University of Chicago - Cap and Gown Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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D D THE SOCIAL Bafxknsusr RUML' Dean of the Saczal Science: The importance of the Division of Social Sciences was tacitly proven When with its creation, Beardsley' Ruml, influ- ential member of the General Education VY 1 P' SCIENCES Board, consented to head up its activi- ties. The Division sponsored a series of lectures throughout the Wiiliter and Spring quarters. During the Winter, 'Wvilliam E. Dodd spoke on Reconstruc- tion, North and Southj Social Disinte- gration and Secondary Solidarity, 1856- 1877. Alfred R. Radcliffe Brown had, as his subject, Social Integration, While Louis R. Gottschalk lectured on Revolu- tionary Oriains of Modern France. In the spring, the speakers and subjects were: Charles E. lWerriam, .History of American Political Theoriesj Charles H. Judd, The American System of Educa- tion as an Experiment in Social Adjust- inentg Harold D. Lasswell, Psychology of International Politicsj and John U. Nef, The Coming of Industrialisrn in France. This series of lectures met with unqualihed success, and because of this, the Division intended to continue this practice in the future. P , ,.., ,E 1 9 a l t BLAIXE HALL ' Page 24

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GRIFHTH TAYLOR Prafesxor of Geography GILBERT A. Buss Profrrsof and Chazrmaa, Dz'fJa1'lmenl of Mailzemalzcs THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES HGEOGRAPHY . The activities of University Geogra- phers ranged from the reorganization of educational methods at home, to the conduct of research in the field in dis- tant areas of the world. ln Rosenwald Hall, Chairman Harlan H. Barrows brought to completion his comprehensive study of the character of the graduate training provided by the University. It was especially significant that this de- partment, which has stood out for years as foremost of its kind in the country, was thus alert to any new opportuni- ties for improvement of its work. That such improvements were taking place was demonstrated by the sophomore course in geography developed by Wel- lington Jones, and the first American course in the geography of the Soviet Lands offered by John Nlorrison. At the same time, others in the de- partment carried on and published the results of detailed field investigations. Griffith Taylor, authority on Austral- asia and Antarctic regions, made recon- naissance studies in southeastern Europe and advanced the case for scientific na- tion planning in a paper before the Brit- ish Association. Henry lVl. Leppard di- MATHEMATICS.. rected a series of intensive investigations of British industrial and agricultural areas, and brought back with him valu- able additions to the University Map Division. Charles C. Colby tested cer- tain aspects of reconnaissance technique employed by the department with an ex- perimental traverse across the southwest- ern U. S. Publications of these men dur- ing the year included Taylorls Climate of Australia, Colby and Foster's Eco- nomie Geography for Secondary Schools, and several detailed reports by Robert S. Platt on Held studies in South Amer- ica. Over in Eckhart, Gilbert Bliss, Chair- man of the Department of Mathematics, had much to be proud of during the year. In the first place, National Research Council fellowships were awarded to eleven University of Chicago graduates. This exceedingly large number chosen from one institution was definite proof of the superior quality of instruction provided. ln the second place, Dr. Bliss edited Contrilmlions to the Calrulus of Variafion and thus saw public recogni- tion come to the important work of some of his more advanced students. Page 23

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U n THE SOCIAL SCIENCES ...LAFAYETTE...LANGUAGE...MAYAS... Members of the Department of His- tory, still not quite certain Whether they Were in the Social Sciences or the Hu- manities, contributed several outstanding pieces of investigation. William E. Dodd, best known as an authority on the South, Worked on his three volume history of the Qld South, while Ferdi- nand Schevill published his Ifistory of the Rennaissance in Italy. Louis Gott- schalk, having collected some five thou- sand La Fayette letters, prepared to pub- lished the first volume of them in an ef- fort to give a correct picture of the Frenchman's position in United States history. Publishers planned to take 10 to l5 years to publish as many volumes of the letters. The study of the racial characteris- tics of the human organism was the ma- jor research objective of University An- thropologists. Dr. Robert Redfield in studying the cultural contacts of Yuca- tan, observed groups that have not as yet been touched, by civilization as con- trasted to those which are in contact with it, thus determining how civilization af- fects these peoples. Dr. George Herzog made a study of the ethnology and lan- guage of the Djabo tribe of Eastern Li- WILLIAM E. Dopn Profz's50r and Clzairnzan, Department of History ROBERT REDFIELD Axsuciate Profcxmr of Antlzrojwlogy beria. Dr. Nlanuel Andrade Was doing linguistic Work among the Mayas of Yucatan and Guatamala. He expected to learn the origin of the various dia- lects which will be of value in establish- ing the exact origin of the Maya people. Dr. Fay-Cooper Cole and other mem- bers of the department continued their Work on excavations in central Illinois. An lndian Culture of probably 2000 to 4000 years old was uncovered along with many other illumniating finds. Page 25