Howard W. Odum

Howard Washington Odum (* May 24, 1884 near Bethlehem, Georgia, † November 8, 1954 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina) was an American sociologist and 20th president of the American Sociological Association.

After a first degree at Emory University Odum became a teacher, but continued his studies continued at the University of Mississippi and ended it with the master exam. He then studied psychology to doctoral studies at Clark University. His second doctorate ( Ph.D. ) received Odum 1910 in sociology for a dissertation entitled mt Social and Mental Traits of the Negro at Columbia University. Doctor Franklin Henry Giddings father was.

After Odum explored as a research assistant social trends for the Philadelphia Bureau of Municipal Research, and then served as a professor at the University of Georgia, Emory University, and finally since 1920 at the University of North Carolina, where he became a pioneer of the science of social work. In addition, he examined the African American culture in the South.

Odum wrote three novels in addition to his scientific work. In 1930, he served as president of the American Sociological Association.

Writings (selection )

• An approach to public welfare and social work, 1926
• American social problems. An introduction to the study of the People and Their dilemmas, 1939
• Understanding society. The principles of dynamic sociology, 1947
• American sociology. The story of sociology in the United States to 1950, 1951.