Albion Woodbury Small

Lore & Background

Albion Woodbury Small was born in Buckfield, Maine, to Reverend Albion Keith Parris Small and Thankful Lincoln Woodbury. His ancestors settled in Maine in 1632. He attended public schools in Bangor and Portland, Maine, then graduated from Colby University (now Colby College) in 1876. He studied theology at Andover Newton Theological School from 1876 to 1879, and from 1879 to 1881 studied history, social economics, and politics at the University of Leipzig and the University of Berlin in Germany. While in Germany, he married Valeria von Massow in June 1881, with whom he had one child.

In fall 1881, Small became chair of history and political economy at Colby College. From 1888 to 1889 he studied history at Johns Hopkins University, earning a PhD with a thesis titled 'The Beginnings of American Nationality' while continuing to teach at Colby. From 1889 to 1892 he served as the 10th president of Colby. In 1892 he founded the first department of sociology at the University of Chicago, chairing it for over 30 years. In 1894, with George E. Vincent, he published the first sociology textbook, 'An Introduction to the Study of Society.' In 1895 he established the American Journal of Sociology. From 1905 to 1925 he served as Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Literature at the University of Chicago. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Xi chapter).

Reader's Guide

Albion Woodbury Small's significance lies in his pioneering efforts to institutionalize sociology as a legitimate academic discipline in the United States. By founding the first independent department of sociology at the University of Chicago in 1892, he created a formal home for the field within higher education. His co-authorship of the first sociology textbook in 1894 provided a foundational text for students and scholars. The establishment of the American Journal of Sociology in 1895 gave the discipline a dedicated platform for research and debate. As chair of the sociology department for over 30 years and later as Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Literature, Small shaped the early development of American sociology. His work helped move sociology from a peripheral interest to a recognized academic field, influencing generations of sociologists. His legacy includes not only these institutional firsts but also his role in defining the scope and methods of sociological inquiry during its formative years.

Did You Know?

• Albion Woodbury Small founded the first independent department of sociology in the United States at the University of Chicago in 1892.
• He co-authored the first sociology textbook, 'An Introduction to the Study of Society,' with George E. Vincent in 1894.
• He established the American Journal of Sociology in 1895, the first sociology journal in the United States.
• Small served as the 10th president of Colby College from 1889 to 1892 before moving to the University of Chicago.