Milford chronicle., 1948-06-04
University Notes


~ in the keynote talks at a confer
ence sponsored by the Institute of
Delaware History and Culture at
the University of Delaware.
The pioneer" institute is rem
dering an important contribution
to historical investigation. DR.. Roy
f. Nichols, professor Of history at
the University of Pennsylvania,
told some so civic leaders partici-
pating in the symposium Taking as
his topic Delaware Again the
First State" Dr. Nichols said the
state has a unique position in the
investigations.
Dr. Robert s. Lynd, professor
of sociology at Columbia Univer-
sity's Graduate School, discussed
the need for grass-roOts research
and organization in democracy.
After stressing the urgent need
for better organization of the inn
mediate living processes of the
American people, DR.. Lynd COM
mented that: "Only well-organ-
lied people can meet the strains
of the current times. We have
to study our people. as they are
actually living in Delaware and
the other regions, in order to help
them to know and do what it
takes te build more effective com-
munity life"
I'VE live, said Dir. Lynd, sin
time that demands that big issues
be faced by active democracy
strongly aware of both its past and
its future. This is probably one
Of the great historic eras of
change. But we Americans tend to
face the business of democracy
with considerable degree Of cas-
ualness, and even with cynicism
about such things as local poli-
tics, that cuts down the power Of
democracy
sThis American mood grows out
Of such things as the bigness and
extreme complexity of problems
both here at home and in our in-
ternational relations, and out Of
the resulting loss Of grip by the
ordinary citizen on the meanings
and policies of his government.
Despite the fact that we are call
ed "a nation of joiners, one of the
real dangers to American demo-
cracy is that so relatively few of
us live with a strong, sure sense
that we. really belong
',Loyalties, he emphasized,
grown from small things to big,
not the reverse. AS a result, both
persons and societies live primar-
lily in terms of their local roots and
of their loyalties to the people
among whom they move about from
day to day. If democracy does not
thrive in ones face-to-face rela-
tions, no amount of urging people
to be loyal to the Constitution can
make it a reality at the level of
national affairs. The one sure way.
to build a healthy democratic so
ciety or to help 1t to re-discover
it's democracy is through helping
its people to know themselves and
to respect themselves and their
past in the local life they know
best.
"A hundred years ago, visitor
from abroad, de Toqueville, shook
his head over the fact that the
United States, with only brief
past and vast future, was thrown
heavily back on the use Of money
alone to distinguish among men.
Our need is to make greater, use
of the past, not just the big, na-
tional past, but the past that lives
on in traditions of local persons
and movements in every littel
community that have done good
work-in the work of librarians,
teachers, judges and others who
have honored our common human
ity and democracy by the way they
have lived and worked" He went
on to discuss how such work can
be developed.
DR.. Lynd spoke at a dinner meet
ing held in Old College. He was
introduced by DR.. Frederick B.
Parker, chairman of the Univer-
sity of Delaware's Department of
Sociology. DR.. Allan p. Colburn,
assistant to the president, presid-
ed
Earlier, at the afternoon session,
a discussion among the group pres
ent followed DR.. Nichols talk, with
DR.. John A. Munroe, chairman of
the Institute, presiding. The con-
ference included persons interest,"
ed in numerous scholarly aspects
of the states history and culture.
DR.. Nichols said there is need
for new methods in historical in
vestigation. National history is
not enough-there is a need for a
study Of the states, where things
really happen" he said. In such
local Investigations, DR.. Nichols
added, the work of individuals
should be supplemented by coop
erative planned research, such as
that inauguFated by the Institute.
Within Delaware, said Dr. Mich
OILS, there is an opportunity for
planned research in small but
distinct society,"" in such fields as
distribution of population, agri-
cultural holdings, Industrial ad-
vance, urbanization, influence OF
public opinion, responsible govern
ment, and social welfare.
AS a result, he prediced, there
will be uncovered in Delaware
"the knowledge necessary to solve
contemporary problems by the
comprehensive study of their or
igin and development"
The Institute of Delaware His
tory and Culture was organized
this year by members of the Uni
versity faculty with the purpose OF
encouraging the faculty's interest
and that Of the states citizens, in