Photo Gallery: 39 images

"George F. Baker Scholars" program is created to honor top students

"George F. Baker Scholars" program is created to honor top students

Assistant Secretary of War Louis Johnson addresses HBSAA

Assistant Secretary of War Louis Johnson addresses HBSAA; calls for vastly increased output of war materials

Charter of "250 Associates" is amended to permit corporate memberships

Charter of "250 Associates" is amended to permit corporate memberships

Donham asks faculty to approve a one-year "Bachelor of Commerce" degree, in anticipation of war-related enrollment declines; faculty votes "no"

Donham asks faculty to approve a one-year "Bachelor of Commerce" degree, in anticipation of war-related enrollment declines; faculty votes "no"

HBS announces two new defense-related courses

HBS announces two new defense-related courses: Industrial Mobilization, and Economic Problems of National Defense

Profiles of incoming MBA class include representatives of 7 "foreign countries: Alaska, Canada, China, Hawaii, India, Switzerland, and Venezuela"

Profiles of incoming MBA class include representatives of 7 "foreign countries: Alaska, Canada, China, Hawaii, India, Switzerland, and Venezuela"

Relocation of Army Industrial College to HBS falls through

Relocation of Army Industrial College to HBS falls through

Since 1921, HBS has educated 135 men for Army and 55 men for Navy at Soldiers Field in preparation for teaching at Army Industrial College

Since 1921, HBS has educated 135 men for Army and 55 men for Navy at Soldiers Field in preparation for teaching at Army Industrial College

Sumner Slichter is named first incumbent of Lamont University Professorship by President James Conant

Sumner Slichter is named first incumbent of Lamont University Professorship by President James Conant.

Drop in MBA enrollment is made up for by new Industrial Administrator enrollments

Drop in MBA enrollment--from 850 in fall of '40 to 501 in fall of '41--is made up for by new Industrial Administrator enrollments

Edmund Learned, George Lombard, and John Glover develop a new course -- "Management Controls" -- to bring together statistics and human relations concepts for Industrial Administrator program

Edmund Learned, George Lombard, and John Glover develop a new course -- "Management Controls" -- to bring together statistics and human relations concepts for Industrial Administrator program

Fatigue Lab is expanded to support war-related research

Fatigue Lab is expanded to support war-related research

HBS Club of London goes inactive due to war

HBS Club of London goes inactive due to war

Navy Supply School moves to HBS

Navy Supply School moves to HBS; Professors Robert Anthony, Sterling Livingston, and Charles Anderson enroll in first run to be able to teach if necessary

Professor Malcolm McNair contributes essay, "On the importance of being tough-minded," to student yearbook

Professor Malcolm McNair contributes essay, "On the importance of being tough-minded," to student yearbook

faculty approves a three-term, 12-month "Industrial Administrator" program

On March 19, faculty approves a three-term, 12-month "Industrial Administrator" program to train production supervisors

15% of HBS budget is covered by endowment income

15% of HBS budget is covered by endowment income

6 of the 20 tennis courts behind Morgan Hall are paved over for the construction of the Supply Corps' Cowie Mess Hall

6 of the 20 tennis courts behind Morgan Hall are paved over for the construction of the Supply Corps' Cowie Mess Hall

Army Statistical School begins operation

Army Air Forces ask HBS to plan and operate an Officers Candidate School for statistical officers under direct government contract; begins operating in June, and includes the first of 6,400 students whom HBS will train in 9 military programs during the war.

David organizes "Air Research Advisory Committee" in support of aviation research at HBS

David organizes "Air Research Advisory Committee" in support of aviation research at HBS

Dean Donham is succeeded by Dean David

Wallace B. Donham resigns deanship after 23 years; he is succeeded by former HBS faculty member and New York executive Donald K. David.

