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When I came across the correspondence in this post, what caught my eye was that a Columbia doctoral student in economics had written to her adviser asking for advice in the face of a seemingly certain termination of her instructorship at Bryn Mawr simply on the grounds of her being Catholic. I thought it good to post a reminder just how broad the category of “the Other” was not even a century ago.
What is also interesting is the fact that her advisor, E.R.A. Seligman farmed out the draft of her dissertation to a former student of his for a referee report that became the basis of his decision for a revise-and-resubmit of the thesis.
The Bryn Mawr economics instructor/Columbia graduate student, Marjorie Lorne Franklin, was born August 30, 1892 in Albany, New York. She received her B.A. from Barnard College in 1913 and her M.A. from Columbia University in 1914. According to the Bryn Mawr Calendar 1921 (p. 4): Marjorie Franklin was Graduate Scholar, Bryn Mawr College, 1913-14 and Fellow in Economics, 1914-15; Columbia University, 1915-16; Library Assistant, American Telephone and Telegraph Co., 1916-17; and before coming to Bryn Mawr she served as an instructor at Vassar College in 1917-18. However according to the Vassar College yearbook, The Vassarion 1918 (p.30), Franklin was working 1915-16 as Tariff Assistant in Foreign Tariffs Division of U.S. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. From the 1925 Barnard College Register of Alumnae we learn that she married Dr. Walter Freeman in 1924 and was working as a special expert at the U.S. Tariff Commission. According to the 1940 U.S. census she reported that she was employed as an economist with the Tariff Commission and she was the mother of five sons and one daughter. She died in San Mateo, California on April 22, 1970. I have found no record that Marjorie Franklin Freeman was ever awarded a Ph.D. in economics.
A biographical detail that is irrelevant for understanding the history of economics but much too fascinating to leave unmentioned is that Marjorie Franklin’s husband Walter Freeman (II) was a neurologist famous for having introduced the Freeman-Watts prefrontal lobotomy procedure— (His papers are archived at George Washington University; there is even a PBS documentary about him “The Lobotomist”).
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Franklin to Seligman: Bryn Mawr terminating her because she is a Catholic
BRYN MAWR COLLEGE
Department of Economics and Politics
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Low Buildings,
February 27, 1921
Professor E.R.A. Seligman
Columbia University
New York City
Dear Professor Seligman:
Religious prejudice has entered into my life for the first time in a way that shocks and stuns me. After three years of successful teaching here, President Thomas has decided that the fact that I am a Catholic makes me persona non grata. She states that my work has been successful and admits that I have not allowed my religious ideas to influence my teaching, but claims that from the point of view of the outside world, it is bad for the college to have a Catholic hold my position, considering the political activities of the Catholic Church. The situation is complicated by the fact that Dr. Fenwick, Professor of Political Science in the department is also a Catholic, and President Thomas has decided that one of us must go. I have no intention of protesting the matter, for I realize that it is futile to argue against religious prejudice.
It is doubtless unnecessary to say to you that my ideas on the subject of religion have always been to me something quite apart from my work, and represent, chiefly, my ethical and moral standards, not at all, my political and economic ideas which have been the result of modern scientific training at Barnard and Columbia. Dr. Giddings, who knows my Father, also a graduate of Union College, would testify that I had been brought up in a broad, tolerant atmosphere.
The whole question of religious prejudice seems utterly medieval to me, but since it is evidently effective in the sphere of teaching, it makes me want to turn to the field of business and finance. So I want to talk over with you in the near future the possibility of openings in the banking field.
During the past two months, work on my thesis has been at a standstill due to the fact that my Father has been rather suddenly incapacitated by some spinal trouble which has made him quite helpless. He was operated on two weeks ago by Dr. Elsberg, the famous spinal surgeon, at the Neurological Hospital on East 67th Street, and his fate is still in doubt. As a result I cannot go to him for advice, and so am running the risk of boring you by setting forth conditions in such detail. However, it may be better for you to have a clear statement of the facts in my case before I go up to New York to see you. I should be glad to make an appointment to call any time within the next few weeks.
