Charles Waldo Haskins
Encyclopedia
Charles Waldo Haskins was a co-founder of the accounting firm Haskins and Sells
.
"He was born in 1852 into a leading American family (including uncle Ralph Waldo Emerson
)."
Haskins was educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and New York University
, and subsequently completed his studies in Paris. From a wealthy family, his wife, Henrietta Havemeyer, whom he married in 1885, was from a family even wealthier than his own. Her uncle was twice Mayor of New York, and her grandfather controlled the American Sugar Refining Company
("Domino"). Descended from John Howland, a signer of the Mayflower Compact
, Haskins was a New York Member of Sons of Liberty
and other local societies along with the local branch of the (Presidents) Adams family (with whom he was also related).
Haskins advocated unified and reliable accounting principles, lecturing widely on history and methods. He was known to describe the public accountant as "the consulting physician of finance and commerce." Haskins stated that the public accountant "understands the anatomy and physiology of business and the rules of health of corporations, partnerships, and individual enterprises. He diagnoses abnormal conditions and suggests approved remedies. His study and interest is the soundness of the world of affairs."
Haskins was heavily involved in codifying qualifications and created the legislation and bodies that defined the first Certified Public Accountant qualifications in the nation for New York State, which were later emulated throughout the US.
Mr. Haskins served as president of the New York State Society of CPAs and the American Society for CPAs. In 1900, Haskins founded the earliest professional school of business, The School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance of New York University
, and the first university accounting program in America. Haskins was the first dean of the school, a post he held until his passing in 1903.
An obituary in a leading New York newspaper alluded to his character, accomplishments and circumstances:
"Mr. Haskins occupied a position singular and unique in relation to his fellows in the profession; removed from all the petty jealousies engendered by the battle for a livelihood; possessing means more than ample for the requirements of himself and his personal family, he gave freely in time, money, and influence to every movement designed to place the certified public accountant on a par in the eyes of the world with the professions of law and of medicine."
Haskins and Sells
Haskins & Sells was a major accounting firm in the United States. It was founded by Charles Waldo Haskins and Elijah Watt Sells and has been described as "the first major auditing firm in this country to be established by American rather than British accountants."It was incorporated into the firm...
.
"He was born in 1852 into a leading American family (including uncle Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
)."
Haskins was educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and subsequently completed his studies in Paris. From a wealthy family, his wife, Henrietta Havemeyer, whom he married in 1885, was from a family even wealthier than his own. Her uncle was twice Mayor of New York, and her grandfather controlled the American Sugar Refining Company
American Sugar Refining Company
The American Sugar Refining Company was the largest American business unit in the sugar refining industry in the early 1900s.-Establishment:...
("Domino"). Descended from John Howland, a signer of the Mayflower Compact
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists, later together known to history as the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower...
, Haskins was a New York Member of Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
and other local societies along with the local branch of the (Presidents) Adams family (with whom he was also related).
Haskins advocated unified and reliable accounting principles, lecturing widely on history and methods. He was known to describe the public accountant as "the consulting physician of finance and commerce." Haskins stated that the public accountant "understands the anatomy and physiology of business and the rules of health of corporations, partnerships, and individual enterprises. He diagnoses abnormal conditions and suggests approved remedies. His study and interest is the soundness of the world of affairs."
Haskins was heavily involved in codifying qualifications and created the legislation and bodies that defined the first Certified Public Accountant qualifications in the nation for New York State, which were later emulated throughout the US.
Mr. Haskins served as president of the New York State Society of CPAs and the American Society for CPAs. In 1900, Haskins founded the earliest professional school of business, The School of Commerce, Accounts, and Finance of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and the first university accounting program in America. Haskins was the first dean of the school, a post he held until his passing in 1903.
An obituary in a leading New York newspaper alluded to his character, accomplishments and circumstances:
"Mr. Haskins occupied a position singular and unique in relation to his fellows in the profession; removed from all the petty jealousies engendered by the battle for a livelihood; possessing means more than ample for the requirements of himself and his personal family, he gave freely in time, money, and influence to every movement designed to place the certified public accountant on a par in the eyes of the world with the professions of law and of medicine."