University of Virginia Library

Officers of Administration

JOHN LLOYD NEWCOMB, B.A., C.E.

Acting President of the University

WILSON GEE, M.A., Ph.D.

Director of the Institute

Executive Council

               

JOHN LLOYD NEWCOMB, B.A., C.E.	Acting President of the University
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
GEORGE WASHINGTON SPICER, M.A., Ph.D.	Associate Professor of Political Science
THOMAS PERKINS ABERNETHY, Ph.D.	Associate Professor of History

Research Staff

           

LESTER JESSE CAPPON, M.A., Ph.D.	Research Associate in History
ROWLAND ANDREWS EGGER, M.A., Ph.D.	Head, Bureau of Public Administration
JOHN EDWIN HAMM, B.S.	Research Assistant in Labor Problems
EDWARD ALLISON TERRY, M.S.	Research Associate in Rural Social Economics
WILLIAM HAMLIN WANDEL, M.S.	Research Associate in Economic Theory
DOROTHY HAVENS WHEELER, M.A.	Research Assistant in Sociology

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, jurisprudence and related subjects. The grant extended
over a five-year period, $27,500 becoming available each of the years from
July 1, 1926, through June 30, 1931. At the close of the first five-year
period the grant was renewed by the Rockefeller Foundation for another
five years, contingent upon an increasing support pledged by the University
from its budget.

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 members of the University faculty of professional rank in the
schools of History, Economics, Government, Jurisprudence, 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 repaired and put in 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 has
been utilized 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
has not been limited to the field of Virginia problems but provision has
been made in a number of cases 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 has been
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 allotted for the publication of the studies when completed.

A List of Research Projects Undertaken by the Institute for Research in
the Social Sciences at the University of Virginia: 1926-1932.