Education Programs Offered by Metropolitan Life


The Metropolitan life insurance Company’s practice of promoting from within its ranks encouraged employees to supplement “on the job training” with independent study after hours. The company itself offered courses to increase business skills, including one in the fundamental principles and practices of life insurance, which hundreds of employees completed. A two year course in business English, and others in stenography, typewriting, dictaphone, comptometer, and keypunch machine operation were offered to those who displayed an aptitude in these fields.

Outside the company, the most important life insur­ance course available to metropolitan employees was the two year study sponsored by the Insurance Society of New York, which was been taken by more than 1,000 home office employees in the years between 1928-1943. Another offered by the Life Office Management Association Institute covered advanced principles and practices of life insurance, such as what is term life insurance and what the best life insurance for certain families would be. From 1936-1943 more than 200 home office employees sat for one or more of these examinations.

Special courses in real estate, accounting, sta­tistics, and business economics were sponsored by the company at Columbia University, New York University, City College, and other accredited colleges in New York for employees who exhibited special abilities. It is significant that many young men who became leaders of their sections and eventually officers of the company were enabled to rise through the ranks because of the training which the company afforded them.

The company also took pride in training technicians for its own highly specialized positions. Classes were held each year from October to May to prepare for the difficult examina­tions in nine parts given jointly by the Actuarial Society of America and the American Institute of Actuaries. Final acceptance in these societies granted an honored professional status, for these actuaries are the scientists of the insurance business.

Of the total national membership of about 800 in the Actuarial Society in 1943, the metropolitan alone accounted for 1/9 of the entire group. There were 39 who attained the status of associate, and 52, (of whom 19 were officers of the company) who attained fellowship in one or more of the recognized actuarial bodies during that critical year of education in the company’s history.

The company always stressed the fact that its em­ployees were more than the best life insurance workers - that they were active citizens, with minds and interests of their own. These inter­ests were reflected in the formation of recreational clubs which developed latent talents and put leisure hours to happy uses. Of these groups, the Athletic Association, with a membership of 2,100 in 1943, was the oldest and most popular.  

A Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Choral Society and the Metropolitan life insurance Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

alone accounted for 1/9 of the entire group. There were 39 who attained the status of associate, and 52, (of whom 19 were officers of the company) who attained fellowship in one or more of the recognized actuarial bodies during that critical year of education in the company’s history.

The company always stressed the fact that its em­ployees were more than the best life insurance workers - that they were active citizens, with minds and interests of their own. These inter­ests were reflected in the formation of recreational clubs which developed latent talents and put leisure hours to happy uses. Of these groups, the Athletic Association, with a membership of 2,100 in 1943, was the oldest and most popular.  

A Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Choral Society and the Metropolitan life insurance Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

who exhibited special abilities. It is significant that many young men who became leaders of their sections and eventually officers of the company were enabled to rise through the ranks because of the training which the company afforded them.

The company also took pride in training technicians for its own highly specialized positions. Classes were held each year from October to May to prepare for the difficult examina­tions in nine parts given jointly by the Actuarial Society of America and the American Institute of Actuaries. Final acceptance in these societies granted an honored professional status, for these actuaries are the scientists of the insurance business.

Of the total national membership of about 800 in the Actuarial Society in 1943, the metropolitan alone accounted for 1/9 of the entire group. There were 39 who attained the status of associate, and 52, (of whom 19 were officers of the company) who attained fellowship in one or more of the recognized actuarial bodies during that critical year of education in the company’s history.

The company always stressed the fact that its em­ployees were more than the best life insurance workers - that they were active citizens, with minds and interests of their own. These inter­ests were reflected in the formation of recreational clubs which developed latent talents and put leisure hours to happy uses. Of these groups, the Athletic Association, with a membership of 2,100 in 1943, was the oldest and most popular.  

A Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Choral Society and the Metropolitan life insurance Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

alone accounted for 1/9 of the entire group. There were 39 who attained the status of associate, and 52, (of whom 19 were officers of the company) who attained fellowship in one or more of the recognized actuarial bodies during that critical year of education in the company’s history.

The company always stressed the fact that its em­ployees were more than the best life insurance workers - that they were active citizens, with minds and interests of their own. These inter­ests were reflected in the formation of recreational clubs which developed latent talents and put leisure hours to happy uses. Of these groups, the Athletic Association, with a membership of 2,100 in 1943, was the oldest and most popular.  

A Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Choral Society and the Metropolitan life insurance Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

Company Band, trained by a professional director and accompanist paid for by the company, gave excellent concerts in the home office, and at Mount McGregor for patients at the Company Sanatorium. Employees likewise showed their interest in amateur theatricals, photography, engineering, and stamp collecting, through the formation of clubs devoted to these activities.

The Metropolitan Post of the American Legion performed welfare work for disabled veterans, both in and outside of Government hospitals. Metropolitan workers were congenial people, who enjoyed being together in work hours and in leisure hours as well. Thus there were frequent dinners and celebrations given by these groups; all marked by the idiom of good fellowship, by the democratic point of view, by something intangible yet real, known as the spirit of the home office. Here, officers and clerks constituted one fraternity.

In its complexity the home office represented a small city of affordable life insurance rates and like a city, it had its daily and monthly “Press.” “The Daily Bulletin,” a one sheet paper published since 1905, contained announcements of field changes and of home Office activities. A monthly magazine, “The Home Office,” had a circulation well in excess of 19,000, was a more human document, profusely illustrated with photos and drawings of people, and with plenty of pleasant local news about the activities of Metropolitan “citizens.” Similar monthly magazines, “The Pacific Coaster” and “The Northern Star,” were issued by the Pacific Coast and Canadian Head Offices.

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