Mount Holyoke College - Llamarada Yearbook (South Hadley, MA)

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DEPARTMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY AND POLITICAL ECONOMY UNTIL recent years very little attention has been given by the college world to a study of United States History, so that Mount Holyoke was not behind others when she offered but one course in this subject. For some years, however, there was a desire on the part of the Faculty and Trustees to increase the amount of work in this line, so three years ago a beginning was made. At the same time it was decided to increase the work in Political Economy, and these two lines of work have since then advanced together. For three years now Mount Holyoke College has offered fourteen hours of work in United States History and eight hours in Economics. In addition to this, the department of Constitutional History and Political Economy offers a short course devoted to the development of the state from its beginning in the family to its present complicated form in Europe and America. In connection with this department, a Current Events Club has been organized, and to this students of all departments come, to hear what their co-workers have to recount of the world’s history for the past two weeks. The aim of all the work is not only to give culture, but to make good citizens and to help those who may train others for citizenship. For this reason the work is made as practical as possible, encouraging, in the line of History, a study of local and home history, and in Economics a study of actual social and industrial conditions, as well as of forms and theories. For this kind of work, in History particularly, many books are needed, and the department is constantly in search of documents, letters, and local publications. Several friends have “given of their garrets” for our use, and there are now frequent requests for the “New Hampshire Provincial Papers” and other publi- 19

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aries of Michigan, and one on the Northern and Western boundaries, which was most favorably criticized by the German authority Ratzel. Miss Soule is a member of the American Historical Society, the Mich- igan Historical Association, and also of the Association of Intercollegiate Alumnae. In ninety-six Miss Soule came to Mount Holyoke, bringing with her the enthusiasm and progressiveness of university life, and the desire to do all that lay in her power for the college to which she had come. To those in her classes Miss Soule is an inspiration because of her enthusiasm for her subject and her scholarly methods, while all students find in her a ready helper and adviser, a woman who is both broad- minded and conservative.

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cations rescued from oblivion and brought into service. And when we use them we wonder if there are not other friends who have similar “rubbish” which might serve us in our effort to become better scholars and more intelligent citizens. Even as late as three years ago there were those who questioned the need, or even the advisability, of offering such courses at a woman’s college. But the thoughtfulness, intelligence and interest with which the Mount Holyoke students have undertaken and carried on this work, as well as the growing interest in all the courses offered, seem in them- selves a justification of the establishment of this department. Never in its history has this country needed more intelligent citizens, and it is hoped that Mount Holyoke is doing her share in fitting her students for life in a republic. Annah May Soule. 20