Disastrous Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire kills more than 450 in Boston, including several HBS students

Disastrous Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire kills more than 450 in Boston, including several HBS students

Donham proposes to faculty that HBS agree to offer a government-sponsored retraining program

In last initiative of his deanship, Donham proposes to faculty that HBS agree to offer a government-sponsored retraining program for a "group of older men [making] the conversion from peacetime to wartime employment"

Donham writes that the flexibility of the case method has allowed the "successful conversion of our curriculum to war conditions"

Donham writes that the flexibility of the case method has allowed the "successful conversion of our curriculum to war conditions"

Faculty votes guidelines for accepting research funding, emphasizing need for independence

Faculty votes guidelines for accepting research funding, emphasizing need for independence

HBS Clubs in Paris and Shanghai suspend operations

HBS Clubs in Paris and Shanghai suspend operations

Harvard University Trade Union Program is launched as 9-month

Harvard University Trade Union Program, under direction of Professor Sumner H. Slichter, is launched as 9-month program by HBS, the Littauer School, and Department of Economics

In December, faculty votes to discontinue 12 courses not related to war effort

In December, faculty votes to discontinue 12 courses not related to war effort

J. Anton de Haas travels to Bogota, Colombia, to assist in planning a college of business administration in that country

J. Anton de Haas travels to Bogota, Colombia, to assist in planning a college of business administration in that country

Melvin Copeland is named Director of Research

Melvin Copeland is named Director of Research

Neil Borden publishes The Economic Effects of Advertising

Neil Borden publishes The Economic Effects of Advertising

Paul Lawrence enrolls in MBA program in May

Paul Lawrence enrolls in MBA program in May

Professor Howard T. Lewis contributes essay, "The cost of loyalty," to student yearbook, saying that HBS alumni are a "force for good"

Professor Howard T. Lewis contributes essay, "The cost of loyalty," to student yearbook, saying that HBS alumni are a "force for good"

Army Supply Officers Training School is established in April

Army Supply Officers Training School is established in April

Economist J. Keith Butters is hired to help in public-financing research efforts

Economist J. Keith Butters is hired to help in public-financing research efforts

Edward Bursk is hired as managing editor of HBR, beginning 30-year career at HBS

Edward Bursk is hired as managing editor of HBR, beginning 30-year career at HBS

Elizabeth Abbott Burnham joins faculty as assistant professor

Elizabeth Abbott Burnham joins faculty as assistant professor

Faculty votes in January to suspend regular instruction at end of spring term

Faculty votes in January to suspend regular instruction at end of spring term

Faculty writes 600 cases for classroom instruction of milltary personnel

Faculty writes 600 cases for classroom instruction of milltary personnel

Frederick Golden Story VIDEO: RT: 05:57

Story regarding how he applied the analytical and report writing skills he learned in his Business Problem Analysis course throughout his World War Two military service, professional career in the clothing industry, and personal life. He explains how he utilized his deductive reasoning and problem diagnosis techniques in his work developing pantyhose production at the Warner Brothers Corset Company.

George Lombard's "Umpteenth Fighter Squadron" case is taught for the first time in the Stat School

George Lombard's "Umpteenth Fighter Squadron" case is taught for the first time in the Stat School

HBS works with School of Public Administration and Department of Economics to establish Trade Union Fellowships program

HBS works with School of Public Administration and Department of Economics to establish Trade Union Fellowships program

Harvard offers "Management Training Program" for women

Harvard offers "Management Training Program" for women; HBS provides faculty and teaching materials

Kirstein Professorship, honoring retailer Louis Kirstein, is established

Kirstein Professorship, honoring retailer Louis Kirstein, is established; Benjamin Selekman is named first incumbent (in 1945)

Navy Industrial Accounting course begins in October

Navy Industrial Accounting course begins in October

Navy Supply Corps Midshipmen-Officers School launched

In February, 180 Midshipmen report for first run of Navy Supply Corps Midshipmen-Officers School, a 12-month program to study management problems inherent in Navy supply operations

Richard Meriam presents report of Subcommittee on Objectives to faculty -- and faculty discusses report -- in total darkness due to citywide air-raid blackout

Richard Meriam presents report of Subcommittee on Objectives to faculty -- and faculty discusses report -- in total darkness due to citywide air-raid blackout

The first War Production Training class begins in February

The first "War Production Training" class, a wartime program aimed at making older managers useful to the war effort, enrolls in February; it later emerges as direct precursor to the Advanced Management Program for senior executives.

