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

Page 19 text:

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

Page 18 text:

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, - ,

Page 20 text:

In December 1922 Dr. Samuel W. Stratton became president. Under his brilliant leadership, the Institute weathered the post-war years of stress. New laboratories were built and an infirmary added. A second and a third dormitory groups were constructed, tripling the original capacity. A great student loan fund was started, one of the many evidences of Dr. Stratton's interest in the Welfare of the student. His leadership has resulted in progress. It may be said that the drama, commenced in 1860, had now reached its mature form. Many hands and brains have aided in bringing it to this state, yet all this is only the logical consequence of the vision and the plan and accomplishment of William Barton Rogers. How remarkable it is that his SAMUEL W'STRm0N scheme, as he laid it down, left no need for deviation from the path, no costly and disappointing experimentation, no retracing of steps taken! To few other men has it been given, as to him, to see a thing complete, given at birth all the capabilities of expansion and adaption. The administration of President Stratton almost brings us into the present. One thing more - ln March 1930 President Stratton resigned to become Chairman of the Corporation, and Doctor Karl T. Compton, Chairman of the Department of Physics at Princeton, was elected to succeed him. This dual leadership augurs well for Technology's future. And that does bring us into the present. We emerge from our historical prologue into the actualities of this year's events. Yet even as We write this story of one more year at Technology and lay it back with the volumes that have gone before, it too becomes history. With the historical background well in mind it is easy to compare the present school life as depicted in this volume of TECHNIQUE with the plans that were made for such extra-curricular activities. Varied activity is Well ..- represented but it is obvious that there is still a large part of the student body that does not avail itself of the opportunities offered. It is hoped that this presentation of student life at Technology will arouse a greater interest to . . . KARL T. COMPTON in the formation of a well-rounded education. Pre.rident1930- Prefident 1923-1930 INAUGURATION - 1930 19