The Dean of the University of Chicago’s College of Commerce and Administration, L. C. Marshall, submitted a proposal October 30, 1913 to President Harry Pratt Judson of the University of Chicago that outlined immediate steps for a transition from temporary arrangements for the College of Commerce and Administration to a permanent policy to go into effect 1914-15. Part of Marshall’s proposal addressed the issue of “the preparation of a student constituency” which besides outreach to entering freshmen and advanced undergraduates included the item “attracting graduate students”. The appendix transcribed for this posting presents a subjective ranking of the factors involved in drawing economics graduate students to the University of Chicago.
The overall ranking was determined by adding the ranks for seven factors with two of those factors given a double-weight.
According to L. C. Marshall, the scholarly reputation of Chicago in economics in 1913 put it in fifth place behind Columbia, Harvard, Cornell and Wisconsin.
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Appendix I
AN ESTIMATE OF THE RANKING OF SIX INSTITUTIONS IN ABILITY TO DRAW GRADUATE STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS
Notes:
- This is an attempt to estimate how the institutions are regarded by prospective graduate students and not an attempt to estimate real merit.
- The estimate is based on the ranking according to the seven main items which are likely to draw students: I. Geographical location; II. Reputation for discipline given; III. General reputation of social science departments; IV. Scholarly reputation of economics department; V. Reputation for placing men; VI. Opportunities for self-support; and VII. Influence of Teachers out.
- Two items are weighted, viz; VI. Opportunities for self-support, and VII. Influence of teachers out.
|
I. |
II. |
|
Geographical Location |
Reputation for Discipline given |
| 1 Chicago 2 Columbia 3 Harvard 4 Wisconsin 5 Cornell 6 Illinois |
1 Harvard 2 Chicago 3 Columbia 4 Wisconsin 5 Cornell 6 Illinois |
|
III. |
IV. |
|
General Reputation of Social Science Departments |
Scholarly Reputation of Economics Department |
| 1 Columbia 2 Harvard 3 Wisconsin 4 Chicago 5 Cornell 6 Illinois |
1 Columbia 2 Harvard 3 Cornell 4 Wisconsin 5 Chicago 6 Illinois |
|
V. |
VI. |
|
Reputation for Placing Men |
Opportunities for Self-support |
| 1 Columbia 2 Harvard 3 Wisconsin 4 Chicago 5 Cornell 6 Illinois |
1 Harvard 2 Wisconsin 3 Columbia 4 Illinois 5 Chicago 6 Cornell |
|
VII. |
VIII. |
|
Influence of Teachers out |
Final Ranking and Points |
| 1 Harvard 2 Columbia 3 Wisconsin 4 Cornell 5 Chicago 6 Illinois |
1 Harvard 14 2 Columbia 18 3 Wisconsin 28 4 Chicago 36 5 Cornell 43 6 Illinois 50 |
Comments:
No. I is eminently satisfactory
No. II will see Chicago at the head of the list when III, IV, and VII have been remedied
No. III and IV require (a) on the administrative side, carrying through the plans of the College of Commerce and Administration; (b) the earning of scholarly reputation by the members of the department
No. V will care for itself. Chicago will be at the top of this list in five years if we remedy III, IV, VI, and VII.
No. VI is a very serious matter, and requires consideration too detailed to be attempted here
No. VII will not be overcome for ten years.
Source: University of Chicago Archives. Department of Economics Records, Box 14, Folder 13
Image Source: Picture of Dean Leon C. Marshall from University of Chicago Photographic Archive, apf1-04113, Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.