Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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Intellectual

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ROBERT WEBB KENNY Dean of the College GILBERT EUGENE CASE Registrar of the University EMERY ROLAND WALKER. JR. JOSEPH KELLEY SONNTAG Dean of Admission o Assistant Dean of the College

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DEPARTMENTS OF STUDY During the 18th and the early part of the 19th centuries. many subjects were taught at Brown which are no longer in the curriculum. Primarily. instruction was limited to theological and classical studies. In 1801 however. the English Department. now located in Van Wickle Hall. was founded when a Professorship of Oratory and Belles lLettres was created through the gift of Nicholas Brown. The history of the English Department has been one of which the University can be proud. Today. two main courses of study are offered: Literature. which gives the student the chance to specialize in the work of a specific period: and Expression. which offers the choice of concentration in dramatics. speech. or writing. The department boasts a very able staff. headed by Chairman William T. Hastings. Following the inception ol the English De- partment. the Chemistry Department was cre- ated. in 1813. This science. once a part of the early Natural Science Department. was set up as an independent study when its growing impor- tance indicated that such a step was necessary. Now situated in the Metcalf Chemical Lahora- tory. this department has developed consider- ably. Besides giving instruction in organic, in- organic. analytical and physical chemistry. the department endorses a method of study which allows the student unusual freedom in choosing experimental problems to work by himself. The study of Philosophy at Brown appears to be an outerowth of the Universily's early theological courses. Founded in 1821. the Philos- ophy Department has functioned continuously to the present day. Despite its long existence, the department has seldom, if ever, had a task equal to that of instructing the seven hundred students now taking Philosophy under the new distribution requirements. Nevertheless. Chair- man Curt Ducasse and members of the staff de- vote much of their time to outside activities, in- cluding the conducting of a series of lectures for the Rhode Island Philosophical Society and the preparation of many books and texts. The Philos- ophy Department is located in Rhode Island Hall. From 1821 until the middle of the last cen- tury. there were no appreciable changes in the number or in the type of courses taught at Srown. As yet, most of the sciences were too young to merit separate attention as depart- ments. and the established fields of study con- tinued to flourish. The year 1850, however. saw the introduction of two new departments: His- tory and Engineering. Charles H. Smiley Rev. Robert P. Casey Professor of Biblical Literature George E. Downing Professor of Astronomy Associate Pluftmul of Art