Occasionally Economics in the Rear-view Mirror will post the economics course offerings at leading U.S. and Canadian universities at the turn of the twentieth century. Today we have both undergraduate and graduate course offerings in economics and social science at Yale for 1899/1900. While Irving Fisher was already member of the Yale Faculty, he was in the middle of a three year struggle with tuberculosis, returning to teaching (part-time) in the fall term of 1901. We see that John Bates Clark was brought in to teach a course on theories of income distribution. For those who find the discipline name “sociology” somewhat ugly, they will discover here that William G. Sumner appeared to have a certain fondness for the alternative “Societology“.
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Catalogue Yale University 1899/1900,
pp. 66-70
II. POLITICAL SCIENCE AND LAW
[Undergraduate Courses, Yale College]
30 Economics. 3 hrs.
Lectures: Wednesday and Saturday, 11.30. 12 divisions,
Monday to Saturday, 8.30.
President Hadley and Professor Schwab.
Two hours a week will be devoted to lectures,—for two-thirds of the year by President Hadley on the general problems of production, exchange and distribution of wealth; for the remaining time by Professor Schwab on money and monetary questions. The third hour will be occupied by a quiz-exercise in small sections under an assistant.
Text-books: Hadley’s Economics and Jevons’ Money and the Mechanism of Exchange.
31 Statistics. 2 hrs.
Monday and Thursday, 12.30.
Dr. Bailey.
The sources and reliability of statistical data are discussed, and the methods of distinguishing true and false inferences are pointed out. Index numbers are studied, and the lectures treat of statistics of population, crime, suicide, property, etc. The attempt is made to determine the laws which govern the group actions of men.
Mayo-Smith’s Statistics and Sociology is used as a basis.
The following courses (32 to 38 inclusive) are open only to those who have already studied elementary economics.
32 Finance. [Seniors.] 3 hrs.
Monday and Thursday, 11.30, A1 O; divisions
I, Monday, 8.30.
II, Wednesday, 8.30.
III, Friday, 8.30.
IV, Tuesday, 12.30.
Professor Schwab.
A course on Money, Banking, and Finance. Two hours a week will be devoted to lectures, one hour a week to quiz-exercises in small sections under Dr. Bailey.
Text-books: White, Money and Banking, Dunbar, Banking; Greene, Corporation Finance, and Plehn, Public Finance.
33 United States Industrial History. [Seniors.] 3 hrs.
Tuesday and Friday, 11.30, A1 O; divisions
I, Tuesday, 8.30.
II, Wednesday, 12.30.
III, Saturday, 8.30.
IV, V, Saturday, 9.30.
President Hadley and Professor Schwab.
A course on the history of the tariff legislation and industrial development of the United States. Two hours a week will be devoted to lectures—for two-thirds of the year by Professor Schwab on tariff history, foreign commerce and industrial organization; for the remaining time by President Hadley on railroads. The third hour will be occupied by a quiz-exercise in small sections under Dr. Bailey.
Text-books: Taussig, Tariff History of the United States (edition 1898); Hobson, Evolution of Modern Capitalism; Hadley, Railroad Transportation, and Newcomb, Railway Economics.
34 Mathematical Economics. [Seniors.] 2 hrs.
Wednesday and Saturday, 10.30.
Mr. Gaines.
The course is prefaced by a few lessons in elementary calculus. These are followed by the analysis of: I, value and prices; II, general price-levels; III, effects of “appreciation” and “depreciation,” with statistical discussion; IV, bimetallism and other currency schemes, with especial reference to the experience of France, Austria, and India; V, international trade; VI, capital and interest; VII, distribution.
Cournot’s Mathematical Theory of Wealth and Fisher’s Introduction to the Calculus; Value and Prices, and Appreciation and Interest, are used as a basis. Reading is also assigned in other works, especially recent investigations. Special papers are read by members of the class.
35 Debates on Public Questions. [Seniors.] 2 hrs.
Tuesday, 4.00 to 5.50.
Dr. Raynolds.
Members of the class will be expected to organize debates each week on subjects of public interest; to prepare and interchange briefs, and argue the questions at issue on the basis of special study and investigation.
36 Theories of Distribution. [Seniors.] 2 hrs.
Friday, 2.00 to 3.50.
Professor J. B. Clark.
A comparative study of theories of the Distribution of Wealth. An outline of recent theories of Wages, Interest and Profits is presented and is compared with the doctrines of Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Senior, Mill and Cairnes. A study is made of the relation of changes in the processes of industry and in the structure of society to Economics as a science; and a view is afforded of the natural relation of the deductive method of study to the historical method. It is an object of the course to accomplish a certain constructive work, and to utilize the results of comparative studies in determining positive laws of distribution.
38 United States Financial History. [Seniors.] 1 hr.
Wednesday, 12.30, E2 O.
Professor Schwab.
An investigation course in the financial history of the United States. The periods selected for study are the years 1873–1900; and the topics investigated are those connected with the silver agitation.
40 The Science of Society. [Seniors.] 2 hrs.
Monday and Thursday, 8.30, A1 O.
Professor Sumner.
An elementary course, with text-book lessons and examinations, in Anthropology and Ethnology, with the origin of civilization and the development of institutions. In connection with this will be a course of lectures on Systematic Sociology [Societology]. Topics are: The organization of society; the individual and the social; social forces; militarism and industrialism; property; marriage, family, and the status of women; primitive notions in religion and philosophy; civil government, law and rights; slavery and classes; economic interests and their collisions; conditions of welfare; origin of moral standards; reaction of reason on experience. These topics are treated exclusively in the light of Historical Anthropology and Ethnology.
41 The Science of Society. [Seniors.] 2 hrs., to count as 3 hrs.
Monday and Thursday, 8.30, A1 O.
Professor Sumner.
A course with a German text-book (Lippert’s Kulturgeschichte, 2 vols., Stuttgart, 1887), for those who are able to read difficult German. The exercises are coincident with those of course 40, including the lectures as above.
[Those who take this course are responsible for providing themselves with the text-book before Sept. 28.]
45 Jurisprudence and Law. [Seniors.] 2 hrs.
First term: Friday and Saturday, 12.30, A1 O.
Mr. Gager.
Lectures, recitations, private readings, and examinations on the following subjects: law in its relations to the origin, development, and government of political society; origin and development of customary law; relation of statute law to customary law; formation and development of codes of law; nature and origin of legal rights; principles of the law governing rights in land; principles of the law governing contract rights; the law of remedies for the violation of rights; origin and procedure of courts of law and equity; criminal law. The instruction in this course is designed to present an historical and philosophical view of the law in its great outlines, as common to all nations, and particularly as developed in the Anglo-Saxon race. In addition it is designed to show the practical methods which obtain in modern commercial transactions and the law as applied to them, and to point out the principal rights acquired, the duties owed, and the liabilities incurred in the every-day conduct of affairs.
To those exhibiting satisfactory evidence of having read the four books of Blackstone’s Commentaries in connection with this course, a special examination in Blackstone will be given. All who satisfactorily pass such special examination will be entitled to a certificate of having completed the reading of Blackstone.
Second term; Friday and Saturday, 12.30, A1 O.
Professor E. J. Phelps.
Lectures upon American Constitutional Law and upon International Law. Text-books are read in connection with the lectures. This course is not intended merely for those who are contemplating the study of the law as a profession, but for all who may be interested in the subjects as a branch of general education. Students who pursue the course and pass the graduating examination thereon, are entitled to a certificate which in many States is accepted as counting a year in the period of study required for admission to the bar.
* * * *
Catalogue Yale University 1899/1900, pp. 210-14
II. ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, HISTORY, LAW
[Graduate School]
| President Hadley, LL.D. | George P. Fisher, D.D., LL.D. |
| Edward J. Phelps, LL.D. | William H. Brewer, Ph.D. |
| Arthur M. Wheeler, LL.D. | William G. Sumner, LL.D. |
| Charles H. Smith, LL.D. | George B. Adams, Ph.D. |
| Henry W. Farnam, R. P. D. | John B. Clark, Ph.D., LL.D. |
| William F. Blackman, Ph.D. | Edward G. Bourne, Ph.D. |
| John C. Schwab, Ph.D. | Irving Fisher, Ph.D. |
| George L. Fox, M.A. | Edwin B. Gager, B.A. |
| Frederick Wells Williams, B.A. | Walter I. Lowe, Ph.D. |
| William B. Bailey, Ph.D. | Edward D. Collins, Ph.D. |
| John M. Gaines, B.A. | Albert G. Keller, Ph.D. |
ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
Professor Sumner :—
1 Anthropology. 2 hrs.
A careful study of Ranke’s Der Mensch (2d ed.), with an examination of the separate topics by means of all the appropriate material.
[Not given in 1899–1900.]
2 Systematic Societology; Section IV. a. 2 hrs.
An ethnological study of the development of the Mental Operations and of the growth and contents of the Mental Outfit of the human race, in the earlier stages; knowledge and pseudo-knowledge, world-philosophy, otherworldliness, industrial theories, mores, codes, mental training, traditional wisdom.
[Not given in 1899–1900.]
3 Politics and Finance in the History of the United States. 2 hrs.
A study of the evolution of the institutions of the democratic republic, of the societal organization, and of the history of the money of account.
[Not given in 1899–1900.]
4 The Industrial Revolution of the Renaissance Period. 2 hrs.
A chapter in the history of the development of the industrial organization. The industrial element in the Renaissance. The transition from medieval to modern society in its causes, new elements, effects on classes, effects on economic doctrine. Changes imposed on the industrial organization; world-commerce, land-tenure, handicrafts, banking, and money.
[Monday, 10.30 A.M. and Wednesday, 9.30 A. M.]
5 The Beginnings of the Industrial Organization. 2 hrs.
An ethnological study of the industrial organization from its earliest beginnings. Division of labor between the sexes and the special functions of each; regulation of industry; slavery; formation of capital; discoveries and inventions; domestication of animals and plants; money, etc.
[Wednesday and Thursday, 10.30 A.M.]
*6 The Science of Society. 2 hrs.
[See Course 40, page 68.]
*6a The Science of Society. 2 hrs.
[See Course 41, page 69.]
Professor J. B. Clark :—
7 History of Theories of Distribution.
A comparative study of theories of the Distribution of Wealth. An outline of recent theories of Wages, Interest and Profits is presented and is compared with the doctrines of Adam Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Senior, Mill and Cairnes. A study is made of the relation of changes in the processes of industry and in the structure of society to Economics as a science; and a view is afforded of the natural relation of the deductive method of study to the historical method. It is an object of the course to accomplish a certain constructive work, and to utilize the results of comparative studies in determining positive laws of distribution.
[Friday, 2.00 to 3.50.]
Professor Farnam:—
8 Pauperism. 2 hrs. 1st term.
An examination of the nature and causes of indigence, the history of efforts to deal with it, and some of the modern problems arising in connection with it.
[Not given in 1899–1900.]
9 The Modern Organization of Labor. 2 hrs. 2d term.
These lectures treat of the historical antecedents and the development during the nineteenth century of associations of wage-receivers. They therefore include an account of the structures, aims, and methods of such societies in different countries, together with a discussion of their relations to socialism, the factory system, labor disputes, labor legislation, workingmen’s insurance, provision for the unemployed, and other features of the modern industrial world.
[Not given in 1899–1900.]
10 The Principles of Public Finance. 2 hrs.
A systematic survey of the means by which the expenditures of government are met, being had both to the economic principles involved and to the fiscal systems of modern states. Leading topics are: the budget, taxation (national and local), public debts, and state banks considered as aids to public credit.
[Not given in 1899–1900.]
President Hadley and Professor Schwab :—
*11 Economics. 2 hrs.
[See Course 30, page 66.]
*12 United States Industrial History. 2 hrs.
[See Course 33, page 67.]
Professor Schwab :-
*13 Finance. 2 hrs.
[See Course 32, page 66.]
*14 United States Financial History. 1 hr.
[See Course 38, page 68.]
15 The Finances of the Confederate States, 1867-65. 1 hr.
A course of lectures upon the financial and industrial history of the South during the Civil War.
[Tuesday, 10.30 A.M.]
Professor Blackman :—
16 Social Science. 2 hrs.
A study of some important problems of American life, such as the negro; the immigrant; the defective, dependent, vicious and criminal classes (charities and correction); the city; the wage and factory system; the family; and communism, socialism, and anarchism. The lectures are supplemented by reports and book-reviews by the students, and (probably) by a visit to the charity and correctional institutions of New York. As introductory to the course, a few lectures are given on the study and literature of Sociology.
[Wednesday and Saturday, 8.25 A. M.]
17 The Literature of Sociology. 2 hrs. 1st term.
A classification of the principal writers in “schools,” and a comparison and contrast of their points of view and methods: contractual (Rousseau), positivist (Comte), evolutionary (Spencer, Drummond), biological (Schäffle), psychological (Tarde, Durkheim, Le Bon, Simmel, Ward, Giddings, Baldwin), “groupwise” (Gumplowicz), observational, and statistical (Le Play, Quetelet), theocratic (Old Testament).
[Thursday, 10 A. M.]
18 A Sociological Study of the Family. 1 hr. 2d term.
Its biological and psychological bases; its history; matriarchy and patriarchy; polyandry, polygyny, monogamy; heredity, physical and social; prostitution, and divorce; the moral and social significance of the family.
[Thursday, 10 A. M.]
19 The Social Teaching and Influence of Christianity. 1 hr.
Selected portions of the following works will be studied and discussed: Friedländer’s Sittengeschichte Roms, Sienkiewicz’s Quo Vadis, Mathews’s Social Teaching of Jesus, Schmidt’s Social Results of Early Christianity, Uhlhorn’s Conflict of Christianity with Heathenism and Die Christliche Liebesthätigkeit, Nash’s Genesis of the Social Conscience, Lecky’s History of European Morals, Dennis’s Christian Missions and Social Progress.
[Thursday, 8.25 A.M.]
Dr. Bailey :-
20 The Economic System of Classical Antiquity. 1 hr.
A critical study is made of the political and social institutions of Greece and Rome. The lectures treat of the income and expenditure of the state, the currency, credit instruments, poor relief, slavery, land tenure, commerce, trade regulations, marriage institutions, etc.
[Tuesday, 9.30 A.M.]
*21 Statistics. 2 hrs.
[See Course 31, page 66.]
Mr. Gaines :—
*22 Mathematical Economics. 2 hrs.
[See Course 34, page 67.]
Dr. Keller :—
23 Homeric Social Life.
A systematic study of Homeric social life from the direct documentary evidence of the Iliad and Odyssey; National Environment, Industrial Organization, Religion, Property, Marriage, Government and Classes will be studied in the light of Sociology and Culture-history. The comparative method will be used as far as possible, and an attempt will be made to “place” the Homeric Age in its various relations to general culture-development. The course will afford practice in the interpretation of historical documents and will be most profitably pursued by those able to read German or French.
Image Source: “Old Library, Yale Coll., New Haven, Conn.”The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Photography Collection, The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1898 – 1931.