ABSTRACT
The field of sociology was constructed in a dynamic academic debate with both established fields, such as philosophy, theology and history, and other emergent contenders for the study of society. Social progress and social pain coexisted in equal measure, and many individuals felt called to help mitigate the social inequality and injustice which accompanied industrial development and economic growth in society. An examination of the earliest years of sociology at the University of Chicago highlights the claims and counter claims projected among sociologists. The social gospel movement which emerged in this period reflected an attempt by Christianity to adapt to industrial society. Accounts of the social gospel movement in the formation of sociology and social reform miss women’s contribution to this ideological debate. Professionalization in the discipline was encouraged by the formation of the American Journal of Sociology in 1895.
