Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954

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Howard Washington Odum was a sociologist of the American South; author; professor at the University of North Carolina from 1920 to 1954; and founder of the Sociology Department, the School of Public Welfare, the Department of City and Carolina.

From the description of Howard Washington Odum papers, 1908-1982. WorldCat record id: 27192779

Howard Washington Odum, sociologist, author, and educator, was born 24 May 1884, in Bethlehem, Georgia, and died 8 November 1954, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He received an undergraduate degree from Emory College (1904) and doctorates in psychology (Clark University, 1909) and in sociology (Columbia University, 1910); taught at the University of Georgia (1912-1919), and at Emory University (1919-1920; dean of the School of Liberal Arts); and was Kenan Professor of Sociology at University of North Carolina (1920-1954) where he established the JOURNAL OF SOCIAL FORCES (1922) and founded the Institute for Research in Social Services (director, 1924-1944). His areas of interest were African-American folk literature and music, race relations, rural studies, the South, and adult education. He authored many books and articles, in addition to three novels (1928-1931).

From the description of Howard Washington Odum papers, 1929-1936. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 173863099

Howard Washington Odum was born in 1884, on a small farm near Bethlehem, Georgia, the son of William Pleasants and Mary Ann Odum.

In 1900, Odum began his studies at Emory College, and graduated four years later. Odum then moved to Mississippi, where he taught school and attended the University of Mississippi at Oxford. He also earned a master's degree in the classics at Mississippi.

After Odum received a Ph.D. degree in psychology from Clark University, he entered Columbia University. Under the direction of Franklin Henry Giddings, Odum completed the requirements for his second doctoral degree, this one in sociology. In 1910, his dissertation, Social and Mental Traits of the Negro, was published in part by Columbia.

Odum then worked at the Philadelphia Bureau of Municipal Research as a research expert, and later as a professor at the University of Georgia. He returned to Emory in 1919 as the dean of liberal arts.

In 1920, Odum arrived in Chapel Hill, N.C., to direct the School of Public Welfare and Department of Sociology. A few years after his arrival, Odum established the Institute for Research in Social Science, and founded the journal Social Forces . While at the University of North Carolina, he began to demonstrate the variety of talents and great energy that his peers found remarkable. Odum toiled constantly to improve race relations, the quality of education, and living conditions in the South.

During the 1920s and through the Great Depression, Odum authored three novels, served as Assistant Director of Research for President Herbert Hoover's Research Committee on Social Trends, and chaired the North Carolina Emergency Relief Administration. In addition, Odum was president of the American Sociological Society, chief of the Social Science Division of A Century of Progress at the Chicago World's Fair, and head of the North Carolina Commission for Interracial Cooperation.

In 1944, Odum was one of the five founding members of the Southern Regional Council. He also became president of the North Carolina Jersey Cattlemen's Association during World War II. Along with Odum's skill as organizer and social reformer, he was a prolific writer. From 1909 until his death in 1954, he wrote more than twenty books and 200 articles reflecting his concern for race relations, education, the social sciences, and regionalism.

Odum received at least three honorary degrees; the College of the Ozarks, Harvard University, and his alma mater in Georgia bestowed honors on him. He also received the O. Max Gardner Award from the University of North Carolina.

In 1909, Odum met Anna Louise Kranz. They were later married and had three children: Mary Frances, Howard Thomas, and Eugene Pleasants. Odum died 8 November 1954.

