William Henry Emerson
Encyclopedia
William Henry "Big Doc" Emerson (June 17, 1860 – November 13, 1924) was an American
chemist
.
, Georgia
in 1860 to Matilda Caroline Austin, daughter of Clisbe Austin, and Caleb J. Emerson. He joined the United States Naval Academy
at age 16, graduating in 1880. Emerson spent the next several years as an officer in the U.S. Navy before enrolling in graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University
in October 1883. At Johns Hopkins, Emerson studied chemistry
under Ira Remsen
. He graduated with his Ph.D.
in 1886 and accepted a faculty position at the South Carolina Military Academy (now The Citadel
). In 1888, Emerson left this position to join the faculty at the newly-formed Georgia School of Technology (now the Georgia Institute of Technology
or Georgia Tech) as an assistant professor. When he joined the faculty at Georgia Tech, Emerson held the only American-earned scientific doctorate
among the three other professors. 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.
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. Emerson also helped form the ANAK Society
, a secretive honor society at Georgia Tech for senior students.
, also attended Georgia Tech and served as one of its deans. William Henry Emerson's grandson, Cherry Logan Emerson, Jr.
, did not attend Georgia Tech but nevertheless followed in his grandfather's footsteps and became a notable chemist.
The Class of 1924 and the ANAK Society
gifted a portrait
of William Henry Emerson to Georgia Tech in 1924, following his death. The portrait was painted by noted Atlanta artist Kate Edwards. After being lost some time in the 1980s, the portrait was found and restored in the early 1990s. It has hung in the atrium of the Lyman Hall
Building since October 15, 1992.
The William Henry Emerson Building, erected in 1925 by architects R. S. Pringle and Francis P. Smith, is located in the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District
. The building houses Georgia Tech's Accounting, Capital Planning and Space Management, and Internal Auditing departments.
The William Henry Emerson Fellowship in Chemistry is awarded in his honor. At Emory University
, Emerson is recognized by the William Henry Emerson Chair of Chemistry.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
.
Life
William Henry Emerson was born in Tunnel HillTunnel Hill, Georgia
Tunnel Hill is a town in northwest Whitfield County, Georgia, United States,and southern Catoosa County, Georgia, United States . It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 1860 to Matilda Caroline Austin, daughter of Clisbe Austin, and Caleb J. Emerson. He joined the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at age 16, graduating in 1880. Emerson spent the next several years as an officer in the U.S. Navy before enrolling in graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in October 1883. At Johns Hopkins, Emerson studied chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
under Ira Remsen
Ira Remsen
Ira Remsen was a chemist who, along with Constantin Fahlberg, discovered the artificial sweetener saccharin. He was the second president of Johns Hopkins University.-Biography:...
. He graduated with his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1886 and accepted a faculty position at the South Carolina Military Academy (now The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
). In 1888, Emerson left this position to join the faculty at the newly-formed Georgia School of Technology (now the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
or Georgia Tech) as an assistant professor. When he joined the faculty at Georgia Tech, Emerson held the only American-earned scientific doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
among the three other professors. Emerson remained at Georgia Tech for the rest of his life, having been appointed its first dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
in 1910. He died in 1924 while still a member of the faculty.
Emerson was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
honor society and the Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
fraternity. He received an honorary Sc.D. degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in 1912. Emerson also helped form the ANAK Society
ANAK Society
The ANAK Society is the oldest known secret society and honor society at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1908, ANAK's purpose is "to honor outstanding juniors and seniors who have shown both exemplary leadership and a true love for Georgia Tech"...
, a secretive honor society at Georgia Tech for senior students.
Legacy
William Henry Emerson's son, Cherry Logan Emerson, Sr.Cherry Logan Emerson (engineer)
Cherry Logan Emerson, Sr. was an American engineer and academic administrator.-Education:Emerson graduated from Georgia Tech with two bachelor's degrees: one in mechanical engineering and one in electrical engineering...
, also attended Georgia Tech and served as one of its deans. William Henry Emerson's grandson, Cherry Logan Emerson, Jr.
Cherry Logan Emerson (chemist)
Cherry Logan Emerson, Jr. was an American chemist, businessman, and philanthropist.-Life:Cherry Logan Emerson, Jr. was born in 1916 and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the son of Cherry Logan Emerson, Sr., the dean of engineering at the Georgia Tech, and the grandson of William Henry Emerson,...
, did not attend Georgia Tech but nevertheless followed in his grandfather's footsteps and became a notable chemist.
The Class of 1924 and the ANAK Society
ANAK Society
The ANAK Society is the oldest known secret society and honor society at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1908, ANAK's purpose is "to honor outstanding juniors and seniors who have shown both exemplary leadership and a true love for Georgia Tech"...
gifted a portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
of William Henry Emerson to Georgia Tech in 1924, following his death. The portrait was painted by noted Atlanta artist Kate Edwards. After being lost some time in the 1980s, the portrait was found and restored in the early 1990s. It has hung in the atrium of the Lyman Hall
Lyman Hall (academic)
Lyman Hall was a professor and president of the Georgia School of Technology . He is perhaps best known for bringing what is now the School of Polymer, Textile & Fiber Engineering to Georgia Tech...
Building since October 15, 1992.
The William Henry Emerson Building, erected in 1925 by architects R. S. Pringle and Francis P. Smith, is located in the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District
Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District
The Historic District of the Georgia Institute of Technology, also known as the Old Campus of Georgia Tech or the Hill District, is significant in the areas of architecture, education, engineering and science, as well as landscape architecture. The area is a Registered Historic Place and part of...
. The building houses Georgia Tech's Accounting, Capital Planning and Space Management, and Internal Auditing departments.
The William Henry Emerson Fellowship in Chemistry is awarded in his honor. At Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, Emerson is recognized by the William Henry Emerson Chair of Chemistry.