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Statistical Training and Research: The University of North Carolina System Author(s): E. Shepley Nourse, Bernard G. Greenberg, Gertrude M. Cox, David D. Mason, James E. Grizzle, Norman L. Johnson, Lyle V. Jones, John Monroe, Gordon D. Simons, Jr. Source: International Statistical Review / Revue Internationale de Statistique, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Aug., 1978), pp. 171-207 Published by: International Statistical Institute (ISI) Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1402812 Accessed: 01/06/2010 14:44 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. 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International Statistical Institute (ISI) is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to International Statistical Review / Revue Internationale de Statistique. http://www.jstor.org InternationalStatistical Review, 46 (1978) 171-207 Longman Group Limited/Printed in Great Britain Statistical Trainingand Research:The University of North CarolinaSystem Authors Thispaper was collated by E. ShepleyNourse, Publications Consultant, Health Sciences, University of North Carolinaat ChapelHill, for BernardG. Greenberg,Kenan Professor of Biostatisticsand Dean, Schoolof PublicHealth, University of NorthCarolina at ChapelHill, who chaired the group which provided information for this history.Participants included University of North Carolinapeople (a) from North CarolinaState Universityat Raleigh:Gertrude M. Cox,Professor Emeritus of Statistics;and David D. Mason,Professor of Statisticsand DepartmentHead; and (b) fromChapel Hill: JamesE. Grizzle,Professor of Biostatisticsand DepartmentChairman; Norman L. Johnson,Professor of Statisticsand former Department Chairman; Lyle V. Jones, Alumni DistinguishedProfessor of Psychology, Vice Chancellor,Dean of the GraduateSchool; John Monroe,former Director, Survey Operations Unit; and GordonD. Simons,Jr., Professorof Statisticsand DepartmentChairman. Tableof Contents Early Developments at Raleigh 173 Establishment of North Carolina's First Academic Department of Statistics 173 Establishment of the Institute of Statistics 174 Expansion of the Institute of Statistics 175 Department of (Experimental) Statistics 178 Developments of the 1950s 178 Developments since 1960 179 Summary Highlights of Consulting and Research 181 Department of (Mathematical) Statistics 182 Developments up to the Mid-Sixties 182 Developments since the Mid-Sixties 184 Students in the Department of Statistics 185 Department of Biostatistics 186 Early Developments 186 Developments after 1960 188 Other Ventures 190 Notes and References 192 The development of statistics as an academic discipline in the University of North Carolina System had its origins before Pearl Harbor. Initial growth, in some ways curtailed and in other ways stimulated during the World War II years, did result in a sound base for the acceleration that occurred postwar and the maintenance of high quality and responsiveness to the needs of the state, region, and nation that has characterizeddevelopments to the present time. What is now the Department of Statistics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, was established in late 1940. This pioneer depart- ment experienced a rapidly increasing demand for training, research collaboration, and consulting assistance locally and nationally. To help meet this need, two other statistics departments were established at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: in 1946, what is now the Department of Statistics in the School of Arts and Sciences, and in 1949, the 172 Table 1 Highlightsof the first fifteen years in the developmentof statisticsin the Universityof North CarolinaSystem Universityof North Carolinaat North Carolina Chapel Hill, Departmentsof: State College at Raleigh, Depart- Biostatistics Time Instituteof ment of Experi- Mathematical (School of Public Other period Statistics mental Statistics1 Statistics Health) developments 1940-41 Explorationby PresidentFrank P. Grahamand establishmentof department (GertrudeM. Cox, head) in School of Agriculture; start-upof courses, conferences, research,and faculty growth. 1942-44 Establishmentof World War II Institute (at impact. North Carolina State, Gertrude M. Cox, director); grant support from General EducationBoard (Rockefeller Foundation). 1945-46 Expansionto All- Expansionand Establishmentof BiometricsBulletin Universitystatus; rapid growth; department started(later regionalrespon- addition of (Harold Hotelling, became sibility in South William G. chairman). Biometrics, through work Cochranand Journalof the conferences, other outstanding Biometric summersessions, faculty. Society). professional assistance. 1947-49 Furtherprogress; JacksonA. Rigney Graduate Establishmentof GertrudeM. Cox, becamehead; program department full time to graduateprogram expanded. (BernardG. directorpost; expanded; Greenberg, Institutecited by Quantitative chairman). new Southern Genetics Program Regional started. EducationBoard as exampleof regional cooperation. 1950-54 Continuedits Increased George E. Expansion;first At ChapelHill, leadershiprole. provisionof Nicholson, Jr., degreesawarded. SurveyOperations statisticalservice chairman;name Unit and to Universityand change to Psychometric region. Departmentof Laboratory Statistics. started. 1 In 1965 there was a name change to North CarolinaState Universityat Raleigh. In 1970, the Department of ExperimentalStatistics became the Departmentof Statistics; a comparablename change occurredearlier with the Departmentof MathematicalStatistics, as shown above. 173 Department of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health. All the early developments in statistics had the strong support of Frank Porter Graham, President of the University of North Carolina System, which then included three constituent institutions at Chapel Hill, Raleigh, and Greensboro. The entity known as the Institute of Statistics, was established at Raleigh in 1944 and was given University of North Carolina System status in 1946. The Institute of Statistics had an emerging leadership role in the field of statistics, especially in North Carolina and in the Southeast. The unique story of the Institute, as told by Frank Porter Graham, featured 'the cooperation of many persons and agencies, and the adventurous spirit of the preeminent leaders in this field'. It was 'an adventure in creative cooperation at one center for training ... urgently needed specialists and leaders' (Graham, 1948), a reputation that has facilitated a focus that continues to be a distinctive feature of international interest. The following pages include brief historical overviews and comments on distinctive characteristics, educational offerings, research emphasis, and consulting activities of the Institute of Statistics and of each department. Table 1 summarizes the historical context of the first 15 years. Other exhibit materials include lists of Ph.D. recipients through the 1975-76 academic year and present and former faculty. Outstanding students and faculty, broad balance of theory and application, and the co- operative focus referred to above are recurrent themes throughout this story. EarlyDevelopments at Raleigh Establishmentof North Carolina's First Academic Department of Statistics On a train trip early in 1940, President Frank Porter Graham quite by chance met W.F. Callander, United States Department of Agriculture, who expressed a desire to help establish another center similar to the existing one at Ames, Iowa, where the training of statisticians and cooperative research with federal agencies could be done. President Graham told him, 'We will do it at North Carolina State College,' and shortly thereafter the initial developments were under way. W.F. Callander and C.F. Sarle, United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics, A.E. Brandt of the United States Soil Conservation Service, and others were contacted regarding the type of program and its leadership. Professor George W. Snedecor was asked to suggest names, and in a letter dated 7 September 1940, he recommended five young men, half-heartedly adding, 'If you would consider a woman, I know of no one better qualified than Gertrude M. Cox'. An offer dated 24 September 1940, was received by Miss Cox and she reported for work 1 November 1940, the first woman professor on the faculty of North Carolina State College. The Department of Experimental Statistics, in the School of Agriculture, was formally approved 22 January 1941, by the All-University Board of Trustees and Professor Cox was confirmed