The Peripatetic Economist

Abstract

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in June 1902, Young visited his family in Plankinton, South Dakota. In the latter part of the summer he went to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to work with Professor Willcox on some census matters. He was also seeking a position in a college or a university for the 1902–03 academic year. Willcox recommended him for jobs at the University of California and Dartmouth College.¹ California wanted a man to teach insurance, banking and accounting, while Dartmouth was looking for someone to teach statistics and commercial geography.² In his letter of recommendation to the University of California department chairman, Willcox wrote:

He has perhaps more genius for statistical work and more training and insight in mathematical statistics than any graduate student I got from other universities. He is a good all-round man also and I think has a very promising future. The doubt in my mind about him was regarding his success as a teacher. He has an excellent presence and manner, but a slight hesitancy in utterance, which I thought might prove a hindrance, but Ely whom I saw in Washington spoke very cordially of his success as a teacher and this resolved my main doubt.³

This is the first reference to Young’s hesitancy, or periods of silence, during his lectures while he thought through what he wanted to say next.