11

They Came From Auburn:They Came From Auburn:Engineering In the Nineteenth Engineering In the Nineteenth

CenturyCentury

Arthur L. Slotkin, BAE ‘68Arthur L. Slotkin, BAE ‘68

Auburn University, College of EngineeringAuburn University, College of Engineering

22

Introduction and Introduction and AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Adapted from first four chapters of Adapted from first four chapters of They Came They Came from Auburn: Engineering in the New South.from Auburn: Engineering in the New South.Faculty and College of “Engineering and Mines” Faculty and College of “Engineering and Mines” established in 1908established in 1908– ““School of Civil Engineering” in October 1869School of Civil Engineering” in October 1869– 139 years of continuous engineering instruction.139 years of continuous engineering instruction.

Thanks to Thanks to – Dean Larry Benefield and Jim Killian of the College of Dean Larry Benefield and Jim Killian of the College of

Engineering, andEngineering, and– Dwayne Cox and the archivist at the Department of Dwayne Cox and the archivist at the Department of

Special Collections and Archives. Special Collections and Archives.

33

AgendaAgenda

Introduction: Prosperity, War and Poverty, 1856 to 1872Introduction: Prosperity, War and Poverty, 1856 to 1872

East Alabama Male CollegeEast Alabama Male College

Morrill Act of 1862Morrill Act of 1862

A&M College of Alabama: 1872-1884A&M College of Alabama: 1872-1884– Isaac Taylor Tichenor and Robert A. HardawayIsaac Taylor Tichenor and Robert A. Hardaway

– Problems Persist in the 1870sProblems Persist in the 1870s

– ““Russian System” of Mechanic Arts instructionRussian System” of Mechanic Arts instruction

A&M College and Polytechnic Institute: 1885-1898A&M College and Polytechnic Institute: 1885-1898– William LeRoy BrounWilliam LeRoy Broun

– The Mechanic ArtsThe Mechanic Arts

– New CurriculaNew Curricula

Alabama Polytechnic Institute: 1898-1908Alabama Polytechnic Institute: 1898-1908

44

Prosperity, War and Poverty Prosperity, War and Poverty 1856-18721856-1872

Founded in 1856 by the Founded in 1856 by the Methodist Episcopal Methodist Episcopal Church, SouthChurch, SouthCalled the “Auburn Called the “Auburn College”College”Opened in 1859Opened in 1859Granted first five Granted first five degrees in July 1860degrees in July 1860College Closed 1861 to College Closed 1861 to 18661866

Source: Auburn University Library

East Alabama Male CollegeEast Alabama Male CollegeLangdon Hall 1843-1893Langdon Hall 1843-1893

55

East Alabama Male College: East Alabama Male College: After the WarAfter the War

Two degrees granted in Two degrees granted in 18671867

Electives Introduced in Electives Introduced in 1869 and first 1869 and first Civil Civil Engineering Engineering course course offered in “School of CE”offered in “School of CE”

Financial conditions led to Financial conditions led to donation of the “Auburn donation of the “Auburn College” to state for land College” to state for land grant collegegrant college

Relationship with the Relationship with the State University?State University?

“Old Main”

Source: Auburn University Library

66

A&M College of Alabama:A&M College of Alabama:Morrill Act of 1862Morrill Act of 1862

Justin Morrill in the 37th Justin Morrill in the 37th Congress (1861-1862) Congress (1861-1862)

30,000 acres for each 30,000 acres for each senator & representative senator & representative based on the 1860 based on the 1860 censuscensus

Alabama filed papers for Alabama filed papers for federal land grant in federal land grant in 18691869

Alabama established its Alabama established its first Land Grant College first Land Grant College in Auburn in 1872in Auburn in 1872 Congressman Justin Morrill of Vermont

77

Agricultural and Mechanical Agricultural and Mechanical College of AlabamaCollege of Alabama

Isaac Taylor Tichenor Isaac Taylor Tichenor (1872-1882):(1872-1882):– Baptist Minister & planterBaptist Minister & planter– Confederate chaplain & war Confederate chaplain & war

hero at Shilohhero at Shiloh

Modeled after military Modeled after military academies andacademies and military military training dominated student training dominated student lifelife– Curricula in agriculture, Curricula in agriculture,

mechanics, science and mechanics, science and liberal arts, liberal arts, including military including military tacticstactics

Isaac T. Tichenor

Rev. Isaac T. Tichenor, DD Source: Auburn University Library

88

A&M College of AlabamaA&M College of Alabama

AMCA Graduates ('72-'82) Figure 2-1

39%

32%

17%

12%

Engineering Lit. & Arts Agriculture Science

Source: catalogues

99

A&M College of AlabamaA&M College of AlabamaLt. Col. Robert A. Lt. Col. Robert A. Hardaway, CSA Hardaway, CSA – First Professor of First Professor of

EngineeringEngineering– Emphasis on railroad Emphasis on railroad

engineeringengineering

First engineering degree First engineering degree was “Civil Engineer” was “Civil Engineer” – Awarded to W. E. Horne in Awarded to W. E. Horne in

18721872– Changed to BE in 1873 and Changed to BE in 1873 and

CE became graduate CE became graduate degreedegree

– B. H. Johnson earned first B. H. Johnson earned first BE degree in 1874BE degree in 1874

Lt. Col. Robert A. HardawayCourtesy of Jane Hardaway Loflin and the Columbus Museum

1010

A&M College of Alabama:A&M College of Alabama:“The Russian Plan”“The Russian Plan”

What is the Russian What is the Russian Plan? Plan?