Very sincerely yours,
[signed] Marjorie L. Franklin
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Franklin to Seligman: Vassar reverses itself, making her an offer
BRYN MAWR COLLEGE
Department of Economics and Politics
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Low Buildings,
March 10, 1921
Prof. Edwin R.A. Seligman
Columbia University
New York City
My dear Professor Seligman:
Due to the efforts of Mrs. Smith, my department chief, and other members of the Bryn Mawr Faculty on the Appointment Committee, President Thomas has capitulated completely and has offered e a contract on the most favorable terms, ignoring the late unpleasentness completely.
If I were to consider my own feelings in the matter, I would reject all overtures, but since Mrs. Smith and others went so valiantly to the front for me, stating that they would resign if I were forced to leave, there is now a strong feeling of noblesse oblige on my part toward them.
However, I should like very much to talk things over with you, in general, and particularly to submit to you a substantial draft of my thesis. In view of this, I would rather postpone my interview set for March 16th and make arrangements with Mrs. Stewart to see you later, just before or just after the Easter vacation.
Appreciating your kindness in this situation,
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Marjorie L. Franklin
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Newcomer’s report to Seligman on Franklin’s thesis draft
435 West 119 St.,
New York,
June 20, 1922.
My dear Dr. Seligman:
I have gone over Miss Franklin’s dissertation again rather carefully. It seems to me it has been improved, but frankly it still leaves me with no very clear picture of Philadelphia’s financial condition. It gives a fairly good idea of political conditions, and something of the financial consequences of these conditions; but at no time is there given a definite summarized statement of the actual sources of revenue and the relative importance of each. A statement, e.g., of the actual percentage of revenues obtained from the tax on real estate over a period of years would be illuminating. Most of the data which would be required for such comparisons are available in the tables now included in the appendix, but these data would have to be rearranged and summarized. In their present form they are not of much assistance.
The same indefiniteness appears in the discussion of assessments. The account of correct assessment methods and the shortcomings of those employed in Philadelphia is full and clear; but as to the degree of underassessment and the seriousness of the inequalities one is left in doubt.
Another criticism that I would make is that in some places Miss Franklin introduces material which scarcely seems pertinent because she fails to apply it definitely to the situation in Philadelphia. A case in point is the long discussion of the taxation of land values at the end of chapter four.
Further I find the relative weight granted the various parts of the subject not altogether satisfactory. For instance, special assessments are too important a factor in municipal financing to be introduced first in the conclusions. Also, with full recognition of the bearing of all of the matters discussed on the system of taxation, I still feel that taxation itself has not received its full share of attention.
Finally, I do not find the conclusions convincing. I am afraid that this is rather severe criticism. Let me hasten to add that I think the strictly historical survey of the subject is very good, and I like Miss Franklin’s treatment of the political and administrative problems. I suspect that many of the difficulties which I find are inherent in the subject itself.
I am leaving the manuscript, together with a copy of this letter in Mrs. Stewart’s office.
With best wishes for a pleasant summer, I remain
Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Mabel Newcomer
Note: Mabel Newcomer (B.A. Stanford, 1913; M.A. Stanford, 1914; Ph.D. Columbia, 1917) taught at Vassar 1917-1957.
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Seligman’s decision not to accept Franklin’s thesis draft
Lake Placid, N.Y.,
June 24th, 1922.
Miss Mabel Newcomer,
New York.
Dear Miss Newcomer:-
Many thanks for your kind and explicit letter. I have written to Miss Franklin, embodying most of your points I my letter and have asked her to try again.
I may bother you again when she presents her next, and let us hope, her final draft.
With kind regards,
Faithfully yours,
[E.R.A. Seligman, unsigned in copy]
Source: Columbia University Archives. Edwin Robert Anderson Papers. Box 36, Folder “Box 99, Seligman, Columbia 1918-1924 (A-Z)”.
Image Source: Marjorie Lorne Franklin’s senior year picture in The Mortarboard 1913, p. 195.