Joseph Campbell

Who was Joseph Campbell?

Joseph Campbell was the fourth Comptroller General of the United States, in office from December 14, 1954 - July 31, 1965. He was born in New York City. His first marriage was to Marjorie Louise Goetze on September 1, 1925. The couple had five boys: Frederick, Douglas, Robert, Alan, and Colin. He married artist and philanthropist Dorothy Stokes Bostwick in 1950.

Campbell received an Artium Baccalaureus from Columbia University in 1924.

He worked as an accountant at Lingley, Baird, and Dixon from 1925 until 1927. He was an assistant comptroller and a comptroller at The Valspar Corporation between 1927 and 1932. He was a partner at R. T. Lingley & Co. in 1932 and 1933. He became a CPA in New York State and Connecticut in 1933. He was a partner at Joseph Campbell & Co. from 1933 until 1941.

He served as an assistant treasurer at Columbia University beginning in 1941 and on March 13, 1949 was elected Treasurer by the Board of Trustees. He was the tenth Treasurer in the history of the university.

During the early 1950s Campbell served as a member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission and in several other capacities within the federal government. When Comptroller General Lindsay Carter Warren retired Congress was deadlocked over selecting a replacement, so President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Campbell with whom he was familiar with due to Eisenhower's term of presidency at Columbia University. Campbell departed the office before his 15-year term of office concluded due to health issues.