Atlanta University and American sociology, 1896--1917: An earnest desire for the truth despite its possible unpleasantness

The objectives of this investigation are to uncover some of the sociological accomplishments of Atlanta University scholars and ascertain if the Atlanta Sociological Laboratory (1896–1917) comprised one of the first American schools of sociology. Although Atlanta University is recognized as one of the earliest American sociology departments, the contributions of Atlanta University sociologists are, mostly, omitted from classical and contemporary discussions concerning prominent and early scholars who contributed to the discipline of sociology during its formative years in the United States. Instead, Chicago School sociologists and the University of Chicago are lauded as establishing “the first successful American program of collective sociological research” (Bulmer, p. xv, 1984). This study reveals that Atlanta University may have comprised one of the first schools of sociology and their sociologists possibly initiated one of the first successful programs of collective and institutionally supported American sociological research.