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The tripling of regular economics course offerings at Harvard in the early 1880’s attracted medium (they only had newspapers then, so I suppose the singular form is appropriate) attention as seen in the following story from the New York Evening Post (October 11, 1883) that was picked up by the Chicago Tribune (October 15, 1883). The expansion in course offerings in political economy was announced in the Harvard Crimson on May 24, 1883.
Here are links to five earlier Harvard-related posts from this period at Economics in the Rear-View Mirror:
1874-77.
Three Economics Courses. Texts and exams
Courses in Political Economy
1881.
Economics. Two Course Reviews
1886.
Account of Graduate Department
1888-89.
Political Economy Courses
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POLITICAL ECONOMY AT HARVARD [1883].
Sketch of the Reorganized Department – Seven Courses of Study – Their Scope and Aim.
[Correspondence of the Evening Post.]
Cambridge, Mass., October 5. – The Department of Political Economy in Harvard College has undergone an enlargement and organization this year which marks a growing interest in the subject on the part of the students and a readiness on the part of the authorities to give encouragement and increased opportunity for its pursuit. For some years political economy was taught practically in two courses, an introductory one, which developed the principles of the English school, Mill being the author used, and an advanced course, which took up Cairnes’ Leading Principles of Political Economy, and discussed also banking and finance. Some years there were two introductory courses instead of one, but in that case they were alternative, and not supplementary. Last year the field treated was broadened by the addition of course, given by Dr. Laughlin, on the economic effects of land tenures in England, Ireland, France, Germany, and Russia; and this year the return of Professor Dunbar from his vacation in Europe, and the retention of both Dr. Laughlin, now assistant professor, and Mr. Taussig, has resulted in the expansion of the whole treatment into seven courses of study. A brief account of the scope and character of these courses is as follows:
First, there is one course intended to give familiarity with the leading principles of the science. Mill’s book is here used as a basis, but there are also lectures on banking and the critical review of the public finance of the United States, chiefly during and since the last war. The course aims to give that general knowledge which every educated man ought to have. For those, however, wish to attain a thorough mastery of the principles of economics, one course is not deemed sufficient. Consequently course 2 – a history of economic theory and a critical examination of leading writers – is given by Professor Dunbar. He will take up all the principal writers in England, France, Germany, and Italy, and will review other recent literature, including the work of Henry George. He intends us to develop a grasp upon the fundamental principles that will enable the student to do practical work of real value.
The other five subjects are designed to turn the attention of students to the historical and practical side, affording training in the use of books and sources, the collection of statistics, and the investigation of such public questions as constantly arise from year to year. They are as follows:
Course 3. Discussion of Practical Economic Questions. – The work will here be done in discussion of live questions of the day, and in written monographs upon subjects which most concern the economic interests of the United States, for example: The navigation laws and American shipping; bimetallism; reciprocity with Canada; advantages of Government issues of notes compared with those of national banks.
Course 4. Economic History of Europe and America since the Seven Years’ War. This is in the form of lectures by Professor Dunbar, and will trace the economic effects of the great events in the history of the last 125 years.
Course 5. Economic Effects of Land Tenures in England, Ireland, France, and Germany; is the course which was introduced by Professor Laughlin last year, and which he gives again; the work is mostly in the form of written theses.
Course 6. History of Tariff Legislation in the United States, by Mr. Taussig; is a study of the tariff laws which the country has tried, and of the reasons for their passage or repeal. The scope of the course is best seen in the following useful syllabus:
I. 1789-1816: Tariff system adopted after the formation of the Constitution; Hamilton’s report; the state of the protective controversy before 1816; the beginnings of manufacturing industry.
II. 1816-1840: The American System; Henry Clay; the tariffs of 1824, 1828, 1832; the Compromise Tariff of 1833; the growth of manufactures; the economic effects of protection.
III. 1840-1860: The political tariffs of 1842 (protectionist); 1846 (free trade); the industrial progress of the country from 1846 to 1860.
IV. 1860-1883: The Civil War; the development of the existing tariff system; the revenue act of 1864; the tax-reducing acts of later years; the tariff revision of 1883.
Course 7. Comparison of the Financial Systems of France, England, Germany, and the United States; is conducted by Professor Dunbar. He will compare the systems adopted by these nations to provide themselves with revenues, and will direct the study to the economic principles underlying public finance and closely connected with the science of government.
Source: New York Evening Post, October 11, 1883, p. 2. Scan of the page at Historical Newspapers From The United States and Canada, Archives of the New York Evening Post Newspaper, pdf-page 0360.
Image Source: The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. “Sever Hall, Harvard Univ., Cambridge, Mass.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1898 – 1931.