For the seminar “Topics in Modern Economic History” taught by Abbott Payson Usher (1883-1965) at Harvard, I have been able to find syllabi from the fall term of 1937-38 and both terms for 1938-39 and 1940-41 which, judging from the enrollment figures reported in the annual president’s report, were the only years the seminar with Usher (alone) had actually taken place. Only after the Second World War do we see a seminar with this title having student enrollment figures reported (Usher and Walt Rostow in 1947-48 and then Usher and Gerschenkron in 1948-49.
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Economics 136 (formerly 22).
Seminar.
Topics in Modern Economic History
Two consecutive hours a week, to be arranged. Professor Usher.
Source: Announcement of the Courses of Instruction offered by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences during 1937—38 (First edition). Official Register of Harvard University, Vol. 34, No. 5 (March 1, 1937), p. 149.
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Enrollments in the seminar:
Topics in Modern Economic History
1937/38-1940/41
1937-38.
[Economics] 136. (formerly 22). Professor Usher.—Seminar. Topics in Modern Economic History
7 Graduates. Total 7.
1938-39.
[Economics] 136. Professor Usher.—Seminar. Topics in Modern Economic History
9 Graduates, 1 Senior. Total 10
1939-40.
[not offered]
1940-41.
[Economics] 136. Professor Usher.—Seminar. Topics in Modern Economic History
9 Graduates, 1 Senior. Total 10
Source: Harvard University. Reports of the President, 1937-38, p. 86; 1938-39, p. 99; 1940-41, p. 59.
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[Seminar.
Topics in Modern Economic History.
A. P. Usher]
Calendar
Economics 136
First Term
1937-38
- Oct. 7. Schools of Economic Historians.
- Oct. 18. Sombart and the Ideal Type Method
- Nov. 5. History as a genetic science.
- Nov. 19. Historical Process: evolution or fluctuation
- Dec. 3. A Pluralistic Concept of Social Evolution
- Dec. 17. The Historical Significance of Locational Theory.
- Jan. 7 Autarchy as an objective of economic policy.
Suggested Reading
- Gras, N. S. B. The Rise and Development of Economic History, The Economic History Review, I, pp. 12-34.
- Parsons, T. Capitalism in Recent German Literature, Journal of Political Economy, vol 36, pp, 641-661; vol. 37, pp. 31-51.
- Sée, H. Science et Philosophie de l’histoire, pp. 116-156, 228-233.
or
Rickert, H. Die Grenzen der naturwissenschaftlichen Begriffsbildung, 1902, pp. 1-29, 289-304; 1913, 1-29, 256-273; 1921, pp. 1-23, 215-230. - Tarde, G. Social Laws, pp. 1-67.
- Tarde, G. Social Laws, pp, 144-213.
or Ogburn, W. F. Social Change, 1923. pp. 56-145. - Weber, Alfred. Theory of the Location of Industries.
Hoover, E. M. Jr. Location Theory of the Shoe and Leather Industries. - Heckscher, E.F. Mercantilism, I, pp. 19-44, II, pp. 13-52.
Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003 (HUC 8522.2.1), Box 2, Folder 1937-1938.
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[1938-39 Seminar:
Topics in Modern Economic History,
A. P. Usher]
Economics 136
Reading on General Seminar Topics.
I. Schools of Economic Historians. Oct. 4.
Gras, N. S. B. The Rise and Development of Economic History, The Economic History Review, I, pp. 12-34.
Gide, C. and Rist, C. History of Economic Thought, chapters on the historical school.
II. Sombart and the Ideal Type Method. Oct. 18.
Parsons, T. Capitalism in Recent German Literature, Journal of Political Economy, vol 36, pp. 641-661; vol. 37, pp. 31-51.
III. History as a Genetic Science Nov. 1.
Sée, H. Science et Philosophie de l’histoire, pp. 116-156, 228-233.
or
Rickert, H. Die Grenzen der naturwissenschaftlichen Begriffsbildung, ed. 1902, pp. 1-29, 289-304; ed. 1913, 1-29, 256-273; ed. 1921, pp. 1-23, 215-230.
