Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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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

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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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Robert G. Noyes ssociate Professor of English Although the first Hazard Professorship of Physics was created in 1870, Physics was taught at Brown for almost forty years before it was introduced, in 1890. as a full-fledged depart- ment. Wilson Hall. built in the same year to house the new department, serves the same pur- pose today. Proof of the department's activity is the fact that members of its staff contributed invaluable research work in both the first and second World Wars. Recent work has included research in physical electronics and underwaten Donald M. Western Assistant Professor of Mathematics Alonzo W. Quinn Associate Purfl'nur ot Ur'ulugw PRI yop P UL 21 PR 1y Sinclair ' W. Armstrong 1s500 e Professor of Histor sound. At present, Chairman Robert B. Lindsay 1S iHh'IlNlWI in forwarding a system of instruc tion which emphasizes the small discussio aroup of the seminar rather than formal presen tation of material in the lecture room. Soon after the inception of the Econom the Mathematics and the Physics Departmen came the founding of the Political Science and Sociology Department. in 1892. The departme.