Harvard. Application for Admission to Economics Ph.D. Program. Edward H. Chamberlin, 1922

 

The archived student records of the Graduate School of Arts and Science at Harvard University provide us material needed to write a prequel to a Ph.D. economist’s professional biography. To illustrate the the richness of such material, I have transcribed Professor Edward Hasting Chamberlin’s application materials that he submitted to Harvard. Judging from a couple of issues of Iowa’s “The Hawkeye Yearbook”, it does appear that Edward Chamberlin was quite a Busy Man on Campus during his undergraduate years.

Pro-tip. More information about the faculties and courses of instruction during Chamberlin’s pre-Harvard  university days can be culled from the respective university catalogues archived at  hathitrust.org:

Catalogues of the State University of Iowa.
Catalogues of the University of Michigan.

Fun-fact: Edward H. Chamberlin played the role of Geoffrey Rawson in the production of Mrs. Bumpstead-Leigh performed May 12, 1920 at the Englert Theatre (joint production of the Erodelphian Literary Society and Irving Institute). The Hawkeye Yearbook, 1921.

_____________________________________

POLITICAL ECONOMY, SOCIOLOGY,
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

532 Thompson St.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
April 11, 1922.

Mr. George W. Robinson, Secretary
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences,
Harvard University,
Cambridge, Mass.

Dear Sir:

Enclosed with this letter are transcripts of my work at the State University of Iowa and at the University of Michigan and my application for admission to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at Harvard University. Under separate cover I am making marked copies of the University of Michigan and the State University of Iowa. In some cases the catalogues do not indicate the work taken on account of changes. In these instances I have tried to duplicate the needed information in the margins.

I am making my application early so that I may know in advance as much as possible about the work I must take for my degree I presume that individual courses are not settled upon until after a conference. I shall be glad if I may know this spring how much credit will be allowed me for previous work, how much additional coursework will be required, and in what general branches.

Very truly yours,
[signed]
Edward H. Chamberlin

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF
ARTS AND SCIENCES

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FOR A DEGREE IN ARTS OR PHILOSOPHY

NAME:  E. H. Chamberlin

DATE   April 1922

DEGREE APPLIED FOR Ph.D.

SUBJECT Economics

COLLEGE State U. of Iowa and U. of Mich.

REMARKS

B, except for French

25 Apr. 1923: French O.K.

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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Application for Admission to Candidacy for a Degree in Arts or Philosophy

[Note: Chamberlin’s responses in his application have been highlighted using boldface.]

Return this application, with certificates of other evidences of scholarship and character, to the Secretary of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, No. 24 University Hall, Cambridge, Mass.

Applications for the degree of Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy will be received as late as the fifteenth day of January of the academic year in which the degree is to be taken; but candidates are urged to file their applications at the beginning of the year or ealirer, so that they may receive timely advice with reference to the work that will be expected of them for the degree.

The application should be accompanied by a Recorder’s or Registrar’s certificate of the applicant’s college or university work, and also, if possible, by a college catalogue or catalogues in which the studies he has taken are clearly marked. Final admission to candidacy for a degree is always conditional upon satisfactory official certification of the facts stated in the application.

Applications for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy should be filed, if possible, at the beginning of a student’s Graduate work for the degree.

An applicant for the degree of Master of Arts, who wishes to take later the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, should state the fact in his application for the Master’s degree, which will then be considered with reference to both degrees.

1. Full name. Edward Hastings Chamberlin
2. Post-office address. (Give prompt notice to the Secretary of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of any change.). 532 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, Mich.
3. Date and place of birth. La Conner, Wash. May 18, 1899.
4. High schools or other preparatory schools attended, and periods of attendance. Iowa City (Iowa) High School. 4 years
5. Colleges and universities attended and periods of attendance. What course did you take (classical, literary, scientific, etc.)? Univ. of Iowa. 1916-1920. Commerce; Univ. of Michigan. graduate. 1920-1922.
6. If you are an undergraduate, state: (a) What degree you expect, and when. [left deliberately blank]. (b) Rank or average standing in class [left deliberately blank]
7. If you have received a degree, state what degree, from what college, and when. B.S. in Commerce, Univ. of Iowa, June, 1920; M.A. University of Michigan, June, 1922.
8. If you have been a Graduate student at any college or university, state where, when, and in what subjects. State University of Iowa, summer sessions 1920 and 1921. Income Tax. Pol. Science; Univ. of Michigan 1920-1921, 1921-1922, Economics, Philosophy.  and name your principal teachers in those subjects. Iowa. Prof. R. A. Stevenson [Associate Professor of Accounting, Russell Alger Stevenson, B.A. Michigan, 1913; M.A. Iowa, 1915; Ph.D. Michigan, 1918], Prof. Jacob Van der Zee [Assistant Professor of Political Science Jacob Van der Zee, B.A. Iowa, 1905; B.A. Oxford, 1908; M.A. 1913; LL.B. Iowa, 1913]; Michigan, Prof. F. M. Taylor [Professor of Political Economy and Finance Fred Manville Taylor, Ph.D.], Prof. I. L. Sharfman [Professor of Economics Isaiah Leo Sharfman, A.B., LL.B.], Dean Alfred H. Lloyd [Professor of Philosophy and Dean of the Graduate School Alfred Henry Lloyd, Ph.D.].
9. Honors or other evidences of high scholarship awarded to you. Phi Beta Kappa. Beta Gamma Sigma.
10. For what degree (or degrees) do you wish to be a candidate, and when? Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, September 1922.
11. Of the following branches, underscore once those which you have studied in college, and [mark with an asterisk (*)] those in which you have done advanced work. This information should be supplemented by a carefully marked and annotated catalogue or calendar.

