Sutherland, Edwin H. (1883–1950)

The Early Years

Born in Gibbon, Nebraska, Edwin Sutherland grew up in Ottawa, Kansas, and Grand Island, Nebraska. His father, George Sutherland, was a stern and devout Baptist clergyman and, at one point, was a teacher at and president of Grand Island College, where Sutherland received his bachelor's degree in 1904. On moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sutherland taught humanities courses at the local college for two years. While there, he took a University of Chicago correspondence course in sociology as part of a plan to attend graduate school to study history. In the summer of 1906, Sutherland enrolled at the University of Chicago, intending to gain a graduate degree in history. He took several courses, among them one in sociology. Finding the subject matter interesting, Sutherland revised his career plans and, in the fall, enrolled in the graduate sociology program. The Sociology Department at the University of Chicago was the preeminent department in the discipline and Sutherland had an opportunity to study with scholars who helped to create sociology, among them Albion Small, Charles Henderson, and W. I. Thomas. At the same time, Sutherland also joined and became an officer in the Juvenile Protective Association, thus furthering his lifelong interest in the study of juvenile delinquency.

During his graduate work, Sutherland became somewhat disenchanted with sociology, at least the reformist version being espoused by Henderson. An interest in political economy began to occupy more of Sutherland's time, and he took courses taught by, among others, Robert Hoxie and Thorsten Veblen. [Page 359]From 1908 to 1911, Sutherland returned to his teaching position at Grand Island College, where he taught economics, sociology, and psychology. On his return to the university, he studied primarily under W. I. Thomas, whose influence would appear later in the theory of differential association. By the time Sutherland received his Ph.D. in 1913, he had developed a major in both sociology and political economy and a minor in psychology (with at least one course each from Charles Herbert Mead and John Watson).

Sutherland's first teaching assignment after earning his doctorate was at William Jewel College in Liberty, Missouri. From all accounts, this position was one he took rather grudgingly and in which he was discontent from the start. One of his first courses was on crime and delinquency, which he taught in the usual manner of the day as “charities and corrections” and continued to teach each year. While he was able to teach the courses he wanted, as well as an occasional course at the University of Chicago or the University of Kansas, Sutherland found himself relatively isolated and published only one article during his six years at William Jewel. One noteworthy event, however, occurred in 1918—Sutherland married Myrtle Crews, from the local town.

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