Cooper Union College - Cable Yearbook (New York, NY)

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The great loss to The Cooper Union in the death of Dean George F. Bates man cannot be measured by material achievements as one might be able to do were there bridges that had been built, buildings constructed, or industrial plants erected through his direct supervision. However, as an educator, it would not be dillicult to point to such accomplishments that have come about through the elforts of Copper Union alumni: students who benehted through the interests and accomplislnnents of the Dean in the years of his teaching and administration. Born in Halifax, England, July fl, 1886, Dean Bateman manifested always the British traits of thoroughness and insatiable interest in life. Those who review his career cannot help but be impressed by the many facets of his per- sonality, but the two basic traits remain: his thoroughness for details and his interest in the necessary humanities that make the fully rounded life. Stem- ming directly from the latter, biographers will note the Dean's tremendous capacity and energy for untiring work. Soon after 1900, Dean Bateman accompanied his family to New York. Before entering the Cooper Union Day Course in Engineering he spent three years at practical work as a machinist's helper in power plants. While a student at The Cooper Union his three summer vacations were spent in electrical testing and power plant work, as were also the summers of 1915 and 1916. Graduated from The Cooper Union in 1907 the was the class oratorj, Dean Bateman was immediately appointed to the teaching stalls of The Cooper Union Day and Night Schools, serving as an instructor in the Departments of Physics, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. In the early years of his teaching he engaged with his colleague Pinto of the Electrical Engineering Department in electrical and mechanical engineering test work. The First I1Vorld VVar interrupted his teaching activity at The Cooper Uniong for the period of the summer vacation of 1917, he joined with Professors Lucke and Parr of Columbia University in serving as one of the three civilian volunteer instructors on the staff of the U. S. Navy Gas Engine School at Columbia Uni- versity. In May 1918 he was enrolled as Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy and detailed to duties in the training of engineer olhcers at the U. S. Navy Steam Engineering School, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey. IfVhile there, he was in charge of the Department of Propulsion Machinery and later of the Advanced Course, being promoted to the grade of Lieutenant. I-Ie also organized and took charge of a Held staff of investigators in marine engineer- ing for the collection of practical data and information for class purposes and of an editorial stalf for the editing of the subject matter given in the entire school. In 1919 Dean Bateman returned to The Cooper Union as Assistant Pro- fessor of Mechanical Engineering for the purpose of developing the Mechanical Engineering Department which was then a part of the Electrical Engineering Department. In this connection new classroom subjects were inaugurated and the scope of the laboratory work extended. It is of importance to note that under his direction and supervision the Mechanical Engineering Department was expanded to practically double the original floor area. In 1925, Hnances permitted the Hrst of his plans for the development of the Mechanical Engineer- ing Laboratories to be realized by the installation of a Refrigeration Laboratory. This was followed by the Instruments and Auxiliaries Laboratory in 1926, and the enlargement of the Steam and Internal Combustion Engine Laboratories in 1928. In 1925, he was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering and was placed in charge of the Department. From 1921-25, he was Chairman of the Oral Committee in the entrance examinations, and from 1922-31, Chairman of the Student Relations Committee. ln 1931, after having contributed largely

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luly 4, 18fS'6-january 29, 1948 E We, the students of The Cooper Union, respectfully dedicate this yearbook to the memory of DEAN GEORGE F. BATEMAN

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to the constitution of the new six-year night courses he was entrusted by the late Dean Hartmann with the negotiations which led to their oiiicial registration by the N. Y. State Department of Education. ln April 1932, two days after the death of Dean Hartmann, he was honored by the Trustees by being appointed Acting Dean and again in May 1933 by being made Dean of the Schools of Engineering. To his continual regret, these promotions and subsequent reorganization denied Dean Bateman that intimate contact with the general student body which he enjoyed so greatly in the classroom and when Chairman of the Student Relations Committee. Even under the pressure of administrative duties, however, his happiest moments were those spent in advisory service with the many students who, due to various adverse circum- stances found themselves in diiiiculties, scholastic and otherwise. Throughout the busy years of his teaching activity he was an active member in Professional Societies, Clubs, and Alumni Associations. He was a member of the Council of the American Society for Engineering Education, United En- gineering Societies Library Board and Executive Committee, Standing Committee of Professional Recognition of the Engineers' Council for Professional Develop- ment, Committee on Abbreviations of the American Standards Association, Ad- visory Committee on Biography of the ASME, Publications Committee of 4-the ASME, as well as being an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Engineering Education, New York Electrical Society, The Newcomen Committee, and the Tau Beta Pi Association. He was a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Director of the New York Electrical Society over the years 1940-117, and President of the latter group for the years 19411-1163 further, he was Chairman of the Survey Committee of The Barstow Award for the New York Electrical Society, and Chairman of the Committee on Meetings of the Middle Atlantic Section of the American Society for Engineering Education. XN7ell known were his activities in the Century Association, and the Grolier, Engineers, and Columbia University Clubs. He was always actively connected with Cooper Union Alumni affairs, having been a charter member of the Cooper Union Day Alumni Association