Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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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

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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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ALTON LINCOLN SMITH “Dbigtoe” Professor of Draiving and Machine Design B. S., W. P. I., 1890, and M. S., 1899; Assistant in Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, W. P. I., 1890-91; Instructor in Mechanical Drawing, 1891-1900; Assistant Professor of Drawing and Machine Design. 1900-06; Professor, 1906- “Dingtoe” presides over the gatherings in the machine design room on the top floor of the M.E. building. He first taught us Kine¬ matics, and did a thorough job, though at times we did wish he wouldn’t stand right in front of the figures on the board, which he was explain¬ ing. When he noticed we were tiring of Kine¬ matics, “A. L.” would lecture for a time on philosophy or social ethics. These lectures were very welcome to the students, especially as they contained a good bit of humor. As seniors, we studied machine and crane design under Prof. Smith. We cannot forget our despair when he found a serious fault with the idea we were sure would bring us a fortune. But if the fault was there, “Dingtoe” would be sure to find it. JOSEPH OLIVER PHELON Joe ATQ TBH Professor of Electrical Engineering B. S., W. P. I., 1887, and B. S. (Electr ' cal Engineering), 1890; M. M. E., Cornell, 1901; Instructor in Physics, W. P. I., 1887-96; Electrical Engineering, 1896-1900; Fellow, Cornell Univ., 1900-01; Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering, W. P. I., 1901-07; Professor, 1907- To “Joe” fell the task of starting us off on the road of Electrical Engineering. A Tech man himself, “Joe” realized just what we were up against when he turned us loose with those yellow papers, and lucky it is, for some of us, that he did. Seldom is this professor seen with¬ out a pleasant smile lighting up his face—in¬ deed sometimes the smile seems to be intended as the explanation of the point “Joe” is trying to make. During the time that Prof. Smith is connected with Government work, Prof. Phelon is acting as head of the Department.