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

Page 9 text:

SAMUEL WESLEY STRATTON 1861 - 1931 OR the fourth time in the seven decades of its history, one of Technology's great leaders has died in the fullness of his power. Presidents Rogers, Walker, and Maclaurin died while in the midst of their great labors for the advancement of this Institute and on October 18, 1931, Doctor Stratton joined that eminent group. Samuel Wesley Stratton, like many other celebrated Americans who have contributed to their country's greatness, was born in hum' ble circumstances. His parents were Codfloving people of the hardy pioneer stock, who were instrumental in developing the settlement of Litchfield, Illinois, where he was born on July 18, 1861. Though mod' est in their circumstances, great was their desire that their son should have the advantage of an education, and by means of many sacrifices this was provided by them. His great interest in machinery, especially that used on the farm, and his natural aptitude for practical applicaf tion of what he learned by his own youthful experiments awakened in him the desire for a technical education. He entered the University of SAMUEL WESLEY STRATFON Illinois, and by engaging in work after school hours was able to pay his way through college. At the age of twentyfthree, the Univerf sity of Illinois conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In recognition of his exceptional ability, the University of Illinois called him in 1885 as an instructor of mathematics and physics, promoted him in 1889 to Assistant Professor of Physics and advanced him in the same year to the chair of physics and electrical engineering, which honored position he held until 1892. The same year he was engaged by the University of Chicago to be assistant professor of physics, was promoted in 1895 to an associate professorship, and in 1898 was made a full professor. Surrounded in early life by those who had participated in the Civil War and accustomed to their accounts of it, Samuel Wesley Stratton was impressed with the fact that all men would be called upon to defend their country in time of need. When he became a student in a state university where military tactics were taught, he registered for these courses and became deeply interested in them, winning the competitive company drill as a cadet captain. A few years later when talking with the president of the University of Illinois, Professor Stratton asked why he had been selected to remain as a member of the instructing staff. The president replied that he had seen that com' petitive company drill in which Cadet Stratton was made a captain and that he seemed to know how to get along with men. He enjoyed the systematic manner of doing things and that experience, especially the discipline, proved to be of great value to him in many of his duties of later years. I A short time after he had arrived at the University of Chicago, a friend of his, knowing of his military instruction at the University of Illinois, requested the assistance of Professor Stratton in the organizaf tion of a naval militia at Chicago. Although skeptical at Hrst of the value of training men inland for the naval service, after a thorough study of the duties of the men constituting the crew of a warship, he conf cluded that men with almost any kind of a technical training would be invaluable in time of need as engineers and officers. Manning an unarmed naval vessel and using the Great Lakes as a training ground, The 'young cada The Student ' 11

Page 8 text:

ir... fkw Q In Zin Memoriam SAMUEL WESLEY STRATTON Chairman of the Corporation Died October 18, 1931 CLARENCE LBMUEL ELISHA MOORE Professor of Mathematics Died December 5, 1931 MELVIN JOSEPH JOHNSON Student in Electrical Engineering Died july 15, 1931 ROLAND WILHELM FORTIBR Student in Electrical Engineering . Died July 15, 1931 JOHN EDMUND THOMPSON Student in Chemistry - Died August 3, 1931 A 9 GEORGE EASTMAN Member of the Corporation Died March 14, 1932 WINWARD PRESCOTT Associate Professor of English Died March 2, 1932 GEORGE LYMAN LOVEJOY Student in Engineering Administration Died August 19, 1931 RALPH GORDON GPFERKUCK Student in Architectural Engineering Died August 28, 1931 WILLIAM PENN MONTGOMERY Student in Mining and Metallurgy Died January 5, 1932

Page 10 text:

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