New York University School of Commerce - Commerce Violet Yearbook (New York, NY)

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A. EARL lVlANVILLE Cbzzimzmz of BZlJf7Z6J.I Efzglirb Depmflmerzt BUSINESS ENGLISH: A pioneer in the field of business writing, Professor Hotchkiss gave the first course in the Department of Business English in 1908. At that time the idea was advanced that stu- dents of business could best learn to write, not by learning the dry theory of rhetoric that had charac- terized college English courses in the past, but by solving practical writing problems, such as those en- countered in an every day business office. This idea has been carried forward by the School of Commerce to the present day, and has long since been adopted by other professional colleges. An important reason for the effectiveness of the instruction in the Department of Business English is the requirement that teachers chosen for the work must be trained not only in English, but in business as well, so that the practical aims of the course will be fulfilled. Another reason is that all forms of busi- ness expression are treated as Business English, so that students are taught not only how to write busi- ness letters and various kinds of business reports, but also how to speak before such audiences as a business man or woman may be called upon to address. ln recent years the English Placement Examination given as a requirement for admission to the School of Commerce, has been used as a means of determin- ing the particular courses in English by which the individual student could benefit most. The examina- tion has served effectively to raise the standards of student English in all the departments of the School. Assisted by a staff of specialists, Professor A. Earl Manville, chairman of the Department of Business English, has been unwavering in his maintenance of standards of English as rigid as can be found any- where. --...L --Qi WALTER E. SPAHR Chtziwlzmz 0 f Ecorzomici' Deparrzfmerzl f ECONOMICS: The economic department of the School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance is the parent of all Economics Departments and until 1923, there was no other at New York University. At present there are three additional ones-at the Uni- versity College of Arts and Pure Science, Wfashington Square College of Arts and Science, and the School of Education. The first chairman of the Department in this School was Dr. Wfillard Fisher, followed by Dr. James Magee and Professor Wfalter Spahr, the present chairman was appointed to that position in 1928, In nature. the Department is a social science depart- ment in a professional school and covers the conven- tional basic economic questions characteristic of the social sciences. Since Dr. Spahr became chairman, departmental questions have been submitted to all statutory mem- bers of the staff in the interests of democracy of ad- ministration as a change from the early practice of having the chairman act as a departmental head. Greater stress, than in former years, has been laid upon the importance of training in statistics, now three consecutive years of statistics are offered. In peace times the Department staff, comprising usually twenty or more members, is aided by six graduate assistants-two senior and four junior assistants. Witli the advent of war, several changes have been made, including the introduction of certain courses devoted particularly to the economic problems of war-for example, courses on Wait Economy and Price Regulation and Price Policies.

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, DEP RTMENTS XACCOUNTING: Founded in 1900, at the fe- quest of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Accounting Department of the School of Commerce has steadily grown into one of the most outstanding accounting departments in the country. Courses in Accounting, Law, and Economics were first offered at night, subsequently, a day session was added, the curriculum was enlarged, and the Depart- ment organized mainly for the purpose of training accountants. The acting chairman of the Accounting Department at its inception was Professor William H. Dennis, who was succeeded by Professor john T. Wildman and Dean john T. Madden. The present chairman, Professor Arthur H. Rosenkampff, has served in that capacity since 1922. The faculty mem- bers are all men of wide practical experience. The accounting program is designed primarily in two parts: the elementary courses which give the student a general knowledge of the subject and the advanced courses which prepare the student for the Certified Public Accountant examinations. The practice of pre- senting the last four problems in the Advanced Ac- counting Problem course under actual C. P. A. exam- ination conditions is one of the most recent innovations in the Departments methods. The pre-eminence of the School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance among collegiate schools of business is largely due to the excellence of the Department of Accounting. Both its world-wide reputation and the highly successful business careers of its many former students testify to the success of the Accounting Department. ARTHUR H. ROSENKAMPFF Cbnirnmn of the Accounting Depnrtnzenl BANKING AND FINANCE: Even before the Banking and Finance Department was organized at the School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance, Dean Joseph French Johnson, the first Dean of the School, gave a course in corporation finance. Because of increased demands of the student body, an invest- ment course was offered by Frank A. Vanderlif in 1904, real estate, by Philip A. Benson, and insur- ance, by Edward R. Hardy, in 1905g and credit and collection, by David Golieb, in 1913. Dr. Charles W. Gerstenberg headed the Department in 1915 and under his direction a course in Federal taxes was added in 1919. Professor Major B. Foster, formerly of the Economics Department, became chairman of the Banking and Finance Department in 1923. In 1936, real estate courses were removed and given 'a special department of their own, and the tax courses were incorporated with the regular program of the Accounting Department. At present, the Banking and Finance Department includes in its offerings courses in corporation Hnance, credits and collections,.commercial and international banking, investments, security analysis, and insurance. New courses have been developed recently. Life Insurance and Estate Management and a timely course in Financial Policies in Time of National Defense and War. MA JOR B. FOSTER Cbnirnnzn of Banking and Finance Department

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GENERAL COURSES: Prior to September 1926, almost every course of study offered by the School was of a strictly professional nature-accounting, banking, and management, for examples. For sev- eral years preceding the inauguration of the General Course Group, however, a feeling had been growing among the alumni and the faculty that the curriculum should be broadened to include cultural courses. The alumni felt that they themselves would have been more successful both in business life and in social life if they had had the opportunity of taking courses in such fields as literature, history, psychology, and science. The faculty had previously arrived at the same con- clusion and were glad to have the concurrence of the Alumni. As a result, the General Course Group was inaugurated and the courses that then comprised it became part of the curriculum in September 1926. The Group now offers courses of study in the fields of history, art, psychology, science, mathematics, so- ciology, government, public speaking, ethics, litera- ture, vocabulary improvement, and logic. Assistant Dean Edward Jones Kilduff has been chairman of the Group since its inception. At the request of students, Outlines of Literature Coriginally a four-point coursej was later divided into two four-point courses: one now known as Mas- terpieces of English and American Literature, the other as European Literature: Classical, Medieval and Modern. Also, at the request of students who desired advanced work in psychology, Present Day Develop- ments in the Application of Psychology was recently added. EDWARD J. KILDUFF Chairman of General Cowie Group JOURNALISM: The Department of journalism is celebrating its thirty-third anniversary at the School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance. Inaugurated by Dean Joseph F. johnson in 1911, this Department is one of the outstanding departments at New York University. james Melvin Lee was the first Department head. Under his leadership the scope and quality of the courses offered were greatly improved. Professor Lees book History of American journalism, was used until a few years ago in the Department of journal- ism. During Professor Leeis administration, such men as Joyce Kilmer and Alexander Woollcott were mem- bers of the faculty. The journalism Department progressed rapidly. After the death of Professor Lee in 1929, Professor Henry Bailey Rathbone became chairman. Under Pro- fessor Rathbone, the enrollment of Journalism majors soon approached that of other departments in the School of Commerce. Professor Gregory Mason succeeded Professor Rath- bone in 1941 as chairman of the journalism Depart- ment. Professor Mason is a leader in the field of journalism, and has written numerous books and articles. His latest book is South of Yesterdayf' the story of his eighth anthropological expedition to the American Tropics. In 1942 two new courses, News Photography and Latin-American journalism, were added to the jour- nalism offerings. The journalism Department has attained its posi- tion among the leaders in the field through the com- bined efforts of its members, all prominent and active in public affairs. They are men and women who have helped mold, create and influence modern opinion. GREGORY MASON Cbrzirmmz of Iourmzlimz Department 4