CAREERS OF DOCTOR'S DEGREE HOLDERS SHOW DIVERSITY AND BREADTH

A discussion of the history and development of the Doctor's Degree issued by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the University is the most prominent feature of Dean G. H. Chase '96's, report on that School for the past year. A list of the Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of Science who received degrees at Harvard from 1873 to the present time is at present being published by the Harvard University Press. Dean Chase points out the predominance of teachers among the holders of these degrees. The report in part follows:

"That the Doctor's degree is largely a teacher's degree stands out clearly. More than three quarters of those whose names are here listed are or have been teachers, almost all of them in universities or colleges. Next in number come men engaged in research apart from teaching, but it is noteworthy that the list includes 18 clergymen, 15 presidents of universities or colleges, 14 men engaged in editorial work, seven librarians, six physicians, four men in diplomatic or consular service, two members of Congress, two United States Senators, and a Prime Minister of Canada. There are also several high officials of important business organizations. It may fairly be inferred that the training for the Doctor's degree is not so narrowing as its critics have sometimes maintained. Or will these critics argue that these men reached the positions which they attained in spite of their degrees.

Distribution is Wide.

"The wide geographical distribution of the holders of the Doctor's degree is also noteworthy. Nearly every state in the Union and province of Canada is represented, as well as a dozen countries of Europe, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Hawaii, the Philippine Islands, the Canal Zone, Egypt, South Africa, India, China, and New Zealand. Through such a wide distribution of its Doctors Harvard University exercises a powerful influence over methods of instruction and research and the training of these men is surely one of the most important services performed by the University.....

"During the year the list of Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of Science who have received their degrees in course since 1873 has been revised and brought up to date. It will be published by the Harvard University Press before the end of the present calendar year. Like the two earlier editions of the list, issued in 1910 and 1916 respectively, this edition gives under each name the title of the Doctor's thesis, the date and places of publication when the thesis has been published in whole or in part, and the present occupation of official position of the author. When the man is no longer living his last official position and the year of his death are given and sometimes additional facts in regard to his career.

"A study of the information thus brought together brings out a number of interesting facts. The number of degrees has shown a steady increase: between 1873 and 1909, 608 degrees were conferred: between 1909 and 1916, 355: between 1916 and 1926, although the number naturally declined during the war years, 543. These figures undoubtedly reflect a growing appreciation of the importance of training in research in all the many fields of knowledge".