The announcement of the opening of the Rand School of Social Science in 1906. This historically important institution of the Socialist movement in the U.S. began with an endowment from Elizabeth Rand, comrade and wife of George D. Herron, a leading figure and publisher in the Socialist Party. A workers’ education school, in addition a publishing house, research institute, as well as camps and retreats were developed. The school came under the Social Democratic Federation after the split in the Socialist Party in 1936 and changed its name to the “Tamiment Institute and Library” with Its collection forming the basis the Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Archives at New York University today.

‘Rand School of Social Science’ from The Worker (New York). Vol. 16 No. 7. May 19, 1906.

Important Auxiliary for Socialist Movement.

The Work of the School to Begin on Oct 1–Systematic Instruction in Social Sciences and Training of Speakers and Writers the Objects In View.

Many comrades are already aware that Mrs. Elizabeth D. Rand, the mother of Mrs. Carrie Rand Herron, left a will establishing an endowment for a school of social science, to serve as an auxiliary to the Socialist Party in the United States. The trustees of this fund have now authorized the Issuance of the following statement:

The trustees of the Rand Fund for the establishment of a school to teach social science from the standpoint of International Socialism have empowered the American Socialist Society. an incorporated body formed in 1901. to found and maintain such a school. The Society has accepted the charge. and has been for some time actively engaged in the preliminary work of organization. It has leased for a term of years the large residence building at 112 E. Nineteenth street, and will take possession on July 1. The rooms on the parlor floor will be fitted up for a library, reading room, archive, office and book-stand, and the rooms on the second floor for class rooms.

The leading Socialist publications of the world will be kept on file. A collection of the most authoritative works on Socialism and social problems will be made, $1,000 having been apportioned for the beginning of the library. An archive of old and rare manuscripts, pamphlets and books relating to Socialism and labor will also be collected. Comrades will be asked to contribute by loan or gift to this collection, which will be carefully guarded. Already several rare works have been promised.

It is expected to have the library and reading room ready for general use by July 15. The classes will begin on Monday, Oct. 1. The Instruction Committee has prepared a tentative plan of study courses, and tho much remains to be done before definite announcement can be made, the following courses can be confidently promised at this time:

A. Systematic courses, with the use of text-books, personal assistance of instructors, examinations and seminars on

1. Elementary Socialism.
2. Economics of Socialism.
3. History of Socialism.
4. Nature and Functions of the State.
5. Composition and Rhetoric.

B. Lecture-Conference Courses, with opportunity for questioning instructors, on

1. Principles of Sociology.
2. Ethics.
3. Social Theories.
4. Social History.

C. Formal lectures on a great variety of subjects, such as Methods and Tactics of the Socialist Movement, Socialism and Art, History of the Labor Movement, Physical Evolution, and such special problems as those relating to Race Antagonisms, the Middle Class, the Farming Class, Trade Unionism, Child and Woman Labor, Old Age Pensions, Immigration, Housing, Proletarian Diseases, and Labor Legislation.

The services of all instructors will be paid for, and a moderate tuition fee will be charged students.

The officers of the Society operating the School are, Algernon Lee, President: Morris Hillquit, Treasurer, and W.J. Ghent, Secretary. Among the directors, other than these officers, are Leonard D. Abbott, John C. Chase, Benjamin C. Gruenberg. Dr. Th. Levene, and Hermann Schlueter. W.J. Ghent has also been elected the Secretary of the School.

A preliminary prospectus, giving more detailed information, will be issued about July 15. Requests for this prospectus may be sent to the Secretary at 200 W. Fifty-fourth street. New York City. The Secretary would also be glad to receive lists of names of those who might be interested in the work of the school.

The Worker, and its predecessor The People, emerged from the 1899 split in the Socialist Labor Party of America led by Henry Slobodin and Morris Hillquit, who published their own edition of the SLP’s paper in Springfield, Massachusetts. Their ‘The People’ had the same banner, format, and numbering as their rival De Leon’s. The new group emerged as the Social Democratic Party and with a Chicago group of the same name these two Social Democratic Parties would become the Socialist Party of America at a 1901 conference. That same year the paper’s name was changed from The People to The Worker with publishing moved to New York City. The Worker continued as a weekly until December 1908 when it was folded into the socialist daily, The New York Call.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/the-people-the-worker/060519-worker-v16n07.pdf