DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 180 



was also one of the promoters of the regular winter meeting of the State 

 Country Life Conference. These activities are mentioned as in no wise 

 exceptional from the performance of all heads of departments, but mere- 

 ly as illustrative of a field of duties— which though desirable nevertheless 

 detract from the time which teachers have for their regular business. 



DIVISION OF DEPARTMENT. 



The present report marks the end of a series of reports which was 

 commenced with the establishment of a department of History and Eco- 

 nomics in 1889. At the regular meeting of the State Board of Agriculture 

 in June, action was taken whereby a separation was made in this de- 

 partment and a new department of Political Science and History and 

 another of Economics were created. The well being of the group of sub- 

 jects which had formerly been classed together under the title of His- 

 tory and Economics was in no respect advanced through continuing this 

 association of well nigh thirty years. Economics, since 1889, has be- 

 come more and more emphatically a science, and in more recent years — 

 through the general interest w^hich has developed in marketing, account- 

 ing and organization, an applied science. History, in the meantime, has 

 undergone in the stirring events of the past two years an almost com- 

 plete shifting of importance. It must certainly be taught from a differ- 

 ent standpoint in the future than was formerly the case, and the inter- 

 ests of this subject and also of political science demand that they should 

 have the exclusive time of a specialized department head. The Board 

 upon this matter provided: 



"The President is authorized to arrange for the division of the 

 Department of History and Economics. The Department of Eco- 

 nomics to be established with Dr. W. O. Hedrick at its head, and 

 including within it Assistant Professor Dunford, and an addi- 

 tional instructor; the Department of History and Political Sci- 

 ence to be placed in charge of Prof. E. H. Ryder, assisted by Mrs. 

 Hendrick as instructor." 



and in harmony with this record the setting apart of Political Science 

 and History and Ec(^nomics has been finally accomplished to the entire 

 satisfaction of all concerned. 



The department has had faithful service from the members of its 

 teaching force during this year as in times past, and pleasure is taken 

 in acknowledging the efforts of Prof. Ryder, Mrs. Hendrick and Prof. 

 Dunford, as the regular employees, and also of Mr. Paul Miller and Miss 

 May Person, who were employed dnring a portion of the year. 



Respectfully submitted, 



WILBUR O. HEDRICK, 



Professor of Economics. 

 East Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1916. 



