Background
His father had emigrated from Frankfurt, Germany in 1832.
His father had emigrated from Frankfurt, Germany in 1832.
The son graduated from Ohio State University in 1888, from Harvard in 1889 and received his Master of Arts at Harvard in 1890. He studied in Germany from 1890 to 1891.
In 1898, he became associate professor of European history at the Ohio State University, becoming a full professor and chairman of the history department in 1902. He served in this capacity until 1923 when he became a research professor He was secretary of the University faculty from 1902 to 1906, and acting dean of the College of Arts, Philosophy and Science from 1907 to 1908.
He was dean of the graduate school in 1917 and 1918.
He also served as lecturer in history at Ohio Wesleyan University from 1907 to 1908. He traveled in Europe from 1909 to 1910.
He was a member of numerous learned and other societies.