHS previously operated journalism and public-policy internship initiatives, while the Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program is now hosted by the Charles Koch Institute rather than IHS. The institute’s public profile has been shaped both by its academic programs and by scrutiny of its philanthropic relationships. Charles Koch was a longstanding donor, and funding from Koch-related and other foundations has prompted discussion about the role of privately funded organizations in the development of libertarian and free-market scholarship. In 2019, IHS also addressed reporting about a former director of its journalism internship program who was later associated with the alt-right; the organization said its review found no incident during his IHS tenure in which he displayed antisemitic or bigoted views. IHS continues to present itself as a nonprofit educational institution supporting research, teaching, and intellectual exchange around classical-liberal ideas.

The Institute for Humane Studies was founded in 1961 in Menlo Park, California, by F. A. "Baldy" Harper. Its original purpose was to encourage peace, prosperity, and social harmony by promoting a deeper understanding of human affairs and freedom. Friedrich A. Hayek assisted Harper in the institute’s founding, and Hayek remained an important reference point in IHS’s intellectual history. Harper first served as the organization’s secretary and treasurer and became president in 1966. He held the presidency until his death in 1973. During the 1970s, IHS conferences featured speakers such as Murray Rothbard and provided a venue for discussion of Austrian economics, libertarian thought, political philosophy, and related approaches to the study of liberty. Subsequent leaders included Louis M. Spadaro and Leonard Liggio, with Liggio serving as president from 1980 to 1989. The institute developed an association with George Mason University and moved to Fairfax, Virginia, in 1985. Leonard Liggio, Walter Grinder, and John Blundell were associated with this relocation. IHS later established its base at 3434 Washington Boulevard on George Mason University’s Arlington campus, where it is located alongside the Mercatus Center. Its connection with George Mason University has helped place the institute within a wider academic and research environment, although IHS remains a separate nonprofit organization. David C. Nott led the organization as president from 1998 to 2000. Marty Zupan became president and CEO in 2001 after serving as editor of Reason magazine and remained in the role until 2016. Emily Chamlee-Wright subsequently became president and CEO. Before joining IHS, Chamlee-Wright held academic leadership and economics positions at Washington College and Beloit College. IHS’s principal activity has been the development of educational and professional opportunities for students and scholars interested in classical liberalism. Its seminars address subjects including property rights, natural rights, limited government, free trade, peace, individual autonomy, economics, history, law, philosophy, and political science. Introductory and advanced summer seminars have been complemented by academic-year campus programs. With Liberty Fund, IHS has also supported invitation-based Advanced Topics in Liberty discussions. For graduate students and junior faculty, the institute has operated research colloquia, policy-research seminars, career-development programs, and grants for conference participation, research, and academic interviews. Its fellowship portfolio has included the Humane Studies Fellowship, the Summer Graduate Research Fellowship, and the IHS PhD Scholarship. These programs have sought to help participants produce scholarship, enter academic careers, secure employment, and contribute to intellectual debates about free societies. In 2010, IHS launched Learn Liberty, an online video project intended to introduce broader audiences to questions about human nature, social organization, and the proper role of government. The project featured academic contributors and translated the institute’s educational mission into short-form digital media. Learn Liberty was transferred to Students for Liberty in 2019. IHS has also operated or sponsored internship initiatives in public policy and journalism. The Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program, formerly associated with IHS, is now hosted by the Charles Koch Institute, while the journalism and policy internship programs described in earlier accounts have been discontinued. The organization has received grants and donations from numerous private foundations, including Koch-related foundations, the Sarah Scaife Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, the F. M. Kirby Foundation, the Marcus Foundation, the John William Pope Foundation, the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation, the Ralph Smeed Private Memorial Foundation, the Searle Freedom Trust, the E. L. Craig Foundation, and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. Its financial relationships have periodically drawn public attention, particularly because of the broader role of Koch philanthropy in free-market and libertarian institutions. IHS has emphasized its nonprofit educational status and has stated that it is not a political organization. In 2019, the institute responded to reporting about John Elliott, who directed its journalism internship program from 2008 to 2013 and was later linked in reporting to the alt-right. IHS said that its review found no incident during his time at the institute in which he exhibited antisemitic or bigoted views. This episode forms part of the public discussion surrounding the institute’s programs and networks, but it did not end the organization’s operations. IHS continues to provide academic funding, seminars, research support, and educational programming centered on classical-liberal ideas.

