Mason, Max, 1877-1961

Max Mason served as President of the University of Chicago from 1925 to 1928. Not only was Mason the first president who had not been a founding member of the university faculty, he also came from outside the university, and had comparatively little administrative experience. By recruiting a young researcher from outside the university, the trustees sought new ideas, dedication to research, and strong relationships with students and the public.

Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, Mason had previously served on the mathematical physics faculty of the University of Wisconsin. During World War I, he headed a large research project that developed the "hydrophone," a submarine-detection device that was the basis for later sonar equipment during the war.

During Mason's tenure as president, the university began the second phase of a major development campaign that would result in new facilities for a number of science departments, a new Divinity School building, a new football stadium and many other major building projects. The size of the faculty also increased by nearly 20 percent during this time.

When Mason resigned in 1928 to accept a position at the Rockefeller Foundation, he concluded a relatively short term as president. Following Mason's resignation, the law scholar and administrator Frederic C. Woodward stepped in to serve as Acting President.