Franklin Henry Giddings

Franklin Henry Giddings ( born March 23, 1855 in Sherman, Connecticut, † June 11, 1931 in Scarsdale, NY, USA) was an American sociologist. He officiated in 1910 as the third president of the American Sociological Association.

Giddings is considered the founding father of the Department of Sociology at Columbia University, New York. In 1894 he was at the University of a newly created Department of Sociology and History of Civilizations, which he held until his retirement in 1928. With its theoretical orientation combined with a strong interest in quantitative research methods, he founded already in the late 19th century, the traditional division of the Department in "theory" and " methods ".

This duality was further consolidated as of the year 1940 with the creation of chairs of Paul Felix Lazarsfeld ( Empirical Social Research) and Robert K. Merton ( Theoretical sociology). Both worked together in various projects.

One of his students is the philosopher and sociologist Julius F. Hecker name ( 1881-1938 ). From Franklin Giddings is also due the honor title of professor at Columbia University Franklin Henry Giddings Professor of Sociology ago.