The Dark Stain on Harvard Crimson

A little over a century ago a dark stain was put on Harvard University which no amount of detergent or soap could ever fully erase.

In the spring of 1895, Mary Whiton Calkins an instructor in Greek from Wellesley College presented her thesis at Harvard, on 'An experimental research on the association of ideas'. At the examination, held May 28, 1895, before Professors Palmer, James, Royce, Munsterberg, Harris and Dr. Santayana, it was unanimously voted that "Miss Calkins satisfied all customary requirements for the degree". In Harvard's records this communication was noted, but not considered.  Harvard refused to grant her the degree, and there ensued some bitter letters to the Regents and Trustees of the Harvard Corporation from Royce, James and Munsterberg. Royce who was teaching a course at Radcliff and some of the others asked the authorities at Radcliff to grant her a degree and they agreed.  But Mary refused because she had attended Lectures and Seminars at Harvard, and thus deserved a degree from Harvard.  Can anyone blame her for that attitude? No! and neither could any of her committee. 

Mary returned to Wellesley where she continued to teach Psychology, Philosophy, Greek and other subjects. In 1905, Calkins was elected president of the American Psychological Association and the president of the American Philosophical Association in 1918. Her achievements brought her a number of honors in addition to these presidencies. In a 1908 list of leading psychologists in the United States, Calkins was ranked twelfth of the list. Columbia University bestowed a Doctor of Letters degree on her in 1909 and Smith College a Doctor of Laws degree in 1910. Both Columbia and Smith also offered her positions on their faculty which she declined, partly because of the responsibility she felt to remain with and look after the welfare of her parents.  Mary was the only person to hold the position of president of both these APAs (American Philosophical Association and American Psychological Association).

Today, Harvard has made great strides in erasing that stain on its reputation that never  will be fully erased, but it has considerably faded by electing Drew Gilpin Faust as its 28th president and first female President. 

Dr. Santayana from Mary's committee was that philosopher who said "those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it".  Thank God he was in part wrong. 

Something else is greatly appreciated in Drew Gilpin Faust's election is that the President of Harvard will come from the Liberal Arts something for which Harvard used to be famous.  Good-bye to Business School supremacy.  It is long past time that the Premier University in this country grant the Liberal Arts its due position in the University.

Women have come a long way on a long, too long, journey, and it is now time they get exactly what they deserve for who they are, what they as individuals accomplish and not any other reason.