From the guide to the Howard Washington Odum Papers, 1908-1982, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954. Howard Washington Odum papers, 1908-1982. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Institute for Research in Social Science. Records of the Institute for Research in Social Science, 1924-1987 (bulk 1924-1969) [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial. Archives. 1918-1930. Rockefeller Archive Center
referencedIn Johnson, Gerald W. (Gerald White), 1890-1980. Gerald White Johnson Papers, 1886-1989 Wake Forest University - ZSR Library, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
referencedIn Kester, Howard, 1904-1977. Howard Kester papers, 1923-1972. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Leroy F. Jackson Papers The Huntington Library
referencedIn George, W. C. (Wesley Critz), 1888-1982. W.C. George papers, 1904-1971 (bulk 1950-1968). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Cowper, Mary Octavine Thompson, 1881-1968. Mary Octavine (Thompson) Cowper Papers, 1895-1969, bulk 1938-1969. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954. Letters, 1937-1947, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Parker, William C. (William Covington). William C. Parker papers, 1947-1949 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Smith, Lillian Eugenia, 1897-1966. Papers, 1915-1972, bulk 1935-1966. University of Florida
referencedIn Ames, Jessie Daniel, 1883-1972. Jessie Daniel Ames papers, 1866-1972. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Green, Paul, 1894-1981. Paul Green papers, 1880-1985. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Dillard, Avarene Lippincott. Papers of the Dillard family, 1717-1964. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Douty, Kenneth. Kenneth Douty Collection. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
referencedIn University of North Carolina Press. Records of the University of North Carolina Press, 1922-1997 (bulk 1930-1970) [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Harris, Corra, 1869-1935. Corra Harris correspondence, 1905-1935. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Vance, Rupert Bayless, 1899-1975. Rupert Bayless Vance papers, 1926-1975 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Bernard, L. L. (Luther Lee), 1881-1951. Luther Bernard collection, 1854-1961. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Kester, Howard A., 1904-1977. Papers, 1923-1978. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Rubin, Louis Decimus, 1923-. Louis Decimus Rubin papers, 1945- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Weatherford, Willis D. (Willis Duke), 1875-1970. Willis D. Weatherford papers, 1911-1969. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Carter, Thomas H. (Thomas Henry), 1931-1963. Correspondence, 1950-1962. Washington & Lee University, James G. Leyburn Library
referencedIn Hancock, Gordon Blaine, 1884-1970. Papers, 1928-1970. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Image Collection, 1799-1999 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives.
creatorOf Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. Letters of tribute to Carl Sandburg [manuscript], 1951-1952. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954. Howard Washington Odum papers, 1929-1936. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
referencedIn Canfield, Harry L. (Harry Lee), 1860-1942. Harry L. Canfield papers, 1921-1942 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Samuel Chiles Mitchell Papers (#1003), 1861-1948 and undated University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Kluger, Richard. Brown vs. Board of Education collection, 1950-1975 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Read Bain papers, 1893-1972 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Bernd, Aaron, 1894-1937. Aaron Bernd papers, 1919-1937. Emory University. Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Council on Southern Regional Development. Letter, 1938, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Hamilton, C. Horace (Charles Horace), 1901-1977. C. Horace Hamilton papers, 1920s-1970s [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Oswald Garrison Villard papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Howard W. Odum. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf House, Floyd Nelson, 1893-1975. Papers of Floyd Nelson House [manuscript], 1919-1974. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Commission on Interracial Cooperation. Commission on Interracial Cooperation administrative records, 1918-1944. Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library
referencedIn Raper, Arthur Franklin, 1899- . Interview, 1971. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Kluger, Richard. Brown vs. Board of Education collection, 1950-1975 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Herring, Harriet L. (Harriet Laura). Harriet L. Herring papers, 1925-1968 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Howard Washington Odum Papers, 1908-1982 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Odum, Howard Washington, 1884-1954. Roy M. Brown / by Howard W. Odum. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Johnson, Guy Benton, 1901-1991. Guy Benton Johnson papers, 1830-1987. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn McCorkle, William P. (William Parsons), 1855-1937. William P. McCorkle papers, 1806-1922. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Brooks, Lee M. (Lee Marshall). Some contributions of Howard Washington Odum to sociology : May 24, 1884-November 8, 1954 : Kenan Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina / by Lee M. Brooks. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ames, Jessie Daniel, 1883-1972. person
associatedWith Bain, Read, 1892- person
associatedWith Bernard, L. L. (Luther Lee), 1881-1951. person
associatedWith Bernd, Aaron, 1894-1937. person
associatedWith Bradley, Frances Sage, 1862-1949. person
associatedWith Brooks, Lee M. (Lee Marshall) person
associatedWith Brown, Roy M. (Roy Melton) person
associatedWith Canfield, Harry L. (Harry Lee), 1860-1942. person
associatedWith Carter, Thomas H. (Thomas Henry), 1931-1963. person
associatedWith Commission on Interracial Cooperation. corporateBody
associatedWith Council on Southern Regional Development. corporateBody
associatedWith Cowper, Mary Octavine Thompson, 1881-1968. person
associatedWith Douty, Kenneth. person
associatedWith George, W. C. (Wesley Critz), 1888-1982. person
associatedWith Green, Paul, 1894-1981. person
associatedWith Hamilton, C. Horace (Charles Horace), 1901-1977. person
associatedWith Hancock, Gordon Blaine, 1884-1970. person
associatedWith Harris, Corra, 1869-1935. person
associatedWith Herring, Harriet L. (Harriet Laura) person
associatedWith House, Floyd Nelson, 1893-1975. person
correspondedWith Jackson, Ruth W., 1830-1994 person
associatedWith Johnson, Gerald W. (Gerald White), 1890-1980. person
associatedWith Johnson, Guy Benton, 1901-1991. person
associatedWith Kester, Howard, 1904-1977. person
associatedWith Kester, Howard A., 1904-1977. person
associatedWith Kluger, Richard. person
associatedWith Kluger, Richard. person
associatedWith Lange, Dorothea. person
associatedWith Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial. corporateBody
associatedWith McCorkle, William P. (William Parsons), 1855-1937. person
associatedWith Mitchell, Samuel Chiles, 1864-1948. person
associatedWith Parker, William C. (William Covington) person
associatedWith Raper, Arthur Franklin, 1899- . person
associatedWith Rubin, Louis Decimus, 1923- person
associatedWith Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. person
associatedWith Smith, Lillian Eugenia, 1897-1966. person
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962) corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Dept. of City and Regional Planning. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Dept. of Sociology. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Institute for Research in Social Science. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962). School of Public Welfare. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Institute for Research in Social Science. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Vance, Rupert Bayless, 1899-1975. person
correspondedWith Villard, Oswald Garrison, 1872-1949 person
associatedWith Weatherford, Willis D. (Willis Duke), 1875-1970. person
associatedWith Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Southern States
United States
North Carolina
Southern States
United States
Subject
Education
African Americans
African American soldiers
Agriculture
Cattle
Public welfare
Regionalism
Regional planning
Sociologists
Sociologists
Sociology
Soil conservation
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Authors
Educators
Sociologists
Activity

Person

Birth 1884-05-24

Death 1954-11-08

Americans

English

Information

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