From our pages
1911 The Magazine reported that a number of Chicago faculty had been sharing their knowledge outside the University. Divinity School professor Shailer Mathews published "Is the Belief in the Historicity of Jesus Indispensable to Christian Faith?" in the October American Journal of Theology. The November issue of Elementary School Teacher included "Pestalozzian Formalism-Degenerate Object-Teaching" by Dean of the College of Education S. Chester Parker. But the academy wasn't the only beneficiary of U of C expertise. The Chicago committee of the Drama League of America counted associate professor S. H. Clark among its membership, and the reading public benefited from English professor Robert Herrick and the publication of his novel The Healer.

1951 Professor of surgery J. Garrott Allen explained his recent research on treating irradiation sickness with blood transfusions. Hoping to discover whether frequent transfusions could prevent or control bleeding caused by irradiation sickness in the event of an atomic disaster, Allen found no evidence of such a benefit. He reported, in fact, that "there was some evidence to suggest the possibility that more harm than benefit resulted." Allen warned: "These results should serve as a note of caution, lest that which seems reasonable prove wrong. It should be clearly pointed out that the failure of blood to yield any improvement or prevention of latent irradiation sickness does not imply that blood and plasma will be unnecessary in fulfilling other critically important needs."

1976 In "Fear of Failing," Mark R. Horowitz, a doctoral candidate in British history, recounted the anxiety he experienced during the months of study for his oral exams. At one point Horowitz even lost his cat "for six hours-she was under a 'book bridge' comprised of the Oxford Histories of England"-and he and his wife's social life consisted of "brushing our teeth together." As the exams neared, Horowitz's
nervousness increased, and so did his waistline-he gained ten pounds. He passed, but not before having a nightmare of showing up to the exam in cutoffs, with the head of British history wearing a football jersey. On the actual exam day he wore a suit and tie.

1991 The University hosted an October conference examining the lessons of the Chicago Urban Poverty and Family Life Project. The Chicago Project, led by sociologist William Julius Wilson, sought to give voice to the poor, describing poverty as they experienced it. For example, one study conducted by social-sciences professor Richard Taub looked at why some racial or ethnic groups have an easier time than others gaining access to mainstream America. Sociology graduate student Kathryn Neckerman, AM'88, focused her study on why inner-city workers from blue-collar backgrounds may have difficulty adjusting to white-collar employment, with its "unfamiliar set of expectations, incentives, and opportunities."
-Q.J.

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