New guide to papers of Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph

The Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph Papers are open for research.

Lloyd Irving Rudolph (1927-2016) and Susanne Hoeber Rudolph (1930-2015) were professors of political science at the University of Chicago and close collaborators throughout their careers. The couple specialized in South Asian politics, history, and culture, and in 2014 were joint recipients of the Padma Bhushan Award, one of India’s highest civilian honors. The papers document the interconnectedness of the Rudolphs' personal and professional lives.

They met at Harvard University and were married in 1952. In 1956, the young couple drove a Land Rover from Austria to New Delhi for their first research trip in India. This trip marked the beginning of decades of fieldwork in India for the Rudolphs. They lived and researched in India on and off throughout their adult lives, and co-authored numerous articles and books together.

The Rudolphs’ teaching careers at the University of Chicago began in 1964 when both were appointed Associate Professors of Political Science in the Department of Political Science and the College. Lloyd was also an Associate Professor in the Social Sciences. They were both promoted to Professor in 1972. Susanne was named the William Benton Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Political Science and the College in 1990. In 2002, Lloyd retired from the University of Chicago and Susanne was named the William Benton Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Political Science.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Susanne served in many high-level administrative roles at the University of Chicago. She was Associate Dean of the College and Master of the Social Science Collegiate Division from 1973 to 1975. She chaired the Department of Political Science from 1976 to 1979 and again in 1989. Susanne directed the South Asia Language and Area Center from 1980 to 1998. She also served as Director of the Institute for Culture and Consciousness in South Asia from 1990 to 1994. From 2001 to 2002, Susanne was Acting Director of the Center for International Studies.

Susanne also took on several prominent leadership positions outside of the University of Chicago. She was President of the Association for Asian Studies in 1986 and was President of the American Political Science Association from 2003 to 2004. She was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Lloyd chaired several academic programs at the University of Chicago during his career, including The College Political Science Program (1968-1970), The Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (1973-1975), the Committee on International Relations (1985-1987; 1994-1995), South Asian Studies in The College (1985-2002), and Public Policy Studies in The College (1997-1998).

Additionally, Lloyd was an active member of the American Political Science Association, the Association for Asian Studies, and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York and Chicago. He consulted for many organizations including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Foreign Service Institute of the Department of State, the World Bank, and the U.S. Institute for Peace.