Kempster Blanchard Miller
Encyclopedia
Kempster Blanchard Miller (August 14, 1870 – November 22, 1933) was an American
engineer, author, and businessman. He is known for his many writings in the field of electrical engineering, electrical design, and the early telephone industry. His best known work was American Telephone Practice, considered for many years to be the seminal textbook on early telephone design and function.
, Massachusetts
to Joseph Kempster Miller and Eliza (Blanchard) Miller, he spent his childhood in Washington, DC before earning his engineering degree from Cornell University
in 1893. In 1897 he married Antha Knowlton, and they had three daughters, Dorothea, Antha, and Ruth.
, also known as Ruth Kempster and Ruth Blanchard Miller, was a distinguished artist whose work was exhibited (and won a silver medal) in the 1932 Olympics
.
His brother was businessman, rancher and citrus farmer Azariel Blanchard Miller
(1878–1941), founder of the city of Fontana
, California
.
he was an unwitting accomplice to the secret takeover by the Bell Telephone Company
, reversed after a lawsuit by the company's founder, Milo G. Kellogg. He then formed his own engineering consulting company with Samuel McKeen in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois
.
, California
, at the age of 63.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer, author, and businessman. He is known for his many writings in the field of electrical engineering, electrical design, and the early telephone industry. His best known work was American Telephone Practice, considered for many years to be the seminal textbook on early telephone design and function.
Personal life
Miller was born in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to Joseph Kempster Miller and Eliza (Blanchard) Miller, he spent his childhood in Washington, DC before earning his engineering degree from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1893. In 1897 he married Antha Knowlton, and they had three daughters, Dorothea, Antha, and Ruth.
Notable Family Members
Daughter Ruth MillerRuth Miller
Ruth Blanchard Miller was an American artist.Miller was born to Kempster Blanchard Miller and Antha Miller in Chicago, Illinois...
, also known as Ruth Kempster and Ruth Blanchard Miller, was a distinguished artist whose work was exhibited (and won a silver medal) in the 1932 Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
.
His brother was businessman, rancher and citrus farmer Azariel Blanchard Miller
Azariel Blanchard Miller
Azariel Blanchard Miller was an American farmer, rancher, and developer credited with founding the city of Fontana, California, in 1913. Miller Park, Miller Avenue, and Fontana A.B...
(1878–1941), founder of the city of Fontana
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city of 196,069 residents in San Bernardino County, California. Founded in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Career
After graduating from Cornell, Miller worked for a time in the US Patent Office as an examiner, then worked as an electrical engineer for the Western Telephone Construction Company. Later, as Chief Engineer in the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply CompanyKellogg Switchboard & Supply Company
Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company was a major manufacturer of telephone exchange equipment. It was founded in Chicago, Illinois, by Milo G. Kellogg, an electrical engineer...
he was an unwitting accomplice to the secret takeover by the Bell Telephone Company
Bell Telephone Company
The Bell Telephone Company, a common law joint stock company, was organized in Boston, Massachusetts on July 9, 1877 by Alexander Graham Bell's father-in-law Gardiner Greene Hubbard, who also helped organize a sister company — the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company...
, reversed after a lawsuit by the company's founder, Milo G. Kellogg. He then formed his own engineering consulting company with Samuel McKeen in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois
American Telephone Practice
In 1899 American Electrician published Miller's book, American Telephone Practice. At 518 pages and many dozens of illustrations, it detailed nearly everything known about the telephone industry at the time. Three more printings followed, in 1900, 1903 and 1905. The last two editions were published by McGraw. By the last edition (1905), entirely updated and rewritten, it had grown to 888 pages.Philanthropy
Credited in 1928, along with F.R. Welles and Charles A. Brown, with donating 100 acres of land that would become Pilot Butte State Scenic View in Bend, OregonBend, Oregon
Bend is a city in and the county seat of Deschutes County, Oregon, United States, and the principal city of the Bend, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bend is Central Oregon's largest city, and, despite its modest size, is the de facto metropolis of the region, owing to the low population...
.
Death
Miller died on November 22, 1933 in PasadenaPasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, at the age of 63.