IV. Historical Process, evolution or fluctuation? Nov. 15.
Tarde, G. Social Laws, pp. 1-67.
Sorokin, P. Social Dynamics, I, chap. IV; vol II, ch. X.
V. A Pluralistic Concept of Social Evolution. Nov. 29.
Tarde, G. Social Laws, pp, 144-213.
or Ogburn, W. F. Social Change (1923) pp. 56-145.
VI. Autarchy as an objective of Social Policy. Dec. 6.
Heckscher, E.F. Mercantilism, I, pp. 19-44, II, pp. 13-52.
VII. The origin and development of liberalism. Dec. 30.
Allen, J.W. A History of Political Thought in the Sixteenth Century, (11928) Part II, ch. III; Part III, ch. VIII.
Hobhouse, L.T. Liberalism. Selections at discretion
* * * * *
[“2nd Term” in pencil]
Economics 136
1938-39
A final examination will be scheduled, consisting of an essay prepared prior to the examination upon any one of the topics listed below.
No student will be responsible for more material than is presented by the titles suggested under the various topics. Relevant material will be selected from the titles listed.
1. The significance of the scientific method for economic history.
Whitehead, A. N. The Function of Reason,
___________________ Science and the Modern World.
___________________ The Concept of Nature.
Sée, H. Science et Philosophie de l’histoire.
2. The problem of novelty in the theory of social evolution.
Bergson, H. Creative Evolution.
Tarde, G. La Logique Sociale.
___________ Social Laws.
___________ L’invention considerée comme moteur de l’evolution sociale.
Usher, A. P. A History of Mechanical Inventions.
3. Pluralism and multilinear concepts of social evolution.
James. W. Pluralism.
Tarde, G. Social Laws.
___________ La Logique Sociale.
Ogburn, W. F. Social Change.
4. The Process of Innovation.
Koffka, K. The Growth of the Mind.
Gilfillan, S.C. The Sociology of Invention.
Rossman, J. The Psychology of the Inventor.
Usher, A.P. A History of Mechanical Inventions.
5. Logical Problems of the Genetic Sciences.
Baldwin, J.M. Development and Evolution.
Rickert, H. Die Grenzen der naturwissenschaftlichen Begriffsbildung.
6. The concept of industrial evolution.
Bücher, K. Industrial Evolution
7. The Ideal Type Method and the Theory of Social Evolution
Parsons, T. Capitalism in Recent German Literature, Journal of Political Economy, vol. 36, 641-661; 37, 31-51.
Nussbaum, F.L. A History of the Economic Institutions of Modern Europe.
or
Weber, M. General Economic History.
8. Karl Marx and the Materialistic Interpretation of History.
Bober, M. Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History.
Sée, H. The Economic Interpretation of History.
9. The Concept of Capitalism as a basis for the interpretation of modern economic history.
any one of the following texts:
Hobson, J.A. The Evolution of Modern Capitalism.
Sée, H. Modern Capitalism.
Hammond, J. L. and Barbara. The Rise of Modern Industry.
Bober, M. Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History.
Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003 (HUC 8522.2.1), Box 2, Folder 1938-1939.
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[1940-41 Seminar:
Topics in Modern Economic History,
A. P. Usher]
Economics 136
1940 – 1941
Calendar
- Oct. 3. The Development of Economic History.
- Oct. 17. Werner Sombart and Max Weber as exponents of the ideal type method
- Oct. 31. History as a genetic science.
- Nov. 14. The Nature of Historical Process.
- Dec. 5. A Pluralistic Concept of Social Evolution
- Dec. 19. Mercantilism.
Reading
There will be an examination at Mid-year consisting of a three hour essay prepared on some topic drawn from, or related to, the work of the general meetings of the class. Readings suggested as preparation for class discussion will not in all instances serve as an adequate basis for the examination essay. A supplementary list of books for essay topics is therefore added.
1. The Development of Economic History.
Gide, C. and Rist, C. History of Economic Thought, Book IV, Chap. I.
