Carnegie Mellon University - Thistle Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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ARTHUR ARTON HAMERSCHLAG, Sc.D. ARTHUR ARTON HAMERSCHLAG. Director of the Carnegie Technical Schools, was born in Nebraska in 1867. Doctor Hamcrschlag assumed the Directorship of the Schools at the time of their foundation in 1903. coining from St. George’s Evening Trade School in New York, of which he had been superintendent for eleven years. From 1892 he was occupied as consulting engineer and instructor at the New York Trade School, the Bethany Mission School, Phillips Memorial School, the Boys’ Preparatory Trade School, New York, and Highland Falls (X. Y.) Evening Trade School, etc., until 1904, when he began to devote his entire time to the upbuilding and organization of the Carnegie Technical Schools. In addition to his work as instructor, he carried on in New York an independent practice as consulting electrical and mechanical engineer for numerous corporations and industries. From 1888 until 1892 he served in field work in Cuba, Mexico and various parts of the United States. Doctor Hamcrschlag is a member of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Pittsburgh Board of Trade. He is also a member of the following clubs: Duquesne, Crucible, Pittsburg Press, Junta and the Pittsburg Country. Director Hamcrschlag is the author of numerous scientific pamphlets and magazine articles, and has also written several valuable text books which are very widely used. 11 is early training was had in the public schools of Omaha and New York, and his advanced education under various tutors and at Lehigh University. The honorary degree of Doctor of Science was conferred upon him by his Alma Mater and-the Western University of Pennsylvania in 1907 One of the most important events in the life of the man was his marriage, in December, 1901, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Tollast, of New York. To his broadminded, sympathetic, keen-sighted, intellectual helpmeet, Director Hamcrschlag owes much of his success. With her unerring intuition she has reached the solution of problems, which, at first glance, required much of a man’s judgment and discernment, and to her ready sympathy and womanliness, the girls of the Margaret Morrison School are indebted for many of their privileges and opportunities. Perhaps the most striking feature of the man as well as the most characteristic, is his immense amount of mental and physical energy. His ability to stand the hardest and most difficult work for the longest number of hours is phenomenal, and this, coupled with his ability to concentrate his mind upon the immediate task,

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ARTHUR ARTOX IIAMERSOHLAC Director

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enables him to accomplish an unusual amount of work. Tic brings, to any problem on hand, a unique point of view, absolutely untrammelled by convention. What has been done has no value to him except on its own merits. Another quality of mind which requires more than passing attention, is his largeness of ideas. He does not think in small numbers, but is content to state the general principles involved and leave the working out of the details to others. A natural talent, coupled with a wonderful gift of insight, sound judgment, and a remarkable tenacity of purpose in tying to and fighting for an idea, has enabled him to overcome many difficulties, which he now considers his good fortune to have come in contact with. As a lad lie developed an inquiring turn of mind—a spirit of investigation to seek out the truth which instilled in him a hatred of sham and expediency. “Do it because it is right” is his motto. 1 lis creed is Work and again Work. I le is always ready to fight for a principle, and it is a characteristic of him that he knows how to laugh when fighting hardest. His disposition is such that he radiates good cheer and sunshine wherever he goes. He is generous to a fault, and never so happy as when giving another enjoyment. To so positive and masculine an individual, the term “lovable is not usually applied, but it is distinctly appropriate in his case. He has the capacity of inspiring in his stall loyalty and devotion to an unusual extent. He is generous in his thought for others, but frank in the statement of his opinions, and does not mince matters in dealing with a person whom he thinks is at fault. His sympathy for those in trouble is unbounded. After an analysis of separate qualities has been made, there remains to consider that somewhat intangible yet very real thing which we call personality. This he has to a remarkable degree. To the individual he makes a distinct appeal and impression; his magnetism is wonderful: in any assembly his presence is felt, and all this comes, not as a result of his position, but because of the personality of the man. Elisa hetii M. Longdox.