University of Rochester - Interpres Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

Page 5 text:

TO ARTHUR LATHAM BAKER. Pnornssox or Mxruxmmcs. WITH GRATITUDE FOR THE HELP AND INSPIRATION HE HAS GIVEN US. AND REGRET THAT HE IS TO LEAVE US. THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED.

Page 4 text:

Mt . X 5. V2.1 Wig : g'g.g,ji:,.i2': 5.5 :A gg,gqg.1.g'L I - .f.m.qa..f. 5 Q ' :ww 1 4 f....4. w-5 .an 'a .,,l,.s Xi: f if E 3 Q E, ? L, ff? iw ARTHUR LATHAM BAKER, C. E., PH. D.

Page 6 text:

ARTHUR LATHAM BAKER, C. E. PH. Il. HE INTERPRES has not been umnindfnl of the first part of Pope's familiar injunction Welcome the coming, speed the going, guest. It has al ways extended si cordial welcome to any new member of the Faculty, giving a sketch of his life and an epitome for expansion-as the case might requirej of his claims to respect ful consideration. The only new member of the Faculty this year is our Physical Director: and--well, it wouldn't do, you know, to get out a Green Number of THE INTERPRICS. So we have determined to speed the going guest and make this a Baker Number, in recognition of the faithful service of the courteous gentleman and accomplished scholar who has for ten years filled the chair of Mathematics in our University. Arthur Latham Baker was born in Cincinnati, May 7, 1853: but came of sturdy New England stock-numbering among his ancestors Mary Chilton, the first woman who set foot on Plymouth Rock: Thomas Dudley, one of the early governors of the Massachusetts colony 1 Whittierls Cassandra Southwick 3 and two of the rebels who achieved such a glorious defeat at Bunker Hill. At the age of sixteen, he entered the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., whence he graduated as Civil Engineer, with the highest honors, in IS73. While a student at the Polytechnic Institute. Mr. Baker had Fitted himself to enter thc junior class at Dartmouth this father's alum malefl 5 but the financial crisis of IS73 frustrated this plan, and he became Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at Lafayette College, While teaching at Lafayette. Professor Baker married Miss Elizabeth Coit Hand-the estimable lady who still presides over his home-venturing upon this new departure during term time, and receiving from the students of the college a handsome silver service. Lafayette conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., upon examination, after he had terminated his connection with that institution. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Fraternity. In ISSO Prof. Baker removed to Scranton, Pa., and entered upon the practice of law, publishing, for several years, digests of the decisions of the Pennsylvania courts which were very favorably received by the legal profession. Brain-weariness, brought on by over-work, compelled the relinquishment of this arduous undertaking 1 and, in ISS9, Prof. Baker resumed his work as a teacher at the Stevens School, Hoboken, N, J. In 1890 he was in Europe, and spent some time in study at the University of Giittiugeu. In 1391 he became Professor of Mathematics in the University of Rochester, where, from X892 to Igoo, he also filled the position of Librarian. ln 1900 he tendered his resignation to the Board of Trusteesg but, at their request, consented to remain at Rochester till the close of the present academic year. Numerous articles contributed to various scientific journals, and such works as his Graphic Algebra, attest the keenness of Dr. Baker's intellect and the solidity of his attain- nieuts. Endowed with unusual powers of mental appropriation and assimilation, familiar for years with the minute and Lhorough training of the technical schools, Bake may, possibly, have expected ton much of the average college student. But he expected less and less of us the better he knew ns: and was always ready to help us out of any difficulties in which we were Ilountleriug 3 he never mopped the floor with us when we failed to come up to his standard of excellence. And so we tender, to him and his, the best wishes of Tm: CLASS or igoz. 4 .