129 Years of the Teaching of Psychology at UNL: Consider Donating to the Psychology Fund

The Department of Psychology at the University of Nebraska is still going strong for almost 130 years since psychology was first taught in 1889 by Harry K. Wolfe. A Nebraskan since age 13, Harry K. Wolfe graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1880 and then went on to study psychology in Germany with Hermann Ebbinghaus and Wilhelm Wundt—two pioneers in the new experimental psychology—completing his doctorate from Wundt in 1886 at the University of Leipzig. Wolfe was the second American to earn a Ph.D. in experimental psychology. He returned to the University of Nebraska in 1889 as Chair of the Department of Philosophy, teaching courses in general psychology, pedagogical psychology, and experimental psychology with a laboratory, and his teaching was extremely popular with students. Wolfe established one of the earliest psychological laboratories in the United States and apparently the first devoted to the training of undergraduate students. Although Wolfe applied to the administration to establish a Department of Psychology in 1891, the Department was not established until 1939, with 6 faculty members; nevertheless we deservedly consider Wolfe as the Department’s founder.

Unfortunately, Wolfe’s career at the University of Nebraska was twice interrupted by controversies that today would be considered as violations to academic freedom. Due to disagreements with the University administration, which included the manner in which Wolfe taught evolutionary theory, he was removed from the University in 1897. Admiringly, Wolfe was asked, and he agreed, to be reinstated 9 years later in 1906. After another 12 years at the University, in 1918–100 years ago–he was accused in an infamous Nebraska professors trial of being disloyal to the United States WWI war effort. Although some of his colleagues were asked to resign, Wolfe was allowed to remain at the University. Tragically, Wolfe faced an untimely death from an apparent heart attack a few weeks later.

As you can see, Wolfe’s service to at the University of Nebraska is marked by extraordinary achievement despite incredible challenges. Starting with the service of Harry K. Wolfe, the psychology department at the University has a long and noteworthy history, one in which the tenets of academic freedom have since gained widespread acceptance as to their necessity. As an affiliate of the department, you have inherited this history! You can contribute to the department and help to ensure that we have a long and impressive future. In addition to your overall encouragement for the department and its mission, financial gifts from alumni and friends are a vital source of support.

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine where your donations will go. Here’s a list of what a contribution to the Psychology Department Fund could do…

• $125 pays for 5 undergraduate students’ conference presentation posters.
• $125 pays for 2 graduate students’ professional membership dues.
• $125 pays for statistical software license used to analyze theses and dissertation data.
• $125 pays for student conference registration.