Hebrew	Government	Physics
Sanskrit	*Economics	Chemistry
Greek	Sociology	Botany
Latin	*Philosophy	Zoölogy
English Composition	Education	Geology
English Literature	Fine Arts	Physiography
German	Architecture	Mineralogy
French	Music	Mining
Italian	Mathematics	Anthropology
Spanish	Astronomy	Subjects not classified above.
History	Engineering	Psychology
		Journalism

12. (a) State which of the languages named below you have studied, and how long in each case. German 1 1/2 yrs. high school; 2 yrs. Univ.  French [deliberately blank], Greek [deliberately blank], Latin 2 years high school. Any modern foreign language other than German and French. Spanish.  (b) Do you know German and French well enough to be able to consult works on your subject in these languages? German-yes; French-no.
13. In what subject do you wish to be considered as a candidate for a degree? State in detail your previous work in this subject.

Economics
Industrial History 4 sem. hrs.	Intro. to Econ. Theory 6 sem. hrs.	Research in Accounting 2 sem. hrs.
Commercial Geography 4 sem. hrs.	Cost Accounting 4 sem. hrs.	Railroads 3 sem. hrs.
Prin. of Economics 6 sem. hrs.	Public Utility Accounting 2 sem. hrs.	Essentials of Ec. Theory (continued) 2 sem. hrs.
Prin. of Accounting 6 sem. hrs.	Income Tax 2 sem. hrs.	*The course in Ec. statistics had nothing to do with statistics but dealt with the nature of income and sundry other subjects.
Business Efficiency 4 sem. hrs.	Essentials of Econ. Theory 2 sem. hrs.
Corporation Finance 4 sem. hrs.	Commercial Law 4 sem. hrs.
Banking 2.6 sem. hrs.	*Economic Statistics 4 sem. hrs.
Problems of Peace and Reconstruction 1.3 sem. hrs.	Studies in Econ. Theory (History of Econ. Thought) 2 sem. hrs.
Industrial History 4 sem. hrs.	Intro. to Econ. Theory 6 sem. hrs.

14. Present occupation. (State definitely.) Instructor in Economics, University of Michigan.
15. If you are, or have been a teacher, what positions have you held? at what institutions? in what subjects? and during what periods of time? Instructor, University of Michigan (1920.-1921; 1921-1922) and University of Iowa (Summer Session 1921); Economics and Accounting—Sept. 1920 to June 1922.
16. From whom can information as to your previous work be obtained? Prof. F. M. Taylor [Professor of Political Economy and Finance Fred Manville Taylor, Ph.D.], and Prof. I. L. Sharfman [Professor of Economics Isaiah Leo Sharfman, A.B., LL.B.], Ann Arbor, Mich.; Prof. F. H. Knight [Associate Professor of Economics Frank Hyneman Knight, B.S. Tennessee, 1913; A.M. 1913; Ph.D. Cornell, 1916], University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
17. List of printed and written documents submitted with this application. Catalogue, University of Michigan—separate cover; Catalogue, University of Iowa—separate cover; Certified record of courses pursued from Iowa and Michigan

Signature. [signed] Edward H. Chamberlin
Place of writing this application. Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Date. April 11, 1922

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THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
IOWA CITY

TRANSCRIPT OF RECORD

of Edw. Hastings Chamberlin
College Liberal Arts

Secondary Credits Accepted from Iowa City, Iowa

	Units
Latin	2
French
German	1½
English	4
History—Gv.—Econ.	2
Algebra	1½
P. & S. [Plane & Solid] Geometry	1½
Science	2
Draw.	2
	16	Entrance conditions: none

Degree B.S.C. Conferred [date] 6-15-20

This is a true statement of the credit earned by Edw. Hastings Chamberlin in the college of Liberal Arts of the State University of Iowa.

