Below you will find a transcription of the paper trail of Edward Sagendorph Mason that documents the satisfaction of the requirements for his Ph.D. in economics (Harvard, 1925).
Understatement is almost an art form in the hands of the chairman (Professor Frank W. Taussig) of Mason’s final doctoral examination that followed acceptance of his dissertation: “His showing was highly creditable, even brilliant”.
_______________________
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.
Edward Sagendorph Mason, Clinton, Iowa. Feb. 22, 1899.
II. Academic Career: (Mention, with dates inclusive, colleges or other higher institutions of learning attended; and teaching positions held.)
University of Kansas 1916-’19
Harvard (graduate school) one year 1919-’20
Oxford University (Lincoln College) 1920-’23
III. Degrees already attained. (Mention institutions and dates.)
A.B. Kansas 1919
M.A. Harvard 1920
B. Litt. Oxford 1923
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.)
30-40 hours in Economics (Theory – Econ. Hist. – Banking – Hist. of Theory)
Political theory – American government.
English History – Modern French History.
French – 3 years.
English literature – 20-30 hours.
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. – Econ 11 at Harvard. Elementary and advanced courses at Kansas. – Reading and lectures in England and Germany.
History of Theory (from Plato & Aristotle). Elementary course at Kansas – Reading and lectures at Oxford - Statistics. – Graduate course at Harvard. Additional Reading.
- Public Finance. – Graduate course at Harvard.
- Economic History of England and the United States. – Elementary course in U.S. Econ. History at Kansas. Lectures and reading at Oxford.
- American Government and Constitutional Law. – Elementary course in Am. Gov. at Kansas. Graduate course in Const. Law at Harvard. Additional reading.
- International Trade.
VII. Special Subject for the special examination.
International Trade
VIII. Thesis Subject. (State the subject and mention the instructor who knows most about your work upon it.)
Dumping – A Study of Certain International Trade Practices. England, Germany and the United States (B. Litt. Dissertation at Oxford in this subject. May submit same at Harvard.)
Professor Taussig.
IX. Examinations. (Indicate any preferences as to the time of the general and special examinations.)
General Examination. June 10th or after.
Special Examination. Next year.
X. Remarks
Attendance at Oxford makes it impossible for me to present myself before June 10th at the earliest.
Signature of a member of the Division certifying approval of the above outline of subjects.
[signed] F. W. Taussig
* * * [Last page of application] * * *
[Not to be filled out by the applicant]
Name: Edward S. Mason
Approved: May 28, 1923
Ability to use French certified by C. J. Bullock. Oct 3, 1923.
Ability to use German certified by C. J. Bullock. Oct. 3, 1923.
Date of general examination November 27, 1923. Passed. F.W. Taussig, ch[airman]
Thesis received 22 December 1924.
Read by Professors Taussig, Young, Williams.
Approved 14 January 1925.
Date of special examination 22 January 1925. Passed F.W.T.
Recommended for the Doctorate [left blank]
Degree conferred 24 February 1925
Remarks. [left blank]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Record of E. S. Mason in the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
1919-20
| Economics 11 [Economic Theory. Prof. Taussig] |
A |
| Economics 31 [Public Finance, Prof. Bullock] |
A minus |
| Economics 41 [Statistics: Theory and Analysis, Asst. Prof. Day] |
B plus |
| Government 19 [American Constitutional Law, Mr. MacLeish] |
A |
| A.M. 1920 |
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dean not amused by late application
28 April 1923
My dear Mr. Mason:
Your application requesting for arrangements for a general examination this year has just been received. I am rather surprised that you should hand it in at such a late date and expect us to meke such arrangements. The list of examinations has been scheduled and printed for some weeks, and we cannot guarantee examinations for anyone after the first of June as it is exceedingly difficult to secure the presence of all the members of the examining comittee in Cambridge on the same day after the close of the lecture period. If you will indicate definitely the date of your return, which you mention vaguely in your letter, we shall try, however to arrange a committee for you at that time. Nothing can be promised, but we shall try to do what we can. I appreciate the convenience to you of taking the general examination this year, but I beg to remind you that due notice should be given of your plan of study and of your application for a general examination.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned carbon copy]
Edward S. Mason
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mason responds to the Dean regarding an early date for his general examination
Lincoln College,
Oxford.
May 9, 1923.
Dean C. H. Haskins,
Harvard University.
My dear Sir –
If it is convenient for you and for the examiners I should like to take the Ph.D. general examination (Economics) on June 12th. I am writing to Professor Bullock, my examiner in French and German, asking to be allowed to present myself June 11th for the language examinations.
May I emphasize again that if it causes the slightest inconvenience to yourself or the examiners, I should very much like to have the examination postponed till October or November, since I intend to be at Harvard next year in any case.
Thanking you for the trouble you have taken.
I am,
Very Truly Yours,
[signed] Edward S. Mason
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Division Memo Regarding Planned General Examination (undated)
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
(INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE SHEET)
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Edward S. Mason
June 10, or after.
- [Taussig] Economic Theory
- [Bullock] History of Theory (from Plato to Aristotle)
- [Crum] Statistics
- [Burbank] Public Finance
- [Usher] Economic History of England and the United States
- [Holcombe] American Government and Constitutional Law.
Special field: International Trade
Thesis being done with Professor Taussig.
Professor Taussig has signed the application.
French and German not certified.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
22 May 1923
My dear Mr. Mason;
In view of the difficulty of arranging an examination so late in the year, and also in view of the fact that you have not satisfied your French and Gorman requirement, I think it would be better if the examination went over till fall. There will be no difficulty in arranging an examination for you early in October, if you so desire.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Certification of reading knowledge
of French and German
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
Cambridge, Massachusetts
October 3, 1923.
Dear Haskins:
I have examined Mr. E. S. Mason, and find that he has such a knowledge of French and German as we require of candidates for the doctor’s degree.
Very truly yours,
[signed]
Charles J. Bullock
Dean C. H. Haskins
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General exam postponed
21 November 1925
My dear Mr. Mason:
I am sorry to have to tell you that I have just now received a telegram from Professor Taussig from Yonkers, New York, saying that he has been detained by the sudden death of his brother, and that your examination would have to be postponed. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything further from him,
Very truly yours,
Secretary of the Division.
Mr. E. S. Mason
[Note: Frank Taussig’s brother, mayor Walter Morris Taussig of Yonkers, New York, committed suicide on Nov. 21, 1923.]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
New Date for General Examination
23 November 1923
My dear Mr. Mason:
Your general examination is to be held on Tuesday, 27 November, at 4 p.m., in Upper Massachusette Hall.
Very truly yours.
Secretary of the Division.
Mr. E. S. Mason
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General examination passed
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
Cambridge, Massachusetts
November 30, 1923.
Dear Haskins:
As Chairman of the Committee appointed to conduct the general examination of Edward S. Mason, I have to report that Mr. Mason passed the examination by unanimous vote of the Committee.
Very truly yours,
[signed]
F. W. Taussig
Dean C. H. Haskins
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thesis accepted, but…
15 January 1925
My dear Mr. Mason:
I am happy to inform you that your thesis has been accepted. Under ordinary circumstances we should be glad to arrange your special examination as soon as practicable, but I cannot guarantee presence of a committee during the midyear examination period and the time is now too short to arrange
an examination in the next few days. Moreover, I do not see how you can be admitted to the final examination until you present suitable evidence of your graduate study elsewhere and you have been accepted by the authorities of the Graduate School as a candidate for the Doctorate. I understand from Dr. Robinson that the papers which you were to submit in support of your application for the Ph.D. have not yet been filed.
Sincerely yours,
[Initialed] C. H. H.
Mr. E. S. Mason
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Papers in order, so special examination
can take place
16 January 1925
My dear Mr. Mason:
Since you have now straightened out the matter concerning which Professor Haskins wrote you yesterday, we are arranging your special examination for Thursday, 22 January, at 4 p.m. The committee will consist of Professors Taussig (chairman), Young, Williams, and Persons. I trust that this will be convenient for you. I will let you know about the place later.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned carbon copy]
Secretary of the Division.
Dr. E. S. Mason
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Date and committee
for special examination
19 January 1925
My dear Mr. Mason:
This is to remind you that your special examination for the Ph.D. in Economics is to be held on Thursday, 22 January, at 4 p.m., in Widener U. The committee will consist of Professors Taussig (chairman), Young, Williams, and Persons.
Very truly yours,
[unsigned carbon copy]
Secretary of the Division.
Dr. E. S. Mason
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Special examination passed
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Department of Economics
Cambridge, Massachusetts
January 27, 1925.
Dear Haskins:
I have to report that Edward S. Mason passed his special examination for the Ph.D. degree on Thursday, January 22, by unanimous vote of the Committee. His showing was highly creditable, even brilliant.
Very truly yours,
[signed]
F. W. Taussig
Dean C. H. Haskins
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Source: Harvard University Archives. Division of History, Government & Economics. PhD. Examinations, Box 6: 1924-26.
Image Source: Portrait of Edward S. Mason included in the Harvard Class Album 1932.