• 2019

  Learn Liberty transferred to Students for Liberty

  [1]Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  Students for Liberty acquired Learn Liberty from IHS.

• 2010

  Learn Liberty launches

  [1]Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  IHS launched Learn Liberty, an online educational video platform explaining ideas and debates related to free societies.

• 1985

  Institute moves to Virginia

  [1]Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  Following its association with George Mason University, IHS moved from California to Fairfax, Virginia.

• 1970

  Hayek commemorated by IHS community

  [1]Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  IHS staff and supporters gathered to honor Friedrich A. Hayek on the centenary of his birth; Hayek had been instrumental in helping Harper establish the institute.

• 1966

  Harper becomes president

  [1]Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  After initially serving as secretary and treasurer, Harper assumed the presidency, which he held until 1973.

• 1961

  Institute founded in California

  [1]Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org

  F. A. "Baldy" Harper founded the Institute for Humane Studies in Menlo Park, California, with a mission centered on peace, prosperity, social harmony, and the study of freedom.

An academically oriented nonprofit platform for developing scholarship, teaching, and professional networks associated with classical liberalism and the study of free societies.

• Graduate fellowship

  Humane Studies Fellowship

  A fellowship program for graduate students pursuing academic or intellectual careers related to liberty and the classical-liberal tradition. The program has provided scholarship support and professional development, with historical descriptions citing awards of up to $15,000; amounts and eligibility may change over time.

• Research fellowship

  Summer Graduate Research Fellowship

  A summer program supporting young academics as they refine and complete a publishable article or thesis chapter engaging with classical-liberal ideas. Historical descriptions cite a $5,000 stipend, but current terms should be verified with IHS.

• Doctoral scholarship

  IHS PhD Scholarship

  Scholarship assistance for PhD students whose work develops, teaches, or applies principles associated with a free society. The award has historically been described as $1,500, subject to program-period variation.

• Academic seminar

  IHS Seminars

  Free or sponsored seminars for university students, graduate students, and scholars. Sessions cover economics, history, philosophy, law, political science, property rights, limited government, natural rights, free trade, peace, and individual autonomy. Programs have included summer, campus, advanced, research, and career-oriented formats.

• Online educational media · 2010

  Learn Liberty

  An online video and educational resource project launched by IHS in 2010. It presented introductions to classical-liberal and libertarian arguments concerning human nature, social organization, markets, and government. Students for Liberty acquired the project in 2019.

• Public-policy internship

  Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow Program

  A ten-week summer fellowship and internship program formerly hosted by IHS, combining paid placements at policy organizations with career and policy seminars. The program is now hosted by the Charles Koch Institute.

• 2019

  Former journalism-program director linked to alt-right reporting

  Reporting connected John Elliott, who directed IHS’s journalism internship program from 2008 to 2013, with the alt-right movement. IHS said it conducted a review and found no incident during his tenure in which he exhibited antisemitic or bigoted views.

  Source

Read more

• 2011Learn Liberty fundraising appeal

  United States

  IHS conducted project-specific fundraising for Learn Liberty, including a fundraising letter signed by Rand Paul seeking support for the online educational initiative.

  Outcome. Learn Liberty continued as an IHS project until its acquisition by Students for Liberty in 2019.

  Source

• 2019

  Transfer of Learn Liberty to Students for LibertyM&A

  Background

  Learn Liberty had operated as IHS’s online educational media project since 2010.

  Action taken

  Students for Liberty acquired Learn Liberty.

  Aftermath

  The project moved outside IHS while the institute continued its core focus on academic programs, fellowships, seminars, and research support.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch of Learn LibertyProduct launch

  Background

  IHS sought to extend its academic mission beyond in-person seminars and fellowships.

  Action taken

  The institute launched an online video platform addressing questions about free societies, human affairs, and the role of government.

  Aftermath

  The project became a distinct public-facing educational channel and was later acquired by Students for Liberty in 2019.

  Source

• 1985

  Relocation and deeper George Mason University associationStrategy

  Background

  IHS had developed an association with George Mason University and sought a closer connection to the university’s academic environment.

  Action taken

  The institute moved to Fairfax, Virginia, and ultimately established its headquarters on George Mason University’s Arlington campus.

  Aftermath

  The move placed IHS near the Mercatus Center and strengthened its presence within the Northern Virginia academic and policy ecosystem.

  Source

1. 1Institute for Humane Studiesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Institute for Humane Studies official websitetheihs.org