[signed] [?Signature illegible], Asst Registrar
Date 7/31/20

1916-17

Cat No	Subjects	1st Sem		2nd Sem
		Hrs	Gr	Hrs	Gr
	Drill		excused	½	B
	Phy Training		excused	½	Cr
	Fresh. Sect.	1	C
1, 2	Eng. (Rhet.)	2	A	2	B
13, 14	German (Interm.)	5	C	5	C
5	Math. (Trig. Alg.)	5	A
3	Econ (Ind.Hist.)	4	B
4	Econ. (Com. Geog.)			4	B
6	Math. (An. Geom.)			5	A

1917-18

Cat No	Subjects	1st Sem		2nd Sem
		Hrs	Gr	Hrs	Gr
	Drill	.5	Cr	.5	Cr
1	Econ (Prin.) 1(2)	3	B	3	C
7	Econ. (Elem.Acc.) 7(8)	3	A	3	A
21	Eng. (Lit.) 21(22)	3	B	3	B
51	Spanish (Elem.) 51(52)	5	A	5	A
179	Eng. (Editing) 179	2	C
	Phy. Tr.			.5	C

1918-19

Cat No	Subjects	1st Sem		2nd Sem
		Hrs	Gr	Hrs	Gr
	Psych. (Elem.) 1,2	2	B	2	B
	Span. (2d yr.) 54,55	2	A	2	A
	Econ. (Efficiency) 167,168	2	B	2	A
	Econ. (Corp. Finance) 143,144	2	B	2	B
	Econ. (Banking) 165,166	1.3	B	1.3	A
	Econ. (Prob. Peace & Recon.) 50	1.3	C
	Officers’ Training Course, Fort Sheridan, Ill.			6 s.h.
	Service in the U.S. Army 7-18-18 to 1-15-19			10 s.h.
	1238 1254			10-11-19

1919-20

Cat No	Subjects	Fall		Winter		Spring
		Hrs	Gr	Gr	Gr	Hrs	Gr
	Com. (Intro. Econ. Theory) 135	2	A	2	A	2	A
	Com. (Cost Account) 131	2	B	2	A
	Com. (Com. Law) 189	1.3	B	1.3	B	1.3	A
	Math. (2d yr. L.A. Math) 3	2.7	A	2.7	A	2.7	A
	Com. (Pub. Ut. Acc’t) 132					2	A

 

Summer Session 1920

Cat No	Subjects	July
		Hrs	Gr
	Econ VI	2	A

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Summer Session 1921

Cat No	Subjects	August
		Hrs	Gr
	Pol Sci 11S	1.6	P
	Pol Sci 117S	.4	P

[Summer Session 1921 from a card from the State University of Iowa, Iowa City. Registrar: H. C. Dorcass [University Examiner and Registrar Herbert Clifford Dorcas, B. Ph. Iowa, 1895; M.A. Columbia, 1903] 9/19/21]

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UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
ANN ARBOR

GRADUATE SCHOOL
OFFICE OF THE DEAN
[Transcript of courses taken
by Edward H. Chamberlin]

April 7, 1922.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

This is to certify that Mr. Edward H. Chamberlin, B.S. in Commerce, University of Iowa, was admitted to this Graduate School in the fall of 1920 as a candidate for the Master’s degree. During his residence in the School, Mr. Chamberlin has pursued the following courses:

First Semester, 1920-21
Course	No.	Credit	Grade
Economics	8	2 hrs.	B
Economics	13d	2 hrs.	A
Economics	17	1 hr.	A
Second Semester, 1920-21
Economics	7	2 hrs.	A
Economics	8a	2 hrs.	B
Economics	18	1 hr.	A
First Semester, 1921-21
Philosophy	9a	3 hrs.	A
Economics	6	3 hrs.	A
German	*9c	——	B
Second Semester, 1921-22
Economics	8	2 hrs.	Now taking.
Philosophy	9b	3 hrs.	Now taking.
German	*10c	——	Now taking.
A=Excellent, B=Good, C=No graduate credit,  *Undergraduate course

Mr. Chamberlin was granted credit towards the Master’s degree at this University for graduate work done at the State University of Iowa. Upon the satisfactory completion of the work now being pursued, the degree of Master of Arts will be conferred upon Mr. Chamberlin in June, 1922.

[signed] Alfred H. Lloyd
Dean, Graduate School.

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Carbon Copy of Reply to Chamberlin’s Application of 11 April 1922

13 April 1922

My dear Sir:

Your application for admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a candidate for a higher degree has been received and examined. The obvious difficulty in your case is your deficiency in French. I accordingly advise you to devote as much time as possible to work in this language between now and next fall. In the meantime you will do well to look over the scheme of subjects from which selections are made, in preparation for the general or preliminary examination for the doctorate, and at the beginning of the year you should consult Professor Charles H. Haskins, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, as to the arrangement of your work. i see no specific deficiency in your preparation other than the French, and I see no reason to doubt that you can arrange a satisfactory plan of work for the doctorate in consultation with Dean Haskins and with the Department of Economics. It is impossible at present to make any very definite estimate of the length of time that your work would require. I should suppose that you ought to plan for two solid years at least, with the idea that if your work is not completed by the end of that time you may perhaps be able to finish up your thesis in absentia, and then to come back for your final examination. If a part of your time during either of the two years is devoted to work as assistant or instructor, at least a  third year in residence would presumably be necessary.

Very truly yours,
[Carbon copy unsigned]

Edward H. Chamberlin

Source: Harvard University Archives. GSAS student folders (UAV161.201.10), Box 117, Folder: E. H. Chamberlin.

Image: Edward Chamberlin. University of Iowa. The Hawkeye 1920, p. 37.