The first two items posted below from the graduate records of Olin Winthrop Blackett (Harvard PhD 1926) are of particular significance, marking what appears to be the very first time that Mathematics was accepted as a field in the General Examination for a PhD in economics at Harvard. The decision to accept Mathematics as a minor field was made in November 1920, Blackett’s general examination took place in May 1922 and his PhD was awarded in 1926. The title of Blackett’s doctoral thesis was “The Cyclical Movements of the Prices of Raw materials in the Iron and Steel Industry.”
_________________________
Requesting approval of a mathematics minor in the General Examination
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
| F. W. Taussig T. N. Carver W. Z. Ripley C. J. Bullock A. A. Young W. M. Persons E. E. Day J. S. Davis H. H. Burbank A. S. Dewing E. E. Lincoln A. E. Monroe A. H. Cole |
Cambridge, Massachusetts |
November 5, 1920
Prof. C. H. Haskins,
Harvard University,
Cambridge, Mass.
Dear Mr. Haskins,
I enclose herewith O. W. Blackett’s application for candidacy for the degree of Ph.D. in Economics. Blackett’s program is perfectly regular with the possible exception of the offering Mathematics as his minor. It seems to me that even in this particular the program is normal. I have talked over the Mathematics minor with the Department of Mathematics, particularly with Professor Huntington and have come without difficulty to an understanding which seems to assure a minor in that Department fully the equivalent of any of the other more common minors, and particularly serviceable for men who propose to specialize, as does Blackett, in the field of Statistical Method.
If Blackett’s program is approved, one or two others of similar kind will be submitted at an early date. I doubt not, furthermore, that Mathematics minors will become common among those expecting to specialize along statistical lines. Statistical method clearly is developing in directions that make a sound mathematical training an indispensable element in an adequate professional equipment.
Should Mathematics be accepted for men specializing in Statistics, I would suggest that you try to obtain the services of Professor Huntington as examiner when the field is up at the General Examinations. Professor Huntington has a definite interest in the application of Mathematics to Statistical Methode and is thoroughly acquainted with the material upon which candidates in Economics may most profitably be examined.
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Edmund E. Day
EED A
Encl.
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Request Granted
8 November 1920
Dear Day:
I cordially approve of Blackett’s programme, with the explanation given in your letter. It seems to me that when we accept Mathematics, we should be sure of men’s general Economics preliminary training, and that these men in particular get the courses in Economic History. Our plans ought always to be flexible enough to include the acceptance of an outside subject, where it is essential to the student’s work. What you say about the necessity of Mathematics for statisticians is sound, and I hope we shall encourage other men to take the same field. I shall bring the plan up at the next meeting of the Division.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned copy of C. H. Haskins]
Professor E. E. Day.
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HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS
Application for Candidacy for the Degree of Ph.D.
[Note: Boldface used to indicate printed text of the application; italics used to indicate the handwritten entries]
I. Full Name, with date and place of birth.
Olin Winthrop Blackett. July 12, 1895. Winthrop, Mass.
II. Academic Career: (Mention, with dates inclusive, colleges or other higher institutions of learning attended; and teaching positions held.)
Wesleyan University, 1914-17, & 1919-20.
Rich Fellow and Assistant in Economics, Wesleyan, 1919-20.
III. Degrees already attained. (Mention institutions and dates.)
B.A. Wesleyan, 1917.
M.A. Wesleyan, 1920.
IV. General Preparation. (Indicate briefly the range and character of your undergraduate studies in History, Economics, Government, and in such other fields as Ancient and Modern Languages, Philosophy, etc. In case you are a candidate for the degree in History, state the number of years you have studied preparatory and college Latin.)
Economic Theory —1 year elementary —3 years advanced.
Money and Banking —1 year. Corporations —1 year.
Tariff and International Trade —1 year. Labor Prob. —1 year.
Socialism, Single Tax, etc. —2 years. Statistics — 1 year.
American History —1 year. English & European History —1 year.
Philosophy —2 years. German —2 years. Math —4 years.
V. Department of Study. (Do you propose to offer yourself for the Ph.D., “History,” in “Economics,” or in “Political Science”?)
Economics
VI. Choice of Subjects for the General Examination. (State briefly the nature of your preparation in each subject, as by Harvard courses, courses taken elsewhere, private reading, teaching the subject, etc., etc.)
- Economic Theory. — This was my major study during three years of undergraduate work and one year of work for the masters degree. Taught theory 1 year in Wesleyan U. Eco. 11 & 14 at Harvard this year.
- Money, Banking, and Crises. — 1 year course in Wesleyan University. Auditor in Eco. 3 this year.
