From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Henry Emerson
William Henry Emerson
William Henry Emerson Citadel).[3] In 1888, Emerson left this position to join the
faculty at the newly-formed Georgia School of Technol-
ogy (now the Georgia Institute of Technology or Georgia
Tech) as an assistant professor.[2] When he joined the fac-
ulty at Georgia Tech, Emerson held the only American-
earned scientific doctorate among the three other pro-
fessors.[1] Emerson remained at Georgia Tech for the rest
of his life, having been appointed its first dean in 1910.
He died in 1924 while still a member of the faculty.[4]
Emerson was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor
society and the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He received
an honorary Sc.D. degree from the University of Georgia
in 1912.[2] Emerson also helped form the ANAK Society,
a secretive honor society at Georgia Tech for senior stu-
dents.[5]
Legacy
William Henry Emerson’s son, Cherry Logan Emerson,
Born June 17, 1860(1860-06-17) Sr., also attended Georgia Tech and served as one of its
Tunnel Hill, Georgia deans.[4] William Henry Emerson’s grandson, Cherry Lo-
gan Emerson, Jr., did not attend Georgia Tech but nev-
Died November 13, 1924(1924-11-13)
ertheless followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and be-
(aged 64)
Atlanta, Georgia came a notable chemist.[1]
The Class of 1924 and the ANAK Society gifted a por-
Nationality United States trait of William Henry Emerson to Georgia Tech in 1924,
Fields Chemistry following his death. The portrait was painted by noted
Atlanta artist Kate Edwards. After being lost some time
Institutions Georgia School of Technology in the 1980s, the portrait was found and restored in the
South Carolina Military Academy
early 1990s. It has hung in the atrium of the Lyman Hall
Alma mater Johns Hopkins University Building since October 15, 1992.[4]
United States Naval Academy The William Henry Emerson Building, erected in 1925
Doctoral Ira Remsen by architects R. S. Pringle and Francis P. Smith, is located
advisor in the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District.[6]
The building houses Georgia Tech’s Accounting, Capital
William Henry "Big Doc" Emerson (June 17, 1860[1] – Planning and Space Management, and Internal Auditing
November 13, 1924[2]) was an American chemist. departments.[7]
The William Henry Emerson Fellowship in Chemistry
is awarded in his honor.[8] At Emory University, Emerson
Life is recognized by the William Henry Emerson Chair of
William Henry Emerson was born in Tunnel Hill, Georgia Chemistry.[9]
in 1860 to Matilda Caroline Austin, daughter of Clisbe
Austin, and Caleb J. Emerson.[3] He joined the United
States Naval Academy at age 16, graduating in 1880.[1]
Notes
Emerson spent the next several years as an officer in the [1] ^ Emerson, 2002.
U.S. Navy before enrolling in graduate studies at Johns [2] ^ J. L. D., 1924.
Hopkins University in October 1883. At Johns Hopkins, [3] ^ J. L. D., 1924; Emerson, 2002.
Emerson studied chemistry under Ira Remsen.[1] He grad- [4] ^ "Emerson’s portrait", 1992.
uated with his Ph.D. in 1886 and accepted a faculty po- [5] McMath, 1994.
sition at the South Carolina Military Academy (now The [6] "William Henry Emerson Building", n.d.
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Henry Emerson
[7] "W. H. Emerson Building", n.d. Emory University. Emory University.
[8] "William Henry Emerson Fellowship", n.d. http://www.chemistry.emory.edu/
[9] Day, n.d. department_info/history/chapter7.html. Retrieved
2008-02-24.
References • "W. H. Emerson Building". Georgia Institute of
Technology Campus Map. Georgia Tech Alumni
• "After 68 Years, ’Big Doc’ Emerson’s portrait Association. http://gtalumni.org/map/
officially unveiled". Tech Topics (Georgia Tech Alumni index.php?id=29B. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
Association). Winter 1992. http://gtalumni.org/ • "William Henry Emerson Building". Building
Publications/techtopics/win92/68years.html. Information. Georgia Tech Capital Planning and Space
Retrieved 2007-12-22. Management. http://www.irp.gatech.edu/space/
• Emerson, Cherry L., Jr. (Spring 2002). "Lessons for a fac.cfm?fac=029B. Retrieved 2008-02-26.
Lifetime". Tech Topics (Georgia Tech Alumni • McMath, Robert C., Jr. (1994). William Henry Emerson
Association). Archived from the original on and the Scientific Discipline at Georgia Tech. Cherry
2008-02-28. http://web.archive.org/web/ Logan Emerson. pp. 122. ISBN 0-9639968-9-4.
20080228123937/http://gtalumni.org/ Persondata
StayInformed/techtopics/spr02/firstperson.html.
Name Emerson, William Henry
Retrieved 2008-02-19.
• J. L. D. (1924-12-05). "William Henry Emerson". Alternative names
Science 60 (1562): 517. JSTOR 1650212. Short description
• "William Henry Emerson Fellowship In Chemistry". Date of birth June 17, 1860
Georgia Institute of Technology.
http://www.chemistry.gatech.edu/alumni/ Place of birth Tunnel Hill, Georgia
cherry.php. Retrieved 2008-02-24. Date of death November 13, 1924
• Day, R.A.. "THE RECENT YEARS; THE EMERSON Place of death Atlanta, Georgia
CENTER; CHERRY LOGAN EMERSON HALL
1983-2001". History of the Department of Chemistry at
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Emerson"
Categories: American chemists, Georgia Institute of Technology faculty, Johns Hopkins University alumni, United
States Naval Academy alumni, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, 1860 births, 1924 deaths, People
from Whitfield County, Georgia
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