5:30-7:30P     T     BH141

Topic: American Philanthropy
A portion of the above section reserved for majors

This seminar requires a broad background in American history but no
special knowledge about philanthropy.

The first part of the seminar reviews some of the major topics in the
history of American philanthropy.  These include (1) the religious,
political, and legal conditions in the late 18th century that
facilitated the existence of voluntary benevolent reform societies and
agencies; (2) Tocqueville's classic analysis of private voluntary
groups of the 1830s; (3) the importance of female voluntary societies
in American Life; (4) the rise of large nonprofit foundations and the
consequences; (5) the influence of philanthropy on American culture
and politics since World War II.  The second part of the seminar
involves each student preparing a research paper in her/his specialty
area irrespective of country.