Abstract: It is generally accepted that public administration originated from Woodrow Wilson’s“The Study of Administration”published in 1887, but it is undeniable that Wilson’s three earlier essays had already laid the foundation for the writing of“The Study of Administration”. This group of literature, which is called“Wilson’s First Writings on Administration”, includes: “The‘Courtesy of the Senate’”, “Notes on Administration”, and“The Art of Governing”, from which we can vaguely see the lineage from rough notes to the pioneering masterpiece. We have translated this group of literature for readers.

Key words: origin of public administration, Woodrow Wilson, “The Art of Governing”