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

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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

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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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STEWART W. Rowis Acfmg Ch6lf1'7l1rl1Z of Lauri Deptztzmevzz LAW: Courses in business law were first inaugu- rated in the School of Commerce, Accounts, and Fi- nance in 1902 under the direction of Professor Cleve- land F. Bacon, who retired from the chairmanship of the Law Department in 1939. Professor Bacon was succeeded by Associate Dean George Rowland Col- lins, who assumed the chairmanship for the following year. In 1940, Associate Professor .john M. Mac- Gregor became chairman of the Department of the Law of Commerce and Finance. At the present time, Dr. MacGregor is a Major in the Chemical Vlarfare Division of the United States Army, and Assistant Professor Stewart W. Rowe is now acting chairman of the Law Department. The courses in this department have a three-fold purposeg to train the student to perceive legal storms when they are still small clouds on the horizon, to cause the student to realize the limitations of his or her legal knowledge and the wisdom of seeking com- petent legal advice as insurance against trouble, and to train the student to analyze and to reason. The formation of contracts, the use of commercial paper, the operation of partnerships and corporations. the relationship of agent and principal. bank and de- positor, and principal and surety are a few of the subjects discussed in these courses. The practice of giving monthly quizzes and term problems was introduced in 1939. This has enabled students to keep abreast of the changes that are con- stantly occurring in the various branches of the law. The teaching personnel of this Department is com- posed of practicing lawyers with years of experience. They are able through the discussion of actual court cases to make the courses interesting by presenting the practical side of the law. 4 WILLIAM B. CoRN1s1.i. CfJttjI'7l1tl7Z of Il'ltz1ztzgeme1'zl Depm'!111e1zt U'iVIANAGEMENT: The Management Department was organized in 1916 under the direction of Dr. Lee Galloway. ln 1921, shortly after the close of Wtmrltl Wzir I. Professor Vlfilliam B. Cornell was called from active practice in industry to become chairman of the Department. In 1957 it was changed to the Depart- ment of Management and lndustrial Relations to in- dicate the broadened scope of the work of the Department. During the past twelve years or more, due to the increased growth and power of labor unions and to the far reaching effects of certain social legislation, the personnel and the industrial relations phases of management have taken a place in the first ranks of business affairs. The courses offered by the Department of Man- agement and lndustrial Relations reflect this growing emphasis on the human relations in industry. It has pioneered in offering such courses as The Techniques of Collective Bargaining and others. Today, the De- partment offers one of the broadest and finest training programs in its field, second to none. A still further development is under way with plans for a new project commencing September 1944. The Department then expects to offer several new courses such as: The Techniques of Time and Motion Study and Work Simplificationg Supervisor Training, Tech- niques of Factory Layout: etc., as a part of a new well-rounded program in production nianagement to meet present and post-war needs. The basic management course is a pre-requisite for a degree in business administration, and as such is very well attended. All the instructors in the depart- ment take a hand in teaching management l-2.