Army Air Forces War Adjustment Course begins in August

Army Air Forces War Adjustment Course begins in August

Faculty declines to offer a war-surplus disposal training program for civilians in federal government

Faculty declines to offer a war-surplus disposal training program for civilians in federal government

Faculty declines to offer a war-surplus disposal training program for civilians in federal government

Faculty declines to offer a war-surplus disposal training program for civilians in federal government

Faculty votes to continue training for experienced business executives postwar

Faculty votes to continue "training for experienced business executives" postwar

First study -- "Financial Position of the Aircraft Industry" -- emerges under aegis of the Air Research Advisory Committee

First study -- "Financial Position of the Aircraft Industry" -- emerges under aegis of the Air Research Advisory Committee

Navy War Adjustment Course -- for training officers in contract settlement -- begins in June

Navy War Adjustment Course -- for training officers in contract settlement -- begins in June

Advanced Management Program begins

A group of 60 executives and veterans enroll in the first run of the "Advanced Management Program," first run of wartime-originated program with no government support

Curriculum redesigned

The faculty rescinds all previous course authorizations, designs a new postwar curriculum, and votes to approve "Elements of Administration" curriculum in February; changes mainly restricted to first year

David calls for construction of classroom building and dining hall

David calls for construction of classroom building and dining hall

David cites case method's "power as a research technique"

David cites case method's "power as a research technique"

Edmund Learned is awarded Distinguished Service Medal by the Army Air Forces for his work with the Stat School

Edmund Learned is awarded Distinguished Service Medal by the Army Air Forces for his work with the Stat School

Faculty waives requirement of bachelor's degree for returning veterans

Faculty waives requirement of bachelor's degree for returning veterans

HBS takes over publishing of HBR from McGraw-Hill

HBS takes over publishing of HBR from McGraw-Hill

Keith Butters and John Lintner publish Effects of Federal Taxes on Growing Enterprises

Keith Butters and John Lintner publish Effects of Federal Taxes on Growing Enterprises

Library collection reaches 245,000 volumes

Library collection reaches 245,000 volumes

Returning veterans flood the school

The faculty votes to go into continuous session at least until June 1948 to accommodate a crush of returning veterans in MBA program.

School's budget of $1.6 million is roughly balanced, but depends on $450,000 in gifts; David calls for an HBS endowment of $15 million

School's budget of $1.6 million is roughly balanced, but depends on $450,000 in gifts; David calls for an HBS endowment of $15 million

Administrative Practices is first offered

Administrative Practices, integrating human-relations ideas, is first offered in MBA program

George P. Baker helps War Department plan for demoblization of aircraft industry

George P. Baker helps War Department plan for demoblization of aircraft industry

HBS "Medical Department" is formally organized to handle large numbers of students

HBS "Medical Department" is formally organized to handle large numbers of students

Harvey Bishop is named first full-time director of AMP

Harvey Bishop is named first full-time director of AMP

Lincoln Gordon serves as member of U.S. delegation to the U.N. Atomic Energy Commission

Lincoln Gordon serves as member of U.S. delegation to the U.N. Atomic Energy Commission

Radcliffe College offers "Management Training Program" for women

Radcliffe College offers "Management Training Program" for women

School operates at a deficit of $42,500, which Harvard covers (and which HBS repays in 1952)

School operates at a deficit of $42,500, which Harvard covers (and which HBS repays in 1952)

40% of graduating students go into manufacturing, 15% into marketing, 10% each into finance, accounting, and teaching, and 15% into "other"

40% of graduating students go into manufacturing, 15% into marketing, 10% each into finance, accounting, and teaching, and 15% into "other"

A "Mayo Weekend" celebrates the work of the retiring Elton Mayo

A "Mayo Weekend" celebrates the work of the retiring Elton Mayo; is attended by 60 scholars and practitioners interested in his work

A full-time Director of Alumni Relations is appointed

A full-time Director of Alumni Relations is appointed

Alumni population reaches 14,000

Alumni population reaches 14,000; club total reaches 35; first "Annual Regional Conference" is held in Washington, attended by 200

Andrew Towl takes charge of case distribution

Andrew Towl takes charge of case distribution

C. Roland Christensen joins faculty as research assistant to George Albert Smith

C. Roland Christensen joins faculty as research assistant to George Albert Smith

Clifford Kirtland Story VIDEO: 10 minutes

Story regarding his experience as a V-12er attending HBS during World War II, his career as an accountant and a venture capitalist, and his membership in and leadership of HBS clubs in Buffalo, New York, and Atlanta, Georgia.

