Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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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.

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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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Juan Lopez-Morillas istant Professor of Spanish is now located at Prospect House, together with the History Department. with which it was once allied. In keeping with modern educational trends, the chief aim of Chairman Matthew C. Mitchell and his staff is to make the student an intelligent and a well-informed citizen. The year 1895 marked the creation of the Department of Biblical Literature, This depart- ment. the sole remnant of the early theological courses at Brown. has continued to flourish to the present day. Due to the new distribution re- quirement plan, there has been a large increase in the number of students taking its courses. An appreciation of the dificulties which this increase has caused can be gained by noting that Chairman Reverend Robert . Casey and his one-man staft are responsible for the instruc- tion of over three hundred students. With the arrival of a new century. the Educa- tion Department was founded. in 1901. This subject. a development of more recent years, was a comparative newcomer lo the University. Since the day of its inauguration. however, it has played an important part in the Brown cur- iculum. A recent innovation is the five-year 'n for teacher training conceived at Brown Chairman Claus E. Ekstrom and his staft. s plan calls for four vears of undergraduate n the various phases of education and one Francis Madeira Assistant Professor of Music Capt. Francis D. McCorkle Professor of Naval Science graduate vear of further study and practical ap- plication. In view of the growing demand for teachers. the importance of this plan cannot be overemphasized. Another science was added to the growing roster of subjects at Brown when the Geology Department was established in 1905. Since this date. the department. although small. has been very active. Chairman Alonzo W. Quinn and his staft have participated in many research projects. Vincent A. Tomas Assistant Professor of Philosophy