The Bureau of Municipal Research and the Development of a Professional Public Service

Abstract

This article explores the professionalization of public administration in terms of its relation to the New York Bureau of Municipal Research. The formation of the New York Bureau of Municipal Research in 1907 served as the catalyst for the creation and expansion of a professional public service. Although public administration has failed to transform into a profession, this article shows that the Bureau contributed to professionalization by (a) developing a body of knowledge and theory for the field, (b) developing a school in which to train persons in that knowledge, and (c) promoting a place where the training and knowledge can be applied.