Photo Gallery: 12 images

"May Prizes," recognizing top two theses, are funded and awarded

"May Prizes," recognizing top two theses, are funded and awarded

57 business practitioners make presentations in various HBS courses

57 business practitioners make presentations in various HBS courses

Boston's Society of Printers gives $7,000 to support a course in printing techniques

Boston's Society of Printers gives $7,000 to support a course in printing techniques

Corporation votes to establish an HBS "Administrative Board"

Corporation votes to establish an HBS "Administrative Board"

Courses offered in Economic Resources of Eastern Asia and Australasia and Foreign Exchange

Courses offered in Economic Resources of Eastern Asia and Australasia (1908-09) and Foreign Exchange (1908-13)

First MBA degress awarded

Eight students receive first "MBA" degrees awarded by Harvard. The MBA is the first degree conferred in English, rather than Latin.

Gay calls research "at once the opportunity and the duty of a graduate school such as ours."

Gay calls research "at once the opportunity and the duty of a graduate school such as ours."

HBS's "Dept. of Public Business" is transferred to Harvard's new "Dept. of Government"

HBS's "Dept. of Public Business" is transferred to Harvard's new "Dept. of Government"

Paul Cherington does research in Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala

Paul Cherington does research in Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala

Payson Treat, visiting from Stanford, offers "Economic Resources of Eastern Asia and Australasia"

Payson Treat, visiting from Stanford, offers "Economic Resources of Eastern Asia and Australasia"

Printing industry advisory committee established

Printing industry advisory committee established

Room in Lawrence Hall refurbished and set aside for an HBS library

Room in Lawrence Hall refurbished and set aside for an HBS library

Selden O. Martin embarks on 26,000-mile South American research trip

Selden O. Martin embarks on 26,000-mile South American research trip

Student loan fund created

Four donors contribute $850 to create a student loan fund

AT&T places an informal "standing order" for all available HBS graduates

AT&T places an informal "standing order" for all available HBS graduates

Arch Shaw donates funds for "Bureau of Business Research" (BBR)

Arch Shaw donates funds for "Bureau of Business Research" (BBR)

First MBA degrees awarded

8 receive MBAs, including one (John F. Spence) "with distinction"

Gay's proposal for a $1 million endowment drive is turned down by President Lowell as impractical

Gay's proposal for a $1 million endowment drive is turned down by President Lowell as impractical

HBS permanently established

Harvard's President Lowell, in his annual report to the University's governing boards, writes that HBS has "proved its value" and deserves to be made permanent.

1st-years have grown from 33 in '08 to 77 in '13, but only 11 2nd-years enroll in fall of 1912

1st-years have grown from 33 in '08 to 77 in '13, but only 11 2nd-years enroll in fall of 1912

Arch Shaw teaches the first course using the "problem method"

Arch Shaw teaches the first run of Business Policy (half-year course); uses novel "problem method"; 70% of eligible students register

Business Statistics is taught for first time

Business Statistics is taught for first time; later becomes focus of student discontent for being overly functional

Edmund C. Converse funds HBS's first endowed chair

Edmund C. Converse funds HBS's first endowed chair

Straus family creates scholarship in Isidor Straus's name

Straus family creates scholarship in Isidor Straus's name

2nd-year population jumps from 11 to 32

2nd-year population jumps from 11 to 32

BBR issues first bulletin

Bureau of Business Research (BBR) issues first bulletin (on shoe retailing); defines a uniform system of accounting; more than 10,000 copies distributed

Business Policy extended to full-year course

Business Policy extended to full-year course

By Corporation vote, scholarships abolished in favor of loans

By Corporation vote, scholarships abolished in favor of loans (03.10.13; $1,425 loaned out to students)

HBS becomes a permanant, independent entity within Harvard

Harvard Corporation extends HBS's authorization indefinitely, and the School gains administrative autonomy from the Department of Economics.

