Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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Although History had previously heen taught in conjunction with Political Economy, increas- ing interest warranted greater emphasis on the subject. As much of the instruction in this de- partment is intended to prepare the student for work with the United States Government. the subject of History has continuously played an important part in the Brown curriculum. Al- though the main stress is placed upon economic and political trends. Chairman Robert H. Georee and his staff at 'llthllw'l House seek to iltWUlU writing and analytical ability in the student. At the time of its foundine. the Eneineerine Department confined its courses to the field of Civil Engineering. The passing of time. however, has seen the department grow steadily in size: it now embraces both Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. In connection with its course. it is interesting to note that the aim of the de- partment is to give the student a broad engineer- mng background rather than extensive knowledee of some ju'l'ihr 'VII;IN' of the wll!il't'l, That the Brown Engineering Department is one of the first in the country to endorse such a plan is to the credit of Chairman John H. Marchant and his staff. The department also claims the dis- George .. Church Issociate Professor of Botany Leallyn B. Clapp Issistant Professor of Chemistry Charles A. Robinson I'fy!h 1H 4! ll1X l'rk tinction of having at its disposal one ol the largest physical plants on campus. Its buildings include the Engineerine Buildine on the lower campus and the two laboratories on Thayer and Manning Streets After the foundine of the History and the Engineering Departments in 1850, there was an interlude of twentyv-seven vears during which no new departments were introduced at Brown, In 1877. however. the Botany Department was sel Charles A. Stuart Professor of Biology i

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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

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up under the Chairmanship of Professor William W. Bailey. Prior to this date. courses had been given in this subject. although it was not recog- nized as a field of concentration. Since its incep- tion. the department has grown steadily until it now includes the second floor of Rogers Hall and the ereenhouse. which it shares with the Biology Department. Despite the fact that it is not large. the department is ore of the first in any liberal arts college to offer the undergradu- ate 0 1 115 1' t' lierinH Ill'dl Hnl'k. an ElCCUn,PIiSh' ment of which the present Chairman. Professor Walter H. Snell. is jusily proud. Henry B. Gardner was the first Professor of l-conomics when that department was started in 1588. From that time. the department has made constant progress. as evidenced by the increas- ingly larger numbers of students enrolled in its courses. That interest in Economics is great is further borne out by the fact that the number of courses given by the department has doubled since 1937, The department. originally located in the basement of Sayles Hall. has since been moved to Robinson Hall. where the present Chairman. Chelcie C. Bosland, and his staff have their offices. By the following vear. 1889. Mathematics. a subject connected in earlier times with Natural Philosophy. later with Astronomy. had increased in prestice to the extent that it was established as a separate department of study. Throughout Claus E. Ekstrom Issociate Professor of Education Philip Taft Issociate l,lwft'wul of Economics its history. the department has provided the stu- dent with the mathematical background so neces- sary in the technical and scientific professions. The recent war gave added stimulus to the study of Mathematics. as attested by the fact that there are now tlerP alld UHe-hilIf IiITIV.K as Inilny men taking the subject as before 1911. Although Chairman Clarence R. Adams and his Sayles Hall staff are burdened by the task of instructing so many students. the department has continued lo maintain its original high standards. Adolph J. Warren Issistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering