Joseph Schumpeter chaired the general economics Ph.D. exam and the special Ph.D. exam of Paul Samuelson. In the course transcript of the Graduate School of Arts and Science, we see that Schumpeter awarded Samuelson the presumably maximum maximorum grade of “A plus plus” in his course.
By the end of the 1930s the individual student records of Ph.D. candidates in Harvard’s Division of History, Government, and Economics were little more than the three page application for candidacy for the Ph.D. degree along with a fourth page on which the completion of degree requirements was duly recorded: the satisfaction of French and German reading skills, passing grades for the general and special Ph.D. exams, acceptance of the thesis by readers and a transcript of Harvard coursework (presumably to satisfy residency requirements). The grade reports for the general and special exams include little more that the grade awarded, the members of the examination committee, and occasionally a sentence or two remark on the candidate’s performance.
_______________________
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.
Paul Anthony Samuelson, May 15, 1915; Gary, Indiana.
II. Academic Career: (Mention, with dates inclusive, colleges or other higher institutions of learning attended; and teaching positions held.)
University of Chicago — 1932-35
III. Degrees already attained. (Mention institutions and dates.)
A.B. — 1935 — U. of C.
IV. General Preparation. (Indicate briefly the range and character of your under-graduate 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.)
Econ. Theory, 5 quarters; Econ Stat, 2; Acc’ting, 1; Labor Problems, 2; Public Finance; Econ. Hist. 2; Money & Banking, 1; Sociology, 3; Pol. Science, 4; History 7;
Reading Knowledge Exam in French and German for Ph.D., U. of C.
Anthrop. 1; Educ. 1; Mathematics, 3 quarters
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, 15b, 18
- Economic Statistics – Econ 32b Econ 31a
- Money and Banking – Econ 50
- Mathematical Economics Econ 8a, 18
- [Note: this field has a red bracket] Economic History – Econ 23
- Theory
VII. Special Subject for the special examination.
Economic Theory
VIII. Thesis Subject. (State the subject and mention the instructor who knows most about your work upon it.)
[Left blank]
IX. Examinations. (Indicate any preferences as to the time of the general and special examinations.)
[Left blank]
X. Remarks
[Left blank]
Signature of a member of the Division certifying approval of the above outline of subjects.
[signed] H. H. Burbank
* * * [Last page of application] * * *
[Not to be filled out by the applicant]
Name: Paul Anthony Samuelson
Approved: February 25, 1936
Ability to use French certified by November 5, 1935.Dr. A. E. Monroe.
Ability to use German certified by November 4, 1936. Dr. A. E. Monroe.
Date of general examination May 18, 1936. Passed. J.A.S.
Thesis received November 12, 1940.
read by Professors Schumpeter and E. B. Wilson.
approved November 26, 1940.
Date of special examination December 4, 1940. Passed, J.A.S.
Recommended for the Doctorate 2/4/41
Degree conferred 2/17/41
Remarks. [Left blank]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
General examination,
Departmental Report
DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS
Report on Examinations for Graduate Degrees
Name of Candidate: Paul Anthony Samuelson
Date of Examination: Monday, May 18, 1936.
Department of Economics
Fields Examined: 1. Economic Theory, 2. Statistics, 3. Money and Banking, 4. Mathematical Economics
The Committee certifies that the General Special Examination of the candidate was
Excellent
Good
Fair
Unsatisfactory
Committee: Professors Schumpeter (chairman), Harris, Leontief, Dr. Gordon
Further comments may be made below.
A remarkable showing in economic theory but less strong in the applied field
Chairman
[signed]
Joseph Schumpeter
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Transcript of Paul A. Samuelson in the
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
24 UNIVERSITY HALL,
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
November 21, 1940
Transcript of the record of Mr Paul Anthony Samuelson
1935-36
| COURSE | GRADE |
| Economics 11 (1 course) | A plus (mid-year grade) |
| Economics 121 (½ course) | A minus |
| Economics 31a1 (½ course) | A plus |
| Economics 50 (1 course) | Excused |
| Economics 15b2 (½ course) | A plus plus [sic] |
| Economics 32b2 (½ course) | A minus |
1936-37
| COURSE | GRADE |
| Economics 133 (1 course) | A |
| Economics 143 (1 course) | A |
| Economics 151 (1 course) | A |
| Economics 145a1 (½ course) | A plus |
| Economics 145b2 (½ course) | A plus |
Mr. Samuelson received the degree of Master of Arts in June, 1936.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Notice of Time and Place
of Special Examination
9 Holyoke House
November 26, 1940
Dear Mr. Samuelson:
The arrangements have been completed for your special examination for the degree of Ph.D. in Economics. It is to be held on Wednesday, December 4, at 4. p.m. in Littauer Center M-10.
Sincerely yours,
[unsigned copy]
Secretary.
Mr. Paul A. Samuelson
11 Ware Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Special examination,
Division Report
DIVISION OF HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND ECONOMICS
Report on Examinations for Graduate Degree
Name of Candidate: Paul Anthony Samuelson
Date of Examination: Wednesday, December 4, 1940, at 4 o’clock
Department of Economics
Fields Examined: Special Field: Economic Theory
Thesis: “Foundations of Analytical Economics: The Observational Significance of Economic Theory.”
The Committee certified that the General Special Examination of the candidate was
Excellent
Good
Fair
Failed, no bar to re-examination
Failed, recommended not to request re-examination
Committee: Professors Schumpeter (chairman), Wilson, Chamberlin, Dr. Taylor
Further comments may be made below.
The performance was excellent not only in mathematical but also in general economic theory.
[signed]
Josef Schumpeter
E.B. Wilson
O.H. Taylor
E.H. Chamberlin
Source: Harvard University Archives. Division of History, Government & Economics. PhD. Material 1939-42, Box 20.
__________________________
Course Names and Instructors
(1935-36)
| Economics 11 Economic Theory |
Prof. William F. Taussig |
| Economics 121 Monopolistic Competition and Allied Problems in Value Theory |
Prof. Edward H. Chamberlin |
| Economics 31a1 Theory of Economic Statistics, I |
Prof. William L. Crum and Asst. Prof. Edward Frickey |
| Economics 50 Principles of Money and Banking |
Prof. John H. Williams |
| Economics 15b2 Selected Problems in Advance Economic Theory |
Prof. Joseph A. Schumpeter and an assistant |
| Economics 32b2 Topics in Statistical Theory |
Prof. E. B. Wilson |
Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College 1935-36, pp. 82-84.
Course Names and Instructors
(1936-37)
| Economics 133 Recent Economic History |
Prof. Abbott Paysan Usher |
| Economics 143 International Trade |
Prof. Gottfried Haberler |
| Economics 151 Public Finance |
Professor Harold H. Burbank |
| Economics 145a1 Business Cycles and Economic Forecasting |
Prof. Joseph A. Schumpeter |
| Economics 145b2 Seminar. Business Cycles and Economic Forecasting |
Prof. Joseph A. Schumpter and Assoc. Prof. Gottfried Haberler |
Source: Harvard University. Report of the President of Harvard College 1936-37, pp. 93-94.
Image Source: Original black-and-white photo of Samuelson from the slideshow at the M.I.T. Memorial Service (April 10, 2010). Colorized by Economics in the Rear-view Mirror.