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

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Bureau, undertook the founding of similar instif tutions. Endowed research and industrial stand' ardization have grown apace with the Bureau. Within its walls hundreds have been trained. From its staff, industry recruits experts, and they carry on with the spirit of creative research which its founder so cherished. An Electrical Congress, in connection with an International Exhibition, took place at St. Louis in 1904 and proved to be Dr. Stratton's introduction to that international work which for the rest of his life occupied much of his time. In 1905 he became a member of the International Committee of Weights and Measures. This com' mittee dealt solely with standards of length and mass and the standardization of a limited range of temperature. Dr. Stratton believed that the enlargement of the functions of the committee offered the best solution of the problem of establish' ing an International Electrical Commission. Under his leadership the Bureau of Standards was thus placed at the disposal of the entire scientific world. International standardization did not by any means include the whole of Dr. Stratton's work. With the late Dr. Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, he advised Congress concerning the necessity of organized scientific research on the fundamental problems of flight. As a result, Congress passed the legislation establishing the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics on March 3, 1915. Dr. Stratton was one of the original members of the committee. Being appointed by President Wilson as a representative of the Bureau of Standards, he was elected a member of the Executive Committee and later secretary. I-Ie was a moving spirit in the early organization and original activities of the committee. As secretary of the committee and chairman of the important subfcommittee on power plants for THE DIRECTOR AT His ANNUAL LAWN PARTY l THE DIRECTOR OP THB BUREAU or STANDARDS 13

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the naval militia battalion was started with Ensign Stratton as comf mander of one of the divisions. He served with distinction until 1901, holding the ranks of ensign, lieutenant, and lieutenantfcommander. During the war with Spain he saw active service as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, being stationed hrst at Key West, then as watch and division officer on Commodore Reamy's flagship, and finally on the battleship Texas. From 1904 to 1912, he held the rank of comf mander in the United States Navy, commanding the District of Col' umbia Naval Militia. His military 'training and profound knowledge of the naval service enabled Dr. Stratton personally and through the Bureau of Standards to assist both the Army and Navy in the solution of many of their scientific problems, a work which held great appeal for him and which the military and naval services appreciated. Engrossed in the work which engaged his attention at the Unif versity of Illinois and Chicago, Samuel Wesley Stratton early recogf nized the urgent need of a National Bureau of Standards to assist the United States in advancing commercially and industrially and in main' LIHUTHNANT STRATTON taining a proper place in world commerce. Acting upon this thought, he brought to the attention of the then Secretary of the Treasury, Lyman H. Gage, the necessity for establishing such an institution. He was commissioned by Secretary Gage to prepare a bill providing for a Bureau of Standards and to take the necessary steps for its proper introduction into Congress. Due largely to his untiring efforts Congress enacted the measure on March 3, 1901. When Dr. Stratton was proffered the appointment as the first director of the newly created National Bureau of Standards, he felt it to be his imperative duty to accept this position. With his superior knowledge, accustomed energy, and ability for interesting others in the Bureau, he labored untiringly for this great cause. Year by year the Bureau grew, a city of science set on a hill, its researches known everywhere, its counsel sought by experts, its work a vitalizing force in industry. Study and experiment bore fruit in new processes and instruments - byfproducts of its work on standards of quality, performance, and practice. In the Bureau theory and research met practice to reconstruct it. Y In it were focussed the physical sciences, from it radiated mas' ter standards to guide industry. During his twentyftwo years' service as the Bureau of Standardsl director, Dr. Stratton was instrumental in its phef nomenal growth from a small laboratory employing a score, housed in temporary quarters near the Capitol, to a magnificent group of twenty buildings on a thirtyffivefacre site with a staff of nine hundred and thirty, and with equipment unique among research institutions. At the time of his resignation, the annual expenditures had increased to 31,800,000 lts scientific laboraf tory contained 23,350 volumes and received 578 technical perif g A odicals. Many of the Bureau's researches were recorded in its publications, of which 875 had been issued. Its varied achieve' ments are enduring sources of national wealth, yielding a hun' dredffold their cost. Under his direction the Bureau had become the world's outstanding laboratory for standardization and industrial research. J I The Bureau is an enduring monument to Dr. Stratton and those who through the early years stood for high standards of THB FIRST owen Grass PRODUCED IN AMERICA effort and attainment. Nations and industries, inspired by the 12 if

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I aircraft, Dr. Stratton directed the administrative activities of the organization and took the leading part in the establishment of the committee's research laboratory, known as the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, Langley Field, Virginia. Here he exerted great influence in the preparation of the govern' ment's programs of scientific research in the Held of aircraft engine development. While serving as,Director of the Bureau of Standards, he placed the facilities of the Bureau at the dis' posal of the committee and made it possible for them to comf plete some important investigations of benefit to aeronautics at these great laboratories. ' A He was one of the very few Americans who before the war had the vision, courage and ability to labor effectively and conf structively to place the new science of aeronautics on the path of progress in the United States. The National Screw Thread Commission owes its existence to Dr. Stratton, who helped draft the bill for Congress and served as its first chairman. It was in connection with the procurement of legislation by Congress for the creation of this commission that the Hon. john Q. Tilson, member of Congress, wrote the following concerning the great faith which Congress had in Dr. Stratton: In order to accomplish what Dr. Stratton set out to accomplish, it was necessary for him to secure numerous acts of Congress as well as liberal and continued appropriations. He could do this only by gaining and holding the confidence of Congress, and this he did to a remarkable degree. Individual members of Congress believed in him and, therefore, were willing to favor legislations proposed by him. In recognition of the notable services which Dr. Stratton had contributed in the field of scientific research and in helping the United States and her allies to win the World XVar, institutions of learning, both at home and abroad, as well as foreign governments conferred high honors upon him. The Government of France made him an officer of the Legion of Honor. He also received the Elliott Cressen medal of the Franklin Institute and the Welfare Medal of the National Academy of Sciences. He was an honorary member of the Society of Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Fi, and Phi Beta Kappa, as well as many other professional and scientific societies. In 1923, Dr. Stratton was called from the directorship of the National Bureau of Standards to the presidency of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A resolution presented to him at that time characterized this as both a recognition of and a fitting tribute to one who has rendered invaluable service to commerce and industry in America and has served his country well in her hour of need, and his acceptance of the proffered presidency w i means much for the continued future usefulness of that famous institution of learning, for he brings to it a ripe experif ence and an exceptional ability to direct its manifold activities. i Under the able leadership of Dr. Stratton the Institute prospered and exf panded. New laboratories were built and an infirmary added. Two new dormitory groups were added, trebling the former capacity of these living quarters. A great student loan fund was started, one of the IN THE LABORATORY THB NATIONAL ADVISORY' Coxmlrrsn Pon AERON.-XUTICS 14