Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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ALEXANDER WILMER DUFF “A. Wtimer ’ $ 2 K 2 H Professor of Physics B. A., Univ. of New Brunswick, 1884, and Univ. of London, 1887; M. A., Univ. of Edinburgh, 1888, B. Sc., 1892, and D. Sc., 1901; Professor of Physics, Univ. of Madras, 1889-90; Univ. of New Brunswick, 1890-93; Purdue, 1893-99; W. P. I., 1899- The name of Prof. Duff is indeed well known in the world of Science, and W. P. I. is proud to have him as the head of its Physics Depart¬ ment. Many of us have met him in the class¬ room; all of us have profited by his lectures, at which his able assistant never forgot to take the attendance. Dr. Duff has been granted a leave of absence that he might go to Washington where he is doing research work for the Government on air resistance. He declined the commission offered him, believing that he could do more efficient work as a civilian. His service is sure to be a valuable one. ARTHUR WILLARD FRENCH “Pa” 2E Professor of Civil Engineering C. E., Dartmouth, 1892; Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, Dartmouth, 1895-98; Professor, W. P. I., 1899- Recitation with “Pa” is simply a series of personal exploits. Every lesson is covered by a special experience all its own, each taken from “my first job,” which job was certainly a wonder. “Pa” is disproof enough of his own theory that “a lazy man makes the best engi¬ neer,” for many are the hours of hard work spent in his office ov er difficult problems. Still, every possible afternoon, he and “Joe” leave for the back-woods of Sterling where they are experimenting in co-operative farming; and here “Pa” can smoke that old corncob in peace. Much though we may curse at his problems, “Pa’s” teaching suits us all, and 10% of his personal experiences properly applied will insure our success as engineers. Page 16

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ZELOTES WOOD COOMBS “Coombsie” A A i I B K Professor of English, and Secretary of the Faculty A. B., Amherst, 1888, and A. M., 1895; Instructor in English, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, 1888-89; Univ. of Virginia, 1889-90; Clerk and Assistant in Languages, W. P. I., 1891-92; Instructor in Modern Languages, 1892-95; Assistant Professor, 1895-1901; Professor of French, 1901-03; Modern Languages, 1903-13; Secretary of the Faculty, 1910-; Professor of English, 1913- If it is true that all good things should be saved until the last, we had Prof. Coombs at the wrong end of our course, for we saw little of him during our last two years. Prof. Coombs is a personal friend of every Tech man, for he never forgets one. His re¬ markable memory for faces and names, his pen¬ cil insistently tapping a chair arm during an exciting debate, his reviewing of the grammatical errors of the week, these are memories that call to mind a man with whom it is a pleasure and a privilege to have been associated. HAROLD BABBITT SMITH “ . R.” B @ n 2 = Professor of Electrical Engineering M. E., Cornell, 1891; Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering, Arkansas State Univ., 1892-93; Professor of Electrical Engineering, Purdue, 1893-96; W. P. L, 1896- In Prof. Smith we find a teacher who is looked up to by every student under him as a man for whom one can hold only the greatest esteem. Under him the Department of Electri¬ cal Engineering at the Institute has grown rap¬ idly, until now it holds a position second to none in the field of instruction in the principles of Electrical Engineering. Prof. Smith is a teacher who takes a big in¬ terest in the progress of his students, and his encouragement, when we failed to grasp the meanings of his formulae in Design, was the saving of many of us. “H. B.” is an authority on electrical subjects, and at present is giving over half of his time to important Government work. Page 15

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WILLIAM WARREN BIRD rpissf’ V “r Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Director of the Washburn Shops B. S., W. P. I., 1887; Instructor in Mechanical Engi¬ neering, W. P. L, 1887-91; Assistant Professor of Steam Engineering, 1894-96; Professor of Mechanical Engi¬ neering and Director of the Washhurn Shops, 1903- In the M.E. Department “Piggy” has charge of things; even the responsibility of conserving electric energy seems to rest wholly on his shoulders so far as the M.E. building is con¬ cerned. Only the Seniors meet Prof. Bird in the class room, where he teaches Dynamics and Shop Management. In the former course he made us see, by means of many carefully thought out illustrations, in which the anatomy and dimen¬ sions of dogs figured prominently, just how pulleys and weights, belts, dyna¬ mometers, and trains ought to go. In the Shop Management course we learned about the most complicated system of keeping shop records known, and the farther we went into it, the more we wondered how the Washburn Shops ever get along without an office force six times as large as their present one. PERCY ROBERT CARPENTER “Percy” A E Professor of Physical Education A. B., Harvard, 1907; Hitchcock Fellow, Amherst, 1906- 09; Assistant Dean, 1908-10; Instructor in Physical Education, 1909-10; Assistant Professor, 1910-11; As¬ sociate Professor, 1911-16; Professor of Physi cal Edu¬ cation, W. P. I., 1916- It was only last year that Prof. Carpenter came to Tech, but a year was sufficient for him to establish an excellent course in Physical Training, and to prove that the aforesaid course was worthy to be attended with commendable regularity by those required to take it. The recent closing of the gymnasium to save coal made it possible for Prof. Carpenter to obtain a leave of absence and to enter a field of work in which men of his calibre are greatly needed. He has gone to France to train men physically under the supervision of the Y. M. C. A., and, owing to his knowl¬ edge of French, will work among French-speaking men. Page 17