 | The University of Virginia record March 15, 1930 |  |
Officers of Administration
EDWIN ANDERSON ALDERMAN, Ph.B., D.C.L., LL.D.
President of the University
WILSON GEE, M.A., Ph.D.
Director of the Institute
HELEN LOVE HARRELL, B.S.
Executive Secretary
| EDWIN ANDERSON ALDERMAN, Ph.B., D.C.L., LL.D. | President of the University |
| JOHN LLOYD NEWCOMB, B.A., C.E. | Assistant to the President |
| ARMISTEAD MASON DOBIE, M.A., LL.B., S.J.D. | Professor of Law |
| WILSON GEE, M.A., Ph.D. | Professor of Rural Economics and Rural Sociology |
| TIPTON RAY SNAVELY, M.A., Ph.D. | Professor of Economics |
| FLOYD NELSON HOUSE, M.A., Ph.D. | Professor of Sociology |
| FRANK ARTHUR GELDARD, M.A., Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Psychology |
| LESTER JESSE CAPPON, M.A., Ph.D. | Research Associate in History |
| ROLAND CLARK DAVIS, B.A. | Research Assistant in Psychology |
| FRANK TRAVER DE VYVER, M.A. | Research Assistant in Labor Problems |
| HUGH NELSON FULLER, B.A., LL.B. | Associate Research Professor of Criminal Procedure |
| DELBERT MARTIN MANN, B.A., M.A. | Research Associate in Sociology |
| TAYLOR MUSSER, M.A., Ph.D. | Research Associate in Finance |
| WILLIAM HAMLIN WANDEL, B.S. | Research Assistant in Insurance |
Establishment.—The announcement was made by President Alderman
to the Rector and the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia during
the commencement exercises in June, 1926, that the Laura Spelman Rockefeller
Memorial had made a grant of $137,500 to the University for research in the
field of the social sciences; economics, government, sociology, history, psychology,
philosophy and related subjects. The grant extends over a five-year period,
$27,500 becoming available each of the years from July 1, 1926, through June
30, 1931.
The work under the provisions of the grant has been organized as an
Institute for Research in the Social Sciences. The President of the University,
the Assistant to the President, the members of the University faculty of professorial
Philosophy, Psychology, Rural Social Economics, and Sociology, and the employed
personnel constitute the membership of the Institute.
As outlined in the resolutions which were adopted by the Institute, "the
duty of this Institute shall be to promote research effort, both individual and
group, in the Social Sciences at the University of Virginia—at the outset
primarily in the field of Virginia problems. It shall further be the function
of the Institute to consider any matter that concerns the development of the
Social Sciences in the University of Virginia, making recommendations thereon
to the President of the University."
Social Science Building.—The Institute is housed in one of the original
Jefferson buildings of the University formerly known as the Old Medical Building.
The interior of the structure has been thoroughly repaired and put in
excellent condition for the activities of the Institute. Provision is made for
office space and equipment for the research workers, and also a general office
has been set up where supplies and secretarial assistance are provided.
Scope of Research Effort.—The grant to the University of Virginia is
being utilized at the outset primarily for research into a number of vital
economic and social problems in the life of the State. It has chosen this field
for two reasons. First, because Virginia is in a changing period in its history,
and needs full light on its problems to direct as wisely as possible the current
of transition. And secondly, the University of Virginia realizes that it is a
State University and desires to relate itself more and more intimately with
the people and the life of the State in general, feeling that such a relationship
will be mutually beneficial. However, the work of the Institute in its
full development will not be limited to the field of Virginia problems but large
provision will be made for scholarly research in the broader phases of social
science research without respect to geographical boundaries.
The research in the Institute is carried on as the professor's own research
project assisted by well-trained research workers. The plan is to limit the number
of problems to be studied, and to do these thoroughly, and in a way that
will make the investigations of an immediate or ultimate usefulness in the life
of the State, as well as constituting contributions to the broader field of social
science research. A definite portion of the grant is being allotted for the publication
of the studies when completed.
| The University of Virginia record March 15, 1930 | |