Donald B. Korb Story VIDEO: 6.5 minutes

Story regarding his experience as a V-12er attending HBS during World War II (the Navy Supply Corps school). He also talks about how his two years of graduate school were divided by service on a Navy tanker in Okinawa.

Edward Bursk becomes editor of HBR

Edward Bursk becomes editor of HBR

Faculty collects 624 new cases, bringing total since 1920 to 18,908

Faculty collects 624 new cases, bringing total since 1920 to 18,908

Faculty votes in December to adopt Committee on Educational Policy's report calling for a "strong research program" at HBS

Faculty votes in December to adopt Committee on Educational Policy's report calling for a "strong research program" at HBS

Fatigue Lab closes

Fatigue Lab closes

First elective explicitly aimed at entrepreneurship is offered

"Management of Small Enterprises," the first elective explicitly aimed at entrepreneurship, is offered to second-year students by Professor Myles L. Mace.

From HBS Faculty to Student VIDEO: RT: 03:22

Interview clip with John Whitehead, MBA 1947, who relates how he became an HBS faculty member teaching in the Navy Supply Corps training program during World War II and how he befriended Prof. Sterling Livingston who persuaded him to go into business instead of teaching so after the Navy, he entered the MBA program.

Lincoln Gordon consults to the State Department on Marshall Plan

Lincoln Gordon consults to the State Department on Marshall Plan

Melvin Copeland and Andrew Towl publish The Board of Directors and Business Management

Melvin Copeland and Andrew Towl publish The Board of Directors and Business Management

Net paid circulation of HBR reaches 15,000

Net paid circulation of HBR reaches 15,000

Paul Lawrence gets MBA in February; signs on as research assistant to Cecil Fraser, then Franklin Folts, then Fritz Roethlisberger

Paul Lawrence gets MBA in February; signs on as research assistant to Cecil Fraser, then Franklin Folts, then Fritz Roethlisberger

R. Miller "Buck" Hicks Story VIDEO: beginning 11 minutes, second half 8.5 minutes, total time 19.5 minutes

Story regarding his experience attending HBS during World War II, the popularity of Professor De Haas such that a guard was posted at his classroom door, his varied career as an entrepreneur, and how business competition has expanded from domestic to international, creating an interdependence between countries that may prevent a future world war.

Tuition is raised to $800, creating need for new loan funds

Tuition is raised to $800, creating need for new loan funds

98% of students now finish two-year program (in contrast to 56% prewar)

98% of students now finish two-year program (in contrast to 56% prewar)

A "Faculty Committee on Alumni Relations Policy" is created

A "Faculty Committee on Alumni Relations Policy" is created

Applications soar

Postwar MBA application boom continues; 2,400 people apply for 600 seats

Committee on Educational Policy begins review of MBA and AMP

Committee on Educational Policy begins review of MBA and AMP

David asserts that "there is no such thing as the 'economic man'"

David asserts that "there is no such thing as the 'economic man'"

Dean David defines leadership

David defines leadership as including 1) competence, 2) making a business a "good society," and 3) contributing to the affairs of the community and the nation

Entering class in fall is first to have "concentration requirements"

Entering class in fall is first to have "concentration requirements"

For the first time since 1940, faculty has no summer teaching commitments

For the first time since 1940, faculty has no summer teaching commitments

HBR goes from quarterly to bimonthly schedule; circulation reaches 20,000

HBR goes from quarterly to bimonthly schedule; circulation reaches 20,000, and 1,200 individuals and companies order 100,000 reprints

HBS Club of Paris (suspended since 1942) resumes activities; Montreal club is established

HBS Club of Paris (suspended since 1942) resumes activities; Montreal club is established

HBS professors help University of Western Ontario establish "Management Training Course," modeled on AMP

