Introduction

Titmuss, despite his ever mounting commitments, was generous with his time, and this applied to other academics, both junior and well established. This chapter examines his support for American scholars working on British subjects. This could take the form of, for example, advice on sources, supplying suitable contacts, reading manuscripts, or facilitating a collaborative project. A number of the individuals involved were visitors to the LSE and, on occasion, Titmuss's home, and all went on to, or were already pursuing, distinguished academic careers in the US. While Titmuss undoubtedly gave his support for unselfish reasons, nonetheless the establishment of further contacts in American academia can only have added to his transatlantic networks. It is not suggested that the individuals discussed below were the only American scholars Titmuss aided. Rather, each illustrates the generosity of Titmuss's collegial approach to academic life, and the perception of him as an authority on social welfare. It is the case, too, that these Titmuss-inspired, or aided, works can be viewed as commentaries on American social policy, something with which Titmuss himself was intimately engaged, and the subject of the next chapter. Equally, some of Titmuss's comments further illuminate his perceptions of contemporary British society.

Social welfare: Heclo and Gilbert

We have already encountered our first recipient of Titmuss's support, Hugh Heclo, later Professor of Government at Harvard University, who had worked for Titmuss during the latter's membership of the Finer Committee. Titmuss had been instrumental in Heclo's appointment, and was clearly keen to promote the young American's career. Heclo dedicated his first major academic work, Modern Social Policies in Britain and Sweden, which came out shortly after Titmuss's death, to him and Kay. Below the dedication are the lines ‘we learned that in quiet places reason abounds, that in quiet people there is vision and purpose’. This (unattributed) quote comes from the liberal Democrat, and supporter of progressive causes in America, Adlai Stevenson, and so gives a sense of Heclo's own political position, as well reflecting his feelings about Titmuss and Kay.