Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Technique Yearbook (Cambridge, MA)

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1 drama was ushered in l with symbolic pag- eantry and magnifi- cent ceremony. The Alumni which had assembled for re- union met once more upon the worn steps of Rogers to sing the Stein Song and other ARTHURA Nom old undergraduate fa- ,img Preride1it1907-1909 vorites. After a simple ceremony, the Stars and Stripes were slowly A MAIN LIBRARY IN 1 lowered from the staff on the building where they had flown for fifty years. The venerable building had made its final appearance as the center of Technology life. Un the following evening, a magnificent barge Bucentaur, bore the great seal of the Institute across the Basin to its new home. The progress of the ship was marked for the first part of its voyage by the rays of searchlights on the roof of Rogers. Searchlights from the Dome picked out the craft and as the beams crossed, the light from the old building faded gradually away, symbolizing the passing of Rogers and the undertaking of the future career of the Institute by the new buildings. It was the beginning of a new era in the life of the school. But with this accomplishment, President Maclaurin did not rest. The moment the United States entered the Great War, he offered the government the facilities of the Institute faculty and labora- tories, voting that the use of the latter by a force familiar to them would be to the utmost advan- tage. Courses in Naval Architecture, Military Aeronautics, and Radio Engineering were estab- lished, and there were created a School for Deck Ofl:1CCfS, a Cadet School for Ensigns, a School for Merchant Marine Cfficers and a Naval Aviation Detachment. President Maclaurin put the In- stitute in the foreground of college training units by accepting the appointment as director of the work of a Student Army Training Corps. He did not rest even with the close of this splendid work, but then began his labors for an endow- ment fund which would enable the Institute to develop in the future without the fear of financial handicap. He died on January 15, 1920, worn out by this successful struggle. To him more than to any other man, the world owes the new Institute and it will stand in lasting witness of his achievement. It is perhaps fitting to make some mention of the men who aided President Maclaurin E, L-i 1889 Y, in his work. Chief among them is Mr. George I Eastman, that man of - 5, . faith and broad vision, who, under the anony- mous name of Mr. Smith made possible the new Technology by a series of gifts totalling well over eleven millions. There is not the space to RICHARD C' MACLAURIN mentionthe names of PreJirie11t1909-1918 the l6glO1'1 of lOy2..l CONSTRUCTION or THE New TECHNOLOGY-1914 17 ' 1, - ,

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Harvard University was raised. The matter of consolidation came up be- I cause of the McKay fund which was donated for the establishment of a technical school at Harvard, and which it was thought might be used to pay Harvard professors at Technology. The Supreme Court finally decided that any such plan would be a violation of the McKay trust. Consequently, it was by the result of this decision and the efforts of President Pritchett that the autonomy of the Institute was preserved. Dr. Pritchett resigned in 1907 and the chair was admirably held for two years by Doctor Noyes. With the inauguration of Richard C. Maclaurin of Columbia, our drama I entered upon a larger, though not radically different phase of life. To P,,,,,,,,,, 189711900 President Maclaurin and his great ability and tireless effort, we owe the new Technology, this magnificent setting for the activities of our collegiate years. Por it was by this time that the Institute had outgrown its quarters in Back Bay. The num- ber of its courses had increased from six to fifteen, the instructing staff, originally ten, was now three hundred, and there were nineteen hundred students. The buildings were outgrown, crowded and inconvenient. It was neither possible nor desirable to expand upon the old site in the heart of the city. Everyone realized that the time had come for a change. There must be provided a place for greater laboratories and shops as well as dormitories for the students, coming from all corners of the globe and needing a unified student life. It was a great task requiring resources which at that time were entirely lacking. But President Maclaurin proved himself able to cope with the dimculties. In securing financial backing for the Institute lay his peculiar genius and he worked unceasingly raising funds. He was not five years in office when, on new land across the Charles on the Cambridge bank, the great New Technology was already under construction. Plans provided for expansion far into the future. The first dormitory group was constructed, and, to house student activities, amusements, a dining hall and a gym- nasium, Walker Memorial was built. In June 1916 the new Technology was dedicated and, appropriately enough, this new phase in the action of our Prefidefztl900-1907 JAMES M. CRAFTS HENRY S. PRITCHET1' ROGERS BUILDING IN 1875 16

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I THE CIVILS OF '77 AND ,78 alumni who gave so generously of their time, energy, and means in furthering the work of these two men. After the death of Maclaurin, a committee of three men took charge of the affairs of the school. These men were Professor H. P. Talbot of the Department of Chemistry, chairman, Professor E. B. Nelson of the Department of Physics, and Professor E. P. Miller of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Mr. Elihu Thompson of the General Electric Company was elected acting president. ln 1921 Dr. Ernest Fox Nichols, former president of Dartmouth College was elected president but due to ill health he was forced to resign the post without ever really assuming the leadership of Technology. After his resignation, a committee, headed by Dean Talbot, again took charge. PHYSICAL LABORATORY - 1878 1 8