HBS professors help University of Western Ontario establish "Management Training Course," modeled on AMP

Harvard Research Center in Entrepreneurship is established under direction of Joseph Schumpeter and HBS librarian Arthur Cole

Harvard Research Center in Entrepreneurship is established under direction of Joseph Schumpeter and HBS librarian Arthur Cole

Harvard authorizes HBS and Dean David to seek $20 million in new funds

Harvard authorizes HBS and Dean David to seek $20 million in new funds

Human Relations course is first taught

Human Relations course is first taught

John D. Rockefeller pledges $5 million toward new HBS buildings if another $5 million can be raised by July 1950

John D. Rockefeller pledges $5 million toward new HBS buildings if another $5 million can be raised by July 1950

John Lintner publishes Mutual Savings Banks in Savings and Mortgage Markets

John Lintner publishes Mutual Savings Banks in Savings and Mortgage Markets

Mervin Gray Story VIDEO: RT: 04:08

Story regarding his initial connection with HBS through the Navy, his return to the School after World War Two, and the lifelong benefits of his business education. During his Navy service, he was sent to HBS to enroll in the MBA program and the Navy Supply Corps training. After duty in the South Atlantic, he finished the second year of his MBA and put into practice many of the principles he learned at HBS at the accounting firm he started with his two brothers.

Renovation of six living halls begins at a cost of roughly $200,000 each

Renovation of six living halls begins at a cost of roughly $200,000 each

Trade Union Program is shortened to 13 weeks, and is run at same time as AMP to facilitate management-labor interactions

Trade Union Program is shortened to 13 weeks, and is run at same time as AMP to facilitate management-labor interactions

"Harvard Business School Fund," operated by alumni, is created to receive donations to HBS for unrestricted use

"Harvard Business School Fund," operated by alumni, is created to receive donations to HBS for unrestricted use

Faculty votes accept the Committee on Educational Policy's recommendations to continue AMP

Faculty votes in May to accept the Committee on Educational Policy's recommendations to continue AMP, and to "aid and encourage other universities" offering similar programs for "the experienced man"

HBSA is granted tax-exempt status as educational association

HBSA is granted tax-exempt status as educational association

John Glover and Ralph Hower publish The Administrator

John Glover and Ralph Hower publish The Administrator

Keith Butters and John Lintner publish Effects of Taxation on Inventory Accounting and Policies

Keith Butters and John Lintner publish Effects of Taxation on Inventory Accounting and Policies

Massachusetts passes "Fair Educational Practices Act," banning discrimination; HBS is already largely in compliance

Massachusetts passes "Fair Educational Practices Act," banning discrimination; HBS is already largely in compliance

Neil Crone is hired as "physician to the Graduate School of Business Administration" and assistant professor

Neil Crone is hired as "physician to the Graduate School of Business Administration" and assistant professor

Subcommittee on the MBA Program submits reports to full faculty

Subcommittee on the MBA Program submits reports to full faculty; review and debate begins

With Harvard's permission, David describes a "Twenty Million Dollar Program" to build School's endowment

With Harvard's permission, David describes a "Twenty Million Dollar Program" to build School's endowment

Jane Gibson Story

Story regarding her tenure at HBS as a staff member in the Typing-Secretarial Pool and as a secretary in the Accounting Department during the 1940s. After graduating from Boston University, she joined the HBS staff in 1942 and then became the secretary for Prof. Windsor Hosmer and Prof. Arthur Hanson of the Accounting Department. Her assignments included typing drafts of cases and proofreading them. During World War Two, Army and Navy officers received basic accounting training at the School, and she and her colleagues watched the soldiers marching to and from Soldier's Field. During lunch breaks, she learned to play bridge in the staff recreation room in Morgan Hall. In 1947, she married and moved to Rhode Island.

On Coming to HBS VIDEO: RT: 04:46

Interview clip with HBS faculty member Abraham Zaleznik who describes how he first came to HBS through the Navy, stayed for the MBA program, was intellectually transformed by the case method, was invited to be a research assistant, and started writing cases with Prof. Franklin Folts, which led to the realization of his authorial talents.