The first independent department of sociology in the United States was established at the University of Chicago in 1892 by Albion Woodbury Small. His career defined the structure of the discipline through the introduction of formal textbooks, the creation of academic journals, and long-term administrative leadership at major American educational institutions during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Early Education and Academic Origins
Born in Buckfield in 1854, Small spent his early years in Maine, attending schools in Bangor and Portland. He pursued higher education at Colby University, completing his degree in 1876. Following this, he spent three years at the Andover Newton Theological School before traveling to Germany. Between 1879 and 1881, he conducted research in social economics, politics, and history at the University of Leipzig and the University of Berlin. Upon his return to the United States, he began an association with Colby College, serving as chair of history and political economy. He later attended Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a PhD in 1889 with his thesis, The Beginnings of American Nationality. From 1889 to 1892, he served as the tenth president of Colby College.
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In 1892, Small moved to the University of Chicago to chair the inaugural department of sociology in the United States. He maintained this leadership position for over three decades. During his tenure, he prioritized the institutionalization of the field. In 1894, he collaborated with George E. Vincent to author the first sociology textbook, titled An Introduction to the Study of Society. The following year, he founded the American Journal of Sociology, providing a dedicated platform for peer-reviewed research in the nascent field. His administrative responsibilities expanded in 1905 when he became Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Literature, a post he held until 1925.
Research and Professional Contributions
Throughout his career, Small produced a significant body of written work exploring the social sciences. His publications include General Sociology, published in 1905, followed by Adam Smith and Modern Sociology in 1907 and The Cameralists in 1909. He continued to write on social theory and democratic structures in works such as The Meaning of the Social Sciences in 1910, Between Eras: From Capitalism to Democracy in 1913, and Origins of Sociology in 1921. Beyond his faculty roles, he held leadership positions within the broader academic community, notably serving as the President of the American Sociological Association from 1912 to 1913. Small remained active in the university system until his death in 1926 in Chicago, and he is buried at the Newton Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1854, Buckfield, United States
- Died: 1926, Chicago, United States
- Education: Colby College, Andover Newton Theological School, Johns Hopkins University
- Academic Appointments: Colby College, University of Chicago
- Professional Role: President of the American Sociological Association (1912-1913)
- Significant Publication: An Introduction to the Study of Society (1894)
- Notable Institution Founded: University of Chicago Department of Sociology (1892)
- Burial Site: Newton Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Albion Woodbury Small's primary contribution to sociology?
He established the first independent sociology department in the United States at the University of Chicago in 1892 and founded the American Journal of Sociology in 1895.
Where did Small serve as president?
He served as the tenth president of Colby College from 1889 to 1892.
Achievements
- Held posts at Colby College and University of Chicago