HBS runs a $15,000/year annual deficit; must be made up by gifts

HBS runs a $15,000/year annual deficit; must be made up by gifts

More than 600 shoe stores cooperate with BBR's five field agents

More than 600 shoe stores cooperate with BBR's five field agents

BBR begins study of marketing of groceries

BBR begins study of marketing of groceries

Commercial Organization course is split into Marketing and Foreign Trade

Commercial Organization course is split into Marketing and Foreign Trade

First year students receive instruction in English composition

For the first time, all 1st-years receive instruction in English composition.

HBS Alumni Association is organized

HBS Alumni Association (HBSAA) is organized. In one of its first formal activities, it polls graduates as to the value of an HBS education, and gets generally positive responses.

Scientific management is dropped from the curriculum; a functionally oriented "Marketing" course is taught for the first time

Scientific management is dropped from the curriculum; a functionally oriented "Marketing" course is taught for the first time

James J. Hill Professorship established by Hill's friends

James J. Hill Professorship established by Hill's friends; Hill doubles the endowment to support "general purposes of the School"

Visiting Committee notes that "best students" are not returning for second year

Visiting Committee notes that "best students" are not returning for second year

A "Committee on Military Preparedness" is created; recommends that HBS develop a commissary course

A "Committee on Military Preparedness" is created; recommends that HBS develop a commissary course

First alumni gatherings in New York and Boston; they later evolve into first HBS clubs

First alumni gatherings in New York and Boston; they later evolve into first HBS clubs

Gay and 3 faculty colleagues offer Social Factors in Business Enterprise course

Gay and 3 faculty colleagues offer Social Factors in Business Enterprise course

HBSAA publishes first alumni directory

HBSAA publishes first alumni directory, containing 392 names

Endowment of $450,000 generates income of $20,492

Endowment of $450,000 generates income of $20,492: substantially less than tuition income of $34,705

Enrollment plummets due to WWI

Due to U.S. entry into World War I, the 1st-year student population plummets from 133 in 1916 to 38 in 1917.

HBS offers six-week summer courses in Military Stores Keeping and Cost Inspection for War Contracts

At request of government, HBS offers six-week summer courses in Military Stores Keeping and Cost Inspection for War Contracts

HBSAA polls alumni to determine skills and war-service availability

HBSAA polls alumni to determine skills and war-service availability

Large numbers of students and faculty depart for military service

Large numbers of HBS students leave school in May for military service; faculty (including Dean Gay) depart throughout the year

Lincoln Schaub named acting dean to replace Gay

Lincoln Schaub named acting dean to replace Gay; cuts expenses by more than 20% (from $76,000 to $60,000)

Faculty committee recommends a one-year, functionally oriented program; not implemented

Faculty committee recommends a one-year, functionally oriented program to create "trained specialists"; not implemented

Gay proposes to suspend HBS operations; Lowell says "no"

Gay proposes to suspend HBS operations; Lowell says "no"

Six Radcliffe women petition to take HBS courses related to war effort; faculty votes "no"

Six Radcliffe women petition to take HBS courses related to war effort; faculty votes "no"

Byron Roorbach joins faculty as Professor of Foreign Trade

Byron Roorbach joins faculty as Professor of Foreign Trade; remains on faculty until 1934

Graduating class has four members

Graduating class has four members

HBS records a deficit of $4,000

HBS records a deficit of $4,000 for 1918-19 school year; closed by fundraising in Boston and New York

Radcliffe graduate Elizabeth W. Wilson petitions to study life insurance at HBS; faculty votes "no"

Radcliffe graduate Elizabeth W. Wilson petitions to study life insurance at HBS; faculty votes "no"

Sections introduced

A huge 1st-year postwar enrollment (307) necessitates the introduction of sections in required courses.

Total fall enrollment soars to 412

Total fall enrollment soars to 412: almost twice the previous high (in the fall of 1916)

Wallace B. Donham becomes second dean of HBS

Wallace B. Donham, a Harvard-trained lawyer and banker, and a protege of President Lowell, is named HBS's 2nd dean.