Ingram, J. K. History of Political Economy. ed. 1898, chapters VI, VII; ed. 1915, chapters VI, VIII.
2. Werner Sombart and Max Weber as exponents of the ideal type method
Parsons, T. Capitalism in Recent German Literature, Journal of Political Economy, vol 36, pp. 641-661; vol. 37, pp. 31-51.
Weber, General Economic History, pp. 338-370. German ed. 1924, pp. 289-315.
3. History as a genetic science.
Sée, H. Science et Philosophie de l’histoire, pp. 116-156, 228-233.
or
Rickert, H. Die Grenzen der naturwissenschaftlichen Begriffsbildung, 1902, pp. 1-29, 289-304; 1913, 1-29, 256-273; 1921, pp. 1-23, 215-230.
4. The Nature of Historical Process.
Tarde, G. Social Laws, pp. 1-67.
5. A Pluralistic Concept of Social Evolution
Tarde, G. Social Laws, pp, 144-213.
or Ogburn, W. F. Social Change (1923) pp. 56-145.
6. Mercantilism.
Heckscher, E.F. Mercantilism, I, pp. 19-44, II, pp. 13-52.
* * * * *
[As can be seen from the date here, for the second term of 1940-41, Usher simply used his second term syllabus from 1938-1939 with a couple of penciled additions. These additions are given below in boldface within square brackets]
Economics 136
1938-39
A final examination will be scheduled, consisting of an essay prepared prior to the examination upon any one of the topics listed below.
No student will be responsible for more material than is presented by the titles suggested under the various topics. Relevant material will be selected from the titles listed.
[In many cases, any one of the titles listed will be sufficient.]
1. The significance of the scientific method for economic history.
Whitehead, A. N. The Function of Reason,
___________________ Science and the Modern World.
___________________ The Concept of Nature.
Sée, H. Science et Philosophie de l’histoire.
2. The problem of novelty in the theory of social evolution.
Bergson, H. Creative Evolution.
Tarde, G. La Logique Sociale.
___________ Social Laws.
___________ L’invention considerée comme moteur de l’evolution sociale.
Usher, A. P. A History of Mechanical Inventions.
3. Pluralism and multilinear concepts of social evolution.
James. W. Pluralism.
Tarde, G. Social Laws.
___________ La Logique Sociale.
Ogburn, W. F. Social Change.
4. The Process of Innovation.
Koffka, K. The Growth of the Mind.
Gilfillan, S.C. The Sociology of Invention.
Rossman, J. The Psychology of the Inventor.
Usher, A.P. A History of Mechanical Inventions.
5. Logical Problems of the Genetic Sciences.
(Baldwin, J.M. Development and Evolution.
Rickert, H. Die Grenzen der naturwissenschaftlichen Begriffsbildung.
[Haldane, R. B. The Reign of Relativity.]
6. The concept of industrial evolution.
Bücher, K. Industrial Evolution
7. The Ideal Type Method and the Theory of Social Evolution
Parsons, T. Capitalism in Recent German Literature, Journal of Political Economy, vol. 36, 641-661; 37, 31-51.
Nussbaum, F.L. A History of the Economic Institutions of Modern Europe.
or
Weber, M. General Economic History.
8. Karl Marx and the Materialistic Interpretation of History.
Bober, M. Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History.
Sée, H. The Economic Interpretation of History.
9. The Concept of Capitalism as a basis for the interpretation of modern economic history.
any one of the following texts:
Hobson, J.A. The Evolution of Modern Capitalism.
Sée, H. Modern Capitalism.
Hammond, J. L. and Barbara. The Rise of Modern Industry.
Bober, M. Karl Marx’s Interpretation of History.
[10. Religion and the Rise of Capitalism
Tawney, R. H. Religion and the Rise of Capitalism.
Robertson, H. M. The Rise of Economic Individualism.]
Source: Harvard University Archives. Syllabi, course outlines and reading lists in Economics, 1895-2003 (HUC 8522.2.1), Box 2, Folder 1940-41.
Image Source: Harvard Class Album 1939.