- Public Finance. — Eco. 31 this year at Harvard.
- Statistics. — 1 year in Wesleyan University. Private study during the summer of 1920.
- Economic History. — Studied in connection with courses in economics and history in Wesleyan U. Econ. 2a & 2b this year at Harvard.
- Mathematics. — 4 years work in Wesleyan U. including algebra, trig. analytic geom., calculus, finite differences, reduction of observations, interpolation, theory of errors, least squares, moments.
VII. Special Subject for the special examination.
Statistics
VIII. Thesis Subject. (State the subject and mention the instructor who knows most about your work upon it.)
The Machine Tool Industry. Cyclical Price Movements of Raw Materials in the Iron and Steel Industry.
Prof. Persons.
IX. Examinations. (Indicate any preferences as to the time of the general and special examinations.)
As late as possible in the spring of 1921 for the general examination.
X. Remarks
[left blank]
Signature of a member of the Division certifying approval of the above outline of subjects.
[signed] Edmund E. Day — Chairman
* * * [Last page of application] * * *
[Not to be filled out by the applicant]
Name: Olin W. Blackett.
Approved: January 25, 1921.
Ability to use French certified by C. J. Bullock. 3 March, 1922.
Ability to use German certified by C. J. Bullock. 3 March, 1922.
Date of general examination May 19, 1922. Passed.
Thesis received October, 1925.
Read by Professors Persons, Crum, and Young.
Approved November 1925.
Date of special examination Monday. April 12, 1926.
Recommended for the Doctorate [left blank]
Degree conferred [left blank]
Remarks. Mr. O. W. Blackett was examined on Monday, April 12, at 4 p.m. in room 404 College House by Professors Persons (chairman), Crum, Huntington and W.M. Cole. The committee unanimmously voted that the examination be accepted as satisfactory.
[signed] Warren M. Persons, Chairman.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Postponing General Examination from Spring to Fall 1921
15 Park Vale
Brookline, Mass.,
March 2, 1921
My dear Miss Cogswell:
Please pardon the delay in returning the copy you sent me. The material is as complete as I am able to make it at the present time. I shall not be a candidate for the General Examination this spring but shall present myself probably in the fall.
Yours truly,
[signed] Olin W. Blackett.
[NOTE: The General Examination was in fact postponed to the following Spring, May 19, 1922]
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Draft of Planned General Examination Announcement (undated)
OLIN WINTHROP BLACKETT.
GENERAL EXAMINATION in Economics
COMMITTEE [left blank].
ACADEMIC HISTORY: Wesleyan University, 1914-17, 1919-20; Harvard Graduate School, 1920-. A.B., Wesleyan, 1917; A. M., ibid., 1920. Assistant in Economics, Wesleyan University, 1919-20.
GENERAL SUBJECTS: 1. Economic Theory. 2. Money, Banking, and Crises. 3. Public Finance. 4. Statistics. 5. Economic History. 6. Mathematics.
SPECIAL SUBJECT: Statistics.
THESIS SUBJECT: [left blank].
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Certification of reading knowledge
of French and German
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
| F. W. Taussig T. N. Carver W. Z. Ripley C. J. Bullock A. A. Young W. M. Persons E. E. Day H. H. Burbank A. S. Dewing J. H. Williams A. E. Monroe A. H. Cole R. S. Tucker R. S. Meriam |
Cambridge, Massachusetts |
March 3, 1922
Dear Haskins:
This certifies that I have examined Mr. O. W. Blackett and find that he has such a reading knowledge of French and German as we require of candidates for the Degree of Philosophy [sic].
Very truly yours,
[signed] Charles J. Bullock
Dean C. H. Haskins
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Date and Place of General Examination
16 May 1922
My dear Mr. Blackett:
Your General Examination on Friday, 19 May, will be held in Widener U at 4 P.M.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned copy]
Secretary of the Division
Mr. O. W. Blackett.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Committee of General Examination
23 May 1922
My dear Sir:
Your general examination will come Friday, 19 May, unless otherwise notified. Professors Day, Huntington, Young, Burbank, and Dr. Clark, have ben appointed to examine you. Of course, the committee is tentative, not final.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned copy]
Secretary of the Division
Mr. O. W. Blackett.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General examination passed
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
| F. W. Taussig T. N. Carver W. Z. Ripley C. J. Bullock A. A. Young W. M. Persons E. E. Day H. H. Burbank A. S. Dewing J. H. Williams A. E. Monroe A. H. Cole R. S. Tucker R. S. Meriam |
Cambridge, Massachusetts |
May 22, 1922
Dear Young,
For the purposes of final record may I report that Mr. Olin W. Blackett’s General Examination in Economics was conducted on the afternoon of the 19th by the following Committee: Professors Day (chairman), Huntington, Young, Burbank,and Dr. Clark. This Committee voted unanimously that the examination be accepted. I return herewith the papers covering Mr. Blackett’s candidacy.
