Richard M. “Mike” Elliott was chairman of the Department from 1919-1951 and many of Elliott’s activities are mentioned. Elliott received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1913 and also received a post-graduate degree from the University of Berlin. After serving as a captain in the Armed Forces during World War I, he taught at Harvard and Yale Universities, before coming to the University of Minnesota. From 1899-1919, Psychology was part of the Department of Philosophy and Psychology. In 1919, the two fields were split and organized into separate departments. Professor Elliott was named the first chairman of the new Department of Psychology.
During World War II the Department of Psychology participated in several programs to aid the war effort. Courses were developed specifically for military personnel including the Army Specialized Training Unit in Personnel Psychology and the Navy College Training Program. A program of occupational rehabilitation was also established to aid returning veterans. The University offered post-war guidance counseling for returning war workers and servicemen. The Department cooperated with Harvard University in studying the problems of civilian morale and the psychological effects that war has on the population. A series of seminars was conducted at the University that revealed the findings of their study.
From the guide to the Department of Psychology papers, 1924-1951, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])
