Department of Sociology

In 1890 Samuel G. Smith was hired to teach the first course in sociology at the University of Minnesota. The course as listed in the 1892/93 Catalogue of the College of Science, Literature and the Arts was "Principles, Elements and History of Sociology, with discussions of crime, pauperism, prison reform, etc." and was offered in Political Science. It was so popular that an article appeared in the 1893 Ariel, stating that "it is time that this course should be added to our curriculum. The science is growing in importance and is of especial interest to college students, since the men who are to deal wisely with the difficult questions of crime and poverty will be recruited from the ranks of college graduates".

The 1901/02 Bulletin of the College of Science, Literature and the Arts lists sociology as separate from politcal science for the first time. Three courses were offered, Elements of sociology, Social pathology and Social theory. In 1903 three additional courses were offered, Anthropology, Social groups and The study of institutions, all taught by Samuel Smith who had been promoted from lecturer to professor of sociology in 1901.

A request made by Samuel Smith to the Board of Regents in 1908 resulted in the creation of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, with Smith serving as chairman until 1914. In 1915 Albert E. Jenks was appointed chairman of the department, serving until 1919 when anthropology and sociology were split and Jenks was appointed chairman of the newly created Department of Anthropology.

Arthur J. Todd served as chairman of the Department of Sociology from 1919-1921 and Frank J. Bruno from 1921-1922. The collection however, spans the chairmanships of F. Stuart Chapin from 1923-1952 and Elio Monachesi from 1952-1970.

Francis Stuart Chapin was born on February 3, 1888 in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.A in 1909, M.A. in 1910 and a Ph.D. in 1911, all from Columbia University. He taught at Wellesley and Smith Colleges before coming to the University of Minnesota in 1923 as professor of sociology and chairman of the Sociology Department, as well as the Undergraduate Training Course for Social and Civic Work, established in 1917. On June 29, 1935, by action of the Board of Regents, the University established the Graduate Course in Social Work to supersede the Training Course. Professor Chapin was given the title Director of Graduate Course in Social Work which he assumed in addition to that of Chairman of the Sociology Department. Miss Gertrude Vaile was appointed Associate Director of the Graduate Course. On March 14, 1942, the designation Graduate Course in Social Work was changed to School of Social Work with no changes in internal status or administrative relationships with the College of Science, Literature and the Arts or the University. Professor Chapin's title then became Chairman, Department of Sociology and Director, School of Social Work. Miss Vaile served as associate director of the School of Social Work until 1946 when she retired and John C. Kidneigh assumed the post. In December, 1949, Professor Chapin resigned as director and John Kidneigh was appointed director, spearating the dual title. Professor Chapin continued to serve as chairman of the Sociology Department until September, 1951. He retired from the faculty on June 16, 1953. F. Stuart Chapin died on July 7, 1974 in Asheville, North Carolina.

Elio David Monachesi was born in Macerata, Italy on July 19, 1905. He received a B.A. in 1927 and M.A. in 1928, both from the University of Missouri, and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1931. He served in the Sociology Department as instructor from 1928-1932, assistant professor from 1934 to 1939, associate professor from 1939-1945 and full professor from 1945-1971. He was chairman of the department from September, 1951 to 1970. Elio Monachesi died on June 28, 1971 in Minneapolis.

From the guide to the Department of Sociology records, 1931, 1938-1958, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])