Very truly yours,
[signed by “K” for] E. E. Day
Professor A. A. Young
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Special Examination Date
When exactly?
Februrary 1, 1926
My Dear Mr. Blackett:
Mr. Robinson, the Secretary of the Graduate School, has communicated to me the contents of your letter to him in which you say that vou will not be able to reach Cambridge until April 12. Do you mean thet you would like to have your special examination on that date, or on some day later in the month? Your thesis has been approved.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned Gladys E. Campbell]
Secretary.
Mr. O. W. Blackett
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Request for Special Examination during week of April 12th
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
School of Business Administration
February 4, 1926.
Miss Gladys E. Campbell
Div. of History, Gov. and Econ.
Harvard University
Cambridge, Mass.
My dear Miss Campbell,
I have your letter of February 1st and would appreciate it very much if you would make arrangements for my special examination in Statistics during the week of April 12th.
Very truly yours,
[signed] O. W. Blackett
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Request to Confirm Special Examination during week of April 12th
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
School of Business Administration
March 18, 1926.
Miss Gladys E. Campbell
Div. of History, Gov. and Econ.
Harvard University
Cambridge, Mass.
My dear Miss Campbell,
I have not heard from you whether arrangements have been made for my special examination in Statistics during the week of April 12th. Would you let me know as soon as final arrangements can be made?
Very truly yours,
[signed] O. W. Blackett.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Date and Committee
for Special Examination
March 18, 1926.
My dear Mr. Blackett:
I have your note of March 13 asking if arrangements had been made for your special examination. The date has been arranged for April 12 at four o’clock and the committee consists of Frofessors Persons (chairman), Crum, Cole, and Huntington. The place will be named later.
Letters addressed to Professor Haskins or to me will reach us more quickly if sent to 774 Widener Library.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned Gladys E. Campbell]
Secretary of the Division.
Mr. O. W. Blackett
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Record of Olin Winthrop Blackett in the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
(2 November 1925)
1920-21
| Grades | ||
| Course | Half-Course | |
| Economics 2a1 | B | |
| Economics 2b2 | C | |
| Economics 11 | A | |
| Economics 14 | A minus | |
| Economics 31 | A | |
1921-22
| Grades | ||
| Course | Half-Course | |
| Economics 151 | A | |
| Economics 41 | A | |
1922-23
| Grades | ||
| Course | Half-Course | |
| Economics 20 | A | |
1923-24
| Grades | ||
| Course | Half-Course | |
| Economics 20 (1st half) | A | |
Source: Harvard University Archives. Division of History, Government & Economics. PhD. Examinations, Box 6: 1924-26.
__________________________
Course Names and Instructors
1920-21
Economics 2a 1hf. European Industry and Commerce in the Nineteenth Century. Dr. E. E. Lincoln assisted by Mr. Hyde.
Economics 2b 2hf. Economic and Financial History of the United States. Dr. E. E. Lincoln assisted by Mr. Hyde.
Economics 11. Economic Theory. Professor Taussig.
Economics 14. History and Literature of Economics to the year 1848. Professor Bullock.
Economics 31. Public Finance. Professor Bullock.
1921-22
Economics 15 1hf. Modern Schools of Economic Thought. Professor Young.
Economics 41. Statistical Theory and Analysis. Professor Day.
1922-23, 1923-24
Economics 20. Economic Research.
Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College for 1920-21. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Announcements of the Courses of Instruction, 1921-22.
__________________________
Olin Winthrop Blackett
His life and career
Olin Winthrop Blackett, Obituary
Olin Winthrop Blackett, born July 12, 1895 in Winthrop, MA, died peacefully on Sept. 12, 1993 [sic, September 7 is correct] in Tacoma, WA. He attended Wesleyan University, the United States Naval Academy and served in the U.S. Navy in World War I. He received a PhD in economics from Harvard University where he continued on to teach in the Harvard Business School. He moved to Ann Arbor, MI, in 1924 where he was Professor of Business Statistics at the University of Michigan Business School until his retirement in 1965. He then lived in Key Alegro, TX until the death of his wife, Ruth E. Blackett in 1978 when he moved to Tacoma…
Source: The News Tribune (Tacoma WA) 9 September 1995
Image Source: Portrait from the Anne Olson family tree, “Olin Winthrop Prof. Blackett” at ancestry.com