Meritorious Achievement Research Articles

Carthrae Merrette Laffoon Lamme medalist for 1949: History of the medal

THE LAMME MEDAL was established in 1926 in accordance with the terms of the will of Benjamin Garver Lamme which provided for the award of a gold medal annually to a member of the Institute “who has shown meritorious achievement in the development of electrical apparatus or machinery.” The first medal under this award was granted in 1928, and this year marks the inclusion of the name of C. M. Laffoon among 22 distinguished contributors to the development of machinery and apparatus.

A Meritorious Achievement: The Yearbook of Education 1949

(1950). A Meritorious Achievement: The Yearbook of Education 1949. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 334-335.

The Edison medalist

TWO HUNDRED years ago Benjamin Franklin, by vocation a printer and journalist, and by avocation, a politician, diplomat, philosopher, and scientist, was spending his “avocation time” experimenting with static electricity and the newly invented Leyden jar. He presently came to the conclusion that the discharges from a Leyden jar were similar in general character to those occuring during a thunderstorm. But how to prove this conclusion experimentally? With a little shed in a small field near Philadelphia as a laboratory and with his precious Leyden jar and a kite as experimental equipment, and a thunderstorm as a source of electricity, Franklin in 1752 proved his theory. He thereby demonstrated conclusively that a lightning discharge is neither a display of the power or wrath of deities nor of the arrogance of devils, but rather is a large-scale demonstration of the silk cloth and glass tube experiment. Franklin's experimental work was of necessity of a qualitative nature. However, he blazed a trail that has been assiduously followed and greatly widened and extended by the man who has been awarded the Edison Medal for 1949, the highest honor bestowed by the Institute for meritorious achievements in “electrical science, electrical engineering, or the electrical arts.”

Karl B. McEachron — Edison medalist for 1949

The Edison Medal for 1949, an annual award for meritorious achievement in electrical science which constitutes one of the nation's highest engineering honors, was presented to Dr. Karl Boyer McEachron of the General Electric Company on Wednesday, February 1, during the 1950 AIEE Winter General Meeting in New York, N. Y. Dr. McEachron was awarded the medal “for his contributions to the advancement of electrical science in the field of lightning and other high-voltage phenomena and for the application of this knowledge to the design and protection of electric apparatus and systems.”

Morris E. Leeds — Edison medalist for 1948: The Edison medal

Presentation of the 1948 Edison Medal to Morris E. Leeds “for his contributions to industry through development and production of electrical precision measuring devices and controls” was made on Wednesday, February 2, during the 1949 AIEE winter general meeting in New York, N. Y. The Edison Medal, one of the nation's highest engineering honors, is awarded annually for meritorious achievement in electrical science.

The Lamme medal

For the past 19 years the lamme Medal has been awarded annually to a member of the Institute for “meritorious achievement in the development of electrical apparatus or machinery.” On this 20th anniversary, the name of A. M. MacCutcheon is to be added to the 19 other illustrious names of men who have received this medal.

The Edison medal

THE EDISON MEDAL was founded in 1904 by associates and friends of Thomas A. Edison who desired to commemorate the achievements of a quarter of a century in the art of electric lighting, and in particular the prominent part played in those achievements by Mr. Edison himself. As the most effective means of accomplishing this object, they established a fund, the proceeds of which are to be used to prepare a gold medal and certificate to be awarded each year to a resident of the United States or Canada for meritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering, or the electrical arts.

John Bayfield Macneill: Lamme medalist for 1946: The Lamme medal

PRESENTATION of the Lamme Medal for 1946 to John Bayfield MacNeill (F '42) manager of the switchgear and control division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, was made June 11, 1947, during the AIEE summer general meeting at Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Mr. MacNeill was awarded the medal “for his foresight, leadership, and creative contribution in the development of switching equipment.” The award has been made each year since 1928 to an engineer “who has shown meritorious achievement in the development of electrical apparatus or machinery.”

The edison medal

Awarded for meritorious achievement in electrical science, engineering, or art, the Edison Medal is one of the greatest honors of the Institute. The medal was established at the AIEE banquet in honor of Edison and the 25th anniversary of the incandescent light. A part of the banquet program is reproduced on the adjacent page.

David G. Prince — Lamme medalist

The 18th annual presentation of the Lamme Medal took place at the recent AIEE summer convention in Detroit, Mich. The 1945 medal was awarded to David C. Prince (F '26) “for his distinguished work in the development of high voltage switching equipment and electronic converters.” The award is made each year to an engineer “who has shown meritorious achievement in the development of electrical apparatus or machinery.”

The 1941 medalist

IN recognition of most meritorious achievement in the field of electrical engineering by one of our distinguished members, Doctor John Boswell Whitehead, he is awarded the Edison Medal. This Medal was established 38 years ago as a memorial to Thomas Edison whose contributions to the development of the new electrical art did so much for the well-being of our fellow men.

Comfort avery Adams — 1940 Lamme medalist

“For his contributions to the theory and design of a-c machinery and his work in the field of electric welding”, the AIEE Lamme Medal for 1940 was presented at the Institute's recent summer convention in Toronto to Doctor Adams who now is consulting engineer for the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company of Philadelphia, Pa. Th is was the thirteenth presentation of this medal, which was established by the will of the late Benjamin Garver Lamme for the recognition of “meritorious achievement”. THE purpose of giving any one a medal is to focus public attention on the recipient, so that his achievements may gain greater public appreciation, and young men may be inspired to emulate them. During the quarter of a century I have known Professor Adams, his qualities of mind and attitude toward life have been to me a continual source of inspiration, so it is of them that I wish to speak today. He has first and foremost been a teacher — not merely of his students, but of his associates. There are two ways of learning, of teaching, or of doing — the superficial way and the fundamental way. The first way is the most impressive. I remember well a professor who could answer almost any question immediately. If, however, he were asked a second question, going deeper into the subject, and then a third and a fourth, his answers became slower and less sure, until finally he could give no further information. His knowledge was only about six layers deep.

Hoover and Edison medals presented at Winter convention

“Distinguished public service” and “meritorious achievement in electrical science, engineering, or arts” were recognized by the presentation of the Hoover and Edison medals, respectively, to Gano Dunn and Philip Torchio, Fellows of the AIEE.

Edison Medal Award

THE Edison Medal for 1934 has been awarded by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers to Prof. Willis R. Whitney, “for his contributions to electrical science, his pioneer inventions, and his inspiring leadership in research”. The Edison Medal was founded by associates and friends of Thomas A. Edison, and is awarded annually for “meritorious achievement in electrical science, electrical engineering, or the electrical arts” by the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. Prof. Whitney has been vice-president in general charge of research of the General Electric Company, Schenectady, New York, since 1932.

The Metalclad Airship

An invitation to address the Royal Aeronautical Society, the first Society of its kind ever founded, is indeed a signal honour and not without misgivings to a humble visitor who, in the land of Elizabethan English, finds himself embarrassed for words adequate to express his appreciation. The scientific contribution of the Society to the advancement of aeronautics and the meritorious achievements of its members are well known in the United States.A sort of unselfish and patient willingness, which encourages men to depart from beaten paths and invade unknown realms to bring forth something new and beneficial to society, is indispensable to any new enterprise, and most characteristic of those who are pioneers in airship development. Certainly none so far have garnered any substantial profits.

Annual dinner of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, February 24, 1910, in honor of Elihu Thomson, recipient of the Edison medal for meritorious achievement

Annual dinner of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, February 24, 1910, in honor of Elihu Thomson, recipient of the Edison medal for meritorious achievement