Philadelphia Centennial Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition of 1876Exhibition of 1876

– Russian Plan exhibited Russian Plan exhibited

– MIT adopted the planMIT adopted the plan

– Hardaway dabbledHardaway dabbled

Trustees rejected Chair Trustees rejected Chair in “Mechanical in “Mechanical Philosophy” in 1878Philosophy” in 1878

Philadelphia Exhibition

Moscow Imperial Technical Academy

1111

A&M College of AlabamaA&M College of AlabamaEnd of Tichenor AdministrationEnd of Tichenor Administration

More than half of More than half of

non-graduatesnon-graduates

became farmersbecame farmers

Hardaway resigned in Hardaway resigned in

September 1881September 1881

– Dispute with TichenorDispute with Tichenor

– Departed for Mexico Departed for Mexico

to become division to become division

engineerengineer

Non-graduates (Through 1880)N=422

Figure 2-4

53%

21%

17%5% 4%

Agriculture Commerce Professions Mechanical Engineers

Source: Catalogues

1212

Tuscaloosa’s Engineering Building is Tuscaloosa’s Engineering Building is named for Auburn’s First Professor of named for Auburn’s First Professor of

EngineeringEngineering

“Hardaway Hall is home to the aerospaceengineering and mechanics and mechanicalengineering departments of the College of Engineering…completed in 1936, is namedfor Professor Robert A. Hardaway.” Tuscaloosa Website 2008

1313

A&M College A&M College and and Polytechnic Polytechnic Institute: William LeRoy BrounInstitute: William LeRoy Broun

Tichenor departed in 1882Tichenor departed in 1882Broun: scientist and Broun: scientist and educator became president educator became president in 1882in 1882Lane, second professor of Lane, second professor of civil engineeringcivil engineeringBroun reorganized the Broun reorganized the curriculum curriculum Lane: “goddam new-fangled Lane: “goddam new-fangled tex’ books…” tex’ books…”

Source of photos: Auburn University

William LeRoy Broun

Gen. James H. Lane, CSA

1414

A&M College A&M College and and Polytechnic Polytechnic InstituteInstitute

Broun introduced mechanic arts in 1884– George H. Bryant, ME George H. Bryant, ME

from MIT, first from MIT, first instructorinstructor

– Introduced Russian Introduced Russian Plan Plan

Woodworking shop in Woodworking shop in Langdon Hall Langdon Hall basement in 1887basement in 1887Fire in “Old Main” in Fire in “Old Main” in 18871887 Langdon Hall in 1898

Source: 1898 Glomorata

1515

A&M College A&M College and and Polytechnic Polytechnic InstituteInstitute

Mechanic Arts Lab 1888 Mechanic Arts Lab 1888 – Bryant promoted to laboratory Bryant promoted to laboratory

directordirector– Wilmore became “1Wilmore became “1stst

Assistant”Assistant”– Electrical lights! Electrical lights!

Electrical Engineering Electrical Engineering – Morrill Act of 1890 Morrill Act of 1890 – McKissick hired as adjunct McKissick hired as adjunct

professor of M&EE in 1892professor of M&EE in 1892– First degree to F. M. Mosley First degree to F. M. Mosley

(M&EE)(M&EE)

Bryant resigned in 1892 and Bryant resigned in 1892 and Wilmore became laboratory Wilmore became laboratory directordirector

A. Foster McKissick, BSEE, AM Source: SC Business Hall of Fame

1616

Shift to New Fields of Study       

       

Academic Civil Electrical Mechanical Total

Year Engineering Engineering Engineering Engineering

1891 40 (100%) none none 40

1892 35 ( 73%) 13 (27%) none 48

1893 11 ( 15%) 35 (49%) 25 (35%) 71

Undergraduate Engineering Students Figure 4-3

020406080

100120140160

1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902

ME

EE

CE

Source: Catalogues

1717

Alabama Polytechnic Institute Alabama Polytechnic Institute & & State Agricultural & Mechanical College

1893 Engineering 1893 Engineering FacultyFaculty– J. J. Wilmore, professor J. J. Wilmore, professor

of MEof ME– A. F. McKissick, A. F. McKissick,

professor of EEprofessor of EE– J. H. Lane, professor of J. H. Lane, professor of

CECE

Name change to API Name change to API in 1898 but still called in 1898 but still called “Auburn” by most“Auburn” by most John J. Wilmore, ME

Source: 1904 Glomorata

API Faculty, 1890sAPI Faculty, 1890s

1818

Thach Lane Smith Broun Mell

Wilmore Petrie

McKissick Ross

1919

Conclusions Conclusions Engineering in the Nineteenth CenturyEngineering in the Nineteenth Century

Engineering represented about half of total Engineering represented about half of total enrollment during most of the 19enrollment during most of the 19thth century. century.

Auburn engineers contributed to the Auburn engineers contributed to the development of the New South, but not always development of the New South, but not always as engineers. as engineers.

With growth, came reorganization into three With growth, came reorganization into three Colleges in September 1908. Colleges in September 1908.

CE taught CE taught continuouslycontinuously since 1869, (M&EE since 1869, (M&EE continuously since 1892 ). continuously since 1892 ).

2020

Any Questions?Any Questions?