Princeton University - Bric A Brac Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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E. BALDWIN SMITH CAPTAIN F. G. RICHARDS GEORGE F THOMAS Ari :md Arcbeology Naval Science Religion CHEMISTRY department has had the constant aim to duplicate, for the undergraduate, the experience of scientific research, especially through the lab- oratory. As Work in the department is required for pre-medical students it covers an almost infinite range of topics Within its general realm, and almost any phase of chemical research and ex- perience can be found in process at Erick Lab. Professor Oates' CLASSICS department has the unique position of being primarily in existence to preserve and diffuse the knowledge and Wisdom of the ancient civilizations, without trying to de- velop or change them. By the time he graduates, the classics major is well qualified to carry on and perpetuate the classic spirit either in teaching or through his experiences in private life. The works studies have greater relevance today, em- phasizing those aspects that are especially im- portant in understanding our present civilization. Today ECONOMICS has the honor of being the most popular line of specialization among the undergraduate body. This has presented many new problems and the department is hard pressed to keep abreast of the demands of the students. The plan of study is designed to give an understand- ing of the economic and social influences in our life today by acquainting the undergraduate with the underlying principles, not the superficial facts and figures. The large number of other depart- ments that recommended cognates in Economics all attest to the general value of the subject. The aim of the ENGLISH department is to study the possibilities of man as an individual as approached through his literature. Witli courses in Written and oral composition and others in public speaking and debate as well as the usual ones in literature it is one of the broadest and most all inclusive departments in the university.

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ROY D. WELCH Mzuir LYMAN SPITZER 1qJ'fI'0lZ07IZj' ELMER G. BUTLER Biology Dqpmftmentr of Study Partially curtailed during the war, the ART AND ARCHEOLOGY department has been pri- marily concerned with returning to a normal peace- time schedule. Its aim, to give the fullest possible understanding of art through a study of the de- velopment of its forms and their influences today, has attracted more and more students. It is too soon to plan any excavation projects, but the idea has not been abandoned.-Although most men take courses in the department for electives, the School of Architecture, a part of the department, gives those with a flair for the practical a chance to specialize in this field with the aim of becoming professionals with more than ordinary knowledge of their field. Being another department primarily of electives, ASTRONOMY in Princeton has the problem of satisfying the needs of those only casually inter- ested in the field as well as those wishing to spe- cialize. The Department proposes to give the full- est possible general knowledge of the heavens and to further advance the known technical knowledge of the infinite. Through the use of the twenty- three inch telescope near the stadium much has been learned as to the nature of the so-called double or binary stars, Princetons' special field of concentration. ' BIOLOGY, one of the oldest departments, develops the broader aspects of the field and pre- pares men for future specialized research. lt has long been a favorite department for pre-meds, and they have often found their theses published in the medical journals. Prof. Butlers' men have recently taken up work in many new fields, some of the most popular being those of Bio-chemistry, genetics and growth development. Behind its reputation' for turning out an ex- traordinary number of superior graduates, the

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In response to popular demand a new full-course in drama has been added to the curricula this year. Prof. Stauffer's department takes great pride in the number ofuyounger men giving major courses. GEOLOGY is to the arts student what geo- logical engineering is to the engineer. Its purpose is to develop the principles and broader aspects of the field for the man not interested in becom- ing a practical geologist. One of the big induce- ments of the department is the summer camp for research maintained in Montana just outside Yel- lowstone Park. Last summer the field studies cov- ered a wide range of territory from British Co- lumbia to Venezuela and from Nova Scotia to the Grand Canyon. Seventy students took part in the strata interpreting and fossil searching. The senior thesis, always the most up-to-date source of geo- logical developments, are largely bases upon this original work. I HISTORY shares with English the top honors among the seniors' choice of a department to repeat. Prof. Strayer's department is to the study of social groups what English is to the individual. Besides being the second largest department it is closely associated with many of the programs cov- ering more than one department. Not content with presenting and interpreting the past for the undergraduate there is a series of graduate pre- ceptorialsn which are presented in near-by cities on topics of current interest for those .alumni who desire a more complete understanding of the im- mediate problems of the times. The MATHEMATICS department, in keeping with its tradition of nearly a century, has endeav- ored to maintain itself at the top scieniiic level both on the pure and applied side. With Princeton engaged in so many forms of scientihc research and training this department has become the focal point of the whole program. It realizes its unique position, and by constant experimentation is con- tinually improving its undergraduate teaching. The Bicentennial Conference of the problems of mathematics was the most important gathering of its kind in ten years and stimulated major ad- vances in all branches of the subject. MILITARY SCIENCE is here to provide mili- tary training at the college level. The Reserve is the chief source of officers of our army in an emer- gency and they must be trained principally from the ROTC units in the colleges. Our Field Artil- CARROLL C- PRATT DONALD A. 'STAUFFER SOLOMON LEFSCHETZ P13 chology Ezzglzrla Aillfbfllldliff