The Chicago School of Critics began its development during the mid-1930s, around the time that Crane was named head of the University of Chicago's English Department. During this time (from 1930 to 1952) Ronald Crane took on the role of managing editor for the University's publication "Modern Philology" publication. His essay titled “History Versus Criticism in the Study of Literature,” published in 1935, is considered the first publication of the Chicago School. Other members of the early School included W. R. Keast, Richard McKeon, Norman Maclean, Elder Olson, and Bernard Weinberg. The “group of friends” (as Crane called them) worked together to publish an anthology of their writings in 1952 titled "Critics and Criticism: Ancient and Modern". That same year, Crane was named a Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Chicago.