1-38 of 38 related links

1919

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.

 

1920

Dean Donham proposes a "case system" of teaching

Dean Donham proposes a "case system" of teaching, based in part on his own law school training, and aimed at bringing business reality into the classroom.

 

1920

Donham calls for HBS buildings "adequate to house a school of 1000"

Donham calls for HBS buildings "adequate to house a school of 1000"

 

1920

Prof. Copeland produces first HBS casebook

With Dean Donham's strong encouragement, economist and HBS Professor Melvin T. Copeland produces the first HBS casebook: Marketing Problems.

 

1921

Dean Donham makes the case for an HBS campus

Donham argues that the lack of a campus makes it "peculiarly difficult to knit the men into a coordinated social unit."

 

1921

Donham argues that ACSB should focus on "method," rather than content, of business education

Donham argues that ACSB should focus on "method," rather than content, of business education

 

1921

Donham hires an architect to draw up plans for buildings

Donham hires an architect to draw up plans for buildings

 

1922

President Lowell approves Donham's plan to substitute loans for scholarships

President Lowell approves Donham's plan to substitute loans for scholarships, on theory that HBS students should pay for their education

 

1923

Donham approaches Bishop William Lawrence for fundraising help

Donham approaches Bishop William Lawrence for fundraising help

 

1923

Donham pleads for dorms to "leaven the lump and to emphasize the human side of our training"

Donham pleads for dorms to "leaven the lump and to emphasize the human side of our training"

 

1923

Donham writes that HBS's goal is to give students a "basis for sane thought and independent thought"

Donham writes that HBS's goal is to give students a "basis for sane thought and independent thought"

 

1923

Harvard Corporation approves Donham's plan for a combined HBS, Chemistry, and Fine Arts campaign

Harvard Corporation approves Dean Donham's plan for a combined HBS, Chemistry, and Fine Arts fundraising campaign, including $5 million to build an HBS campus in Allston.

 

1924

Donham seeks a campus that will "help the students to be something more than money-makers"

Donham seeks a campus that will "help the students to be something more than money-makers"

 

1926

Donham calls for efforts to "socialize the results of science"

Donham calls for efforts to "socialize the results of science"

 

1926

Elton Mayo joins the faculty

With Dean Donham's strong urging, Australian researcher Elton Mayo joins faculty; "Industrial Relations" research group is established with a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, and begins investigating the "human factor" in business.

 

1926

HBS loses 4 professors to industry and 1 to Stanford; Donham expresses concern about salaries and competitiveness

HBS loses 4 professors to industry and 1 to Stanford; Donham expresses concern about salaries and competitiveness

 

1927

Donham suffers a near-fatal heart attack in June

Donham suffers a near-fatal heart attack in June

 

1929

Donham writes that the role of HBS is "training for leadership," and launches research into business ethics

Donham writes that the role of HBS is "training for leadership," and launches research into business ethics

 

1931

Donham says that HBS stresses "in all its work the responsibility of business to the community as a whole"

Donham says that HBS stresses "in all its work the responsibility of business to the community as a whole"

 

1932

Dean Donham calls for a "new type of business executive

Donham calls for a "new type of business executive," who understands the "complex organism [of] civilzation"

 

1933

Arthur Dewing resigns under pressure from Donham

Popular finance professor Arthur Dewing resigns under pressure from Donham

 

1933

At Donhams' urging, faculty Committee on Instruction calls for a 3rd year of MBA program, leading to DCS degree

At Donhams' urging, faculty Committee on Instruction calls for a 3rd year of MBA program, leading to DCS degree

 

1934

Mission of HBS expands to include public as well as private administration

Donham proposes to expand mission of HBS to include public, as well as private, administration; faculty approves 7-course sequence

 

1937

Donham asserts that HBS's relative financial independence is "one of the School's greatest assets"

Donham asserts that HBS's relative financial independence is "one of the School's greatest assets"

 

1937

Donham writes that business must be taught by faculties in "close touch" with business, using cases drawn from "actual experience"

Donham writes that business must be taught by faculties in "close touch" with business, using cases drawn from "actual experience"

 

1938

Donham calls financial independence "one of the School's greatest assets"

Donham calls financial independence "one of the School's greatest assets"

 

1938

Donham calls for expansion of Morgan Hall, building of a gym, and expansion of Baker Library

Donham calls for expansion of Morgan Hall, building of a gym, and expansion of Baker Library

 

1938

Donham reports cash reserves of only $38,000

Donham reports cash reserves of only $38,000

 

1938

Donham terms Baker the "best business and economic library in the world"

Donham terms Baker the "best business and economic library in the world"

 

1939

Associate Dean Clinton P. Biddle dies unexpectedly, leaving Donham without an obvious successor

Associate Dean Clinton P. Biddle dies unexpectedly, leaving Donham without an obvious successor

 

1939

Donham and HBS faculty conclude that war is inevitable; negotiate with Army to relocate Army Industrial College to HBS

Donham and HBS faculty conclude that war is inevitable; negotiate with Army to relocate Army Industrial College to HBS

 

1939

In report to President, Donham discusses the "character of the School's research program"

In report to President, Donham discusses the "character of the School's research program," which combines theory and facts

 

1940

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"

 

1942

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.

 

1942

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"

 

1942

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"

 

1950

The Wallace Brett Donham Professorship of Human Relations is created by transfer of end-of-year surplus to endowment

The Wallace Brett Donham Professorship of Human Relations is created by transfer of end-of-year surplus to endowment