Baker was born in Linton, Indiana, on Sep. 23 1853 the son of Amanda Osborn Baker and Hiram Walker Baker. Baker enrolled at the University of Illinois in March 1871 and graduated in civil engineering in 1874, to become an assistant in civil engineering and physics and then in charge of the department in 1878.[1][2][3] He was in charge of the civil engineering department for 39 years, with an overall teaching career spanning 48 years.[1][2] His married his first wife Emma Burr on 1877-08-05 and his second wife Angie Ewing Ritter on 1913-08-07, and died on 1925-11-08.[3]
