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[The following letter is a response from Dan Hammond (President, HES) and 
John Davis (Past-President, HES) -- on behalf of the Society's executive 
committee -- to the HOPE 2001 letter circulated earlier on the list. -- 
RBE]  
 
July 27, 2001 
 
Signers of HOPE conference letter (June 7, 2001) 
c/o Professor E. Roy Weintraub 
Department of Economics 
Duke University 
Box 90097 
Durham, NC 27708-0097 
 
Dear Colleagues: 
 
We want to thank you for your letter of June 7 apprising us of discussions 
at the annual HOPE conference and making suggestions of initiatives to 
enhance the future history of economics. We received the letter in the same 
spirit in which it was written, with an interest in invigorating and 
expanding opportunities in history of economics. 
 
The HES Executive Committee discussed the ideas in your letter over two 
luncheon meetings June 30 and July 1 at the Wake Forest HES conference. The 
first decision we made with regard to the letter was to distribute it to 
HES members at the business meeting. We did so, stating that our purpose 
was to inform them that we were using the letter as a basis for discussions 
within the committee and to stimulate reflection and discussion among HES 
members. We also asked Ross Emmett to distribute the letter over the HES 
e-mail list. Ross posted the letter on July 5. 
 
After consideration of matters raised in your letter the Executive 
Committee voted to form three committees, and to ask each to report back to 
us with proposals for consideration at our next meeting in January 2002. 
The three committees and their charges are as follows: 
 
Committee 1 
Composition: Five persons, including individuals from HES Executive Committee, HES
membership, HOPE conferees, and other interested parties.
Charge: Bring proposals to enhance the field of history of economics to the HES Executive
Committee for discussion at the January 2002 Executive Committee meeting
 
Committee 2 
Composition: HES President-elect, President, and two immediate Past-presidents 
Charge: Study the structure of the History of Economics Society annual meetings, and
suggest changes that will enhance history of economics and the HES. Distribute report to
the Executive Committee for discussion at the January 2002 meeting.
 
Committee 3 
Composition: Four members from the HES Executive Committee 
Charge: Develop proposals for joint activities between the History of Economics Society
and the European Society for the History of Economic Thought. Distribute proposals to HES
Executive Committee for discussion at the January 2002 meeting.
 
We are now in the process of forming these committees. 
 
On behalf of the HES Executive Committee we want to thank you for 
initiating what we expect will be a period of growth and enrichment of 
history of economics. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
(original signed) 
J. Daniel Hammond 
President, History of Economics Society 
 
 
 
(original signed) 
John B. Davis 
Past-president, History of Economics Society 
 
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