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Abbott Payson Usher (1883-1965) first taught his nineteenth century European economic history course at Harvard in the fall semester of 1921-22 at the rank of Lecturer. Usher received his A.B., A.M. and Ph.D. from Harvard in 1904, 1905, 1910, respectively.
The syllabus for the course is provided in this post and all readings are linked to their respective texts!
Before returning to Harvard, Usher was professor of History of Commerce and Economic History of the College of Business Administration at Boston University for the 1920-21 academic year [possibly 1921-22 too?], coming from Cornell University where he taught as Instructor (1910-14) and then Assistant Professor of Economics (1914-1920).
Material from his Modern Economic History Seminar, 1937-41, was posted earlier.
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Course Announcement for 1921-22
2a 1hf. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century
Half-course (second half-year). Tu., Th., Sat., at 9. Dr. Usher.
Source: Harvard University. Announcement of the Courses of Instruction offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for the Academic Year 1921-22, 3rd edition. p. 109.
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READING ASSIGNMENTS
Economics 2a
1921-22
I. The Industrial Revolution
Usher, Industrial History, Chapters 1, 10, 12, 13, 14
II. Agrarian Movement, Continent
Usher, Industrial History, pp. 112-20
Seeley, Life & Times of Stein, Rand [Benjamin Rand, Selections illustrating Economic History Since the Seven Years’ War. 5th ed. New York: Macmillan, 1911], pp. 86-98
Brentano, Agrarian Reform in Prussia – Econ. Jour. 1-20
Von Sybel, – in Rand, pp. 55-85
III. Agrarian Movement, England.
Usher, Industrial History, pp. 225-40
Curtler, Short History of English Agriculture, pp. 190-262
IV. Agricultural Depression
Prothero, R. E. (Baron Ernle) English Farming Past & Present, pp. 316-31, 346-418
Usher, Industrial History, pp. 240-47
V. Free Trade Movement, England
Armitage-Smith, Free Trade & Its Results, 39-60, 130-163
Morley, Life of Cobden, chs. XV & XVI
VI. Tariff History, Continent
Ashley, P. Modern Tariff History, (1910) 3-63, 359-372
VII. Recent Tariff History
U. S. Tariff Commission, Reciprocity & Commercial Treaties, 461-510
VIII. Commerce & Shipping
Bowley, England’s Foreign Trade in the 19th Century, ed. 1905 pp. 55-96
Grosvenor, Gov’t Aid to Merchant Shipping, 45-61, 75-86, 135-65
IX. Transportation – Private Ownership
Cunningham, W. J. Characteristics of British R. R., N. E. R. R. Club 8-60
Usher, Industrial History, chs. 17 and 18
X. Transportation – State Ownership
Raper, Railway Transportation, pp. 134-177, 278-305
XI. Industrial Development: England
Ashley, W. J. ed. British Industries, 2-38 (Jeans, British Iron and Steel/1902)
Clapham, J. H. Woolen & Worsted Industry, 1-24, 125-173
XII. Industrial Development: Continent
Copeland, Cotton Manufacturing Industry, 275-311
XIII. Industrial Combination
British Ministry of Reconstruction, Report on Trusts, 1919, pp. 15-30
Marshall, Industry & Trade, pp. 544-65, 577-98
Usher, Industrial History, ch. 19
XIV. Banking & Finance
Riesser, The German Great Banks, 703-750
Andréadès, History of the Bank of England, 331-69
XV. Labor Problems & Public Health
Usher, Industrial History, chs. 15, 16 & ch. 20 secs. 2 & 3
Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003. Box 1, Folder “Economics, 1921-1922
Image Source: Harvard Album, 1923.