Deans of Men and the Shaping of Modern College Culture

Deans of men in American colleges and universities were created in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to help manage a growing student population. The early deans often had a personality that allowed them to engage easily with students. Over time, many deans saw their offices increase in size and responsibility. The profession grew slowly but by the 1940's drew several hundred men to annual conferences and many more were members. Deans of men and women were significant figures for college students; many students saw them as the 'face' of the college or university. Schwartz traces the role and work of the deans and how they managed the rapidly growing culture of the American college campus in the twentieth century.