The following introductory economics exam from Barnard College in 1903 comes from a student’s college scrapbook that had been donated to the archives of her alma mater. The scrapbook belonged to Gertrude Helen Clark, who, according to the Register of the Associate Alumnae of Barnard College (1925), married Frederick M. Hitchcock in 1917. Because such random singletons are quickly forgotten, I prefer to post them immediately. Similar to Radcliffe, Barnard could count on faculty from the patriarchal side of campus to provide instructors. Professor Henry L. Moore and the up and coming Alvin S. Johnson were definitely prime offerings for Barnard.
Incidentally, there is a nice website set up to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of Barnard where one finds a list of the names of all Barnard College economics faculty starting with John Bates Clark up to most recent times.
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Course Announcement
Economics and Social Science
Economics A—Outlines of Economics. Study of the characteristics of modern industrial society and of the fundamental economic principles. Professor [Henry L.] Moore and Mr. [Alvin Saunders] Johnson [Tutor in Political Economy and Sociology]. One and one-half points, first half-year.
Section I, Tu., Th., S., 9.30; Section II, Tu., Th., 11.30, S. 9.30; Section III (if needed), Tu., Th., 1.30, S., 9.30.
Prescribed for Juniors. Open to qualified Sophomores who take Course I.
This course is given in two or, if necessary, in three sections. Students are assigned to the sections in alphabetical order, but for reasons of weight, with the consent of the Dean, a student may be transferred to a section other than that to which she properly belongs.
Source: Columbia University, Barnard College Catalogue, 1901-02. Announcement 1902-1903, p. 59.
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BARNARD COLLEGE
Economics A
Mid-year Examination, [Jan. 27,] 1903
- Define wealth, capital, land; rent, demand, utility, marginal utility, value, price.
- What determines market value? normal value?
- State the law of diminishing returns.
- What are the economic reasons for the concentration of industry?
Is there an economic limit to concentration? - State the law of monopoly value.
- What determines the value of money?
- Assuming that the United States has a monetary circulation of 500,000,000 in gold, what will be the effect of an issue of 100,000,000 in legal tender paper money
- On prices within the United States
- On the foreign trade of the United States
- On the value of gold throughout the world.
- If a day’s labor in America will produce more yards of cotton cloth than a day’s labor in England, will the cotton industry need protection? Should it receive protection?
- How does a high standard of living affect wages?
- Discuss the “scope” of Economics.
Source: Barnard College Archives. Gertrude C. Clark Hitchcock Scrapbook, 1898-1906, p. 48.
Image Source: Art and Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. “Barnard College, western boulevard” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed February 24, 2018.