2008 Woodie Awards
History Weekly
Inauguration: An analysis and history of Henry P. Morton, first president of the Stevens Institute of Technology and his impact on the Institute then and now
Sheeraz Hyder
Issue date: 10/19/06 Section: Campus Life
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Edwin A. Stevens, renowned inventor, noted industrialist and daring entrepreneur, left in his will the sum of approximately $762,500 to go towards the establishment of an institute of learning dedicated to mechanical engineering. The executors of the will became in effect the first trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology(SIT). Among the trustees were William W. Shippen, Samuel Bayard Dod and Steven's wife, Martha Stevens. Dod, brother-in-law of Stevens and President of the Trustees, chose Henry P. Morton, the 34-year-old editor of the Journal of the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, to serve as SIT's first President.
Thus in 1870, Morton, A.B. and honorary Sc.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, moved to Hoboken, New Jersey to lead SIT through its primary period. Along with Dod and the trustees of that era, Morton was responsible for the choosing of the first faculty of SIT and establishing the curriculum. Morton was president from 1870 until his death in 1902 at the age of 66 whereupon he was succeeded by Alexander Crombie Humphreys.
At the institute's founding, SIT offered only the Mechanical Engineer degree. The Institute was the first of its kind and Morton was vital in this setup. Morton chose renowned researcher Robert Henry Thurston as the Senior Professor of Mechanical Engineering, a wise choice when one considers the broad impact that Thurston had on SIT. Reverend Edward Wall was made Professor of Literature & Logic. The Physics professorship went to Alfred M. Mayer, pioneer in acoustics. DeVolson Woods, child prodigy and Civil Engineering professor at the University of Michigan was chosen for the Mathematics post. C.F. Kroeh, a colleague from the Franklin Institute, taught French and German. Chemistry was under the tutelage of Albert R. Leeds, professor at Haverford College. Mechanical Drawing fell under the domain of Charles W. MacCord. Morton himself assisted Mayer in teaching Physics. Thus the first SIT faculty was assembled according to the wishes of Edwin A. Stevens. Stevens aimed to create a one-of-a-kind, pure science-based curriculum with a humanities stronghold. SIT also offered courses in Civil Engineering and various shop courses to teach practical engineering.
Thus in 1870, Morton, A.B. and honorary Sc.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, moved to Hoboken, New Jersey to lead SIT through its primary period. Along with Dod and the trustees of that era, Morton was responsible for the choosing of the first faculty of SIT and establishing the curriculum. Morton was president from 1870 until his death in 1902 at the age of 66 whereupon he was succeeded by Alexander Crombie Humphreys.
At the institute's founding, SIT offered only the Mechanical Engineer degree. The Institute was the first of its kind and Morton was vital in this setup. Morton chose renowned researcher Robert Henry Thurston as the Senior Professor of Mechanical Engineering, a wise choice when one considers the broad impact that Thurston had on SIT. Reverend Edward Wall was made Professor of Literature & Logic. The Physics professorship went to Alfred M. Mayer, pioneer in acoustics. DeVolson Woods, child prodigy and Civil Engineering professor at the University of Michigan was chosen for the Mathematics post. C.F. Kroeh, a colleague from the Franklin Institute, taught French and German. Chemistry was under the tutelage of Albert R. Leeds, professor at Haverford College. Mechanical Drawing fell under the domain of Charles W. MacCord. Morton himself assisted Mayer in teaching Physics. Thus the first SIT faculty was assembled according to the wishes of Edwin A. Stevens. Stevens aimed to create a one-of-a-kind, pure science-based curriculum with a humanities stronghold. SIT also offered courses in Civil Engineering and various shop courses to teach practical engineering.