The Cavalier daily :: Wednesday, November 1, 1967 :: University of Virginia Library

In 1816 Thomas Jefferson wrote
to his friend Joseph C. Cabell
that "there is no branch of science
of which our countrymen seem so
ignorant as political economy."

It was less than a decade later
that Jefferson, with Cabell's aid,
established the University at Charlottesville.
Not surprisingly one of
the eight original professorships of
the new University was to deal with
"the principles of government and
political economy."

The evolution of the University's
Department of Economics from the
point of view of the men who led
the department and shaped its
development is the subject of a new
book by Tipton R. Snavely entitled
"The Department of
Economics at the University of
Virginia, 1825-1956." It is published
by the University Press of
Virginia.

This study of men, their ideas
and philosophies and their effect
on an institution begins with
George Tucker, the man appointed
by Jefferson to guide the study of
political economy. Mr. Tucker's
wide interests ranged from novel
writing to philosophy and history.
He was succeeded in 1845 by William
Holmes McGuffey-of McGuffey
Reader fame-who in turn
was followed by outstanding men
including Noah K. Davis, Richard
Heath Dabney, Thomas Walker
Page, and others who directed
work in economics at the University.

Mr. Snavely is professor
emeritus of the department and in
1964 published a widely acclaimed
study of "George Tucker as Political
Economist." He is the only
remaining member of the faculty
of economics who served the department
between the two world
wars and knows first hand the
personalties and development of
the department.

The study ends when Mr.
Snavely left the post of chairman
of the department in 1956.

His approach is a frank one.
Not only does he tell of development
and growth, but he also
comments on times of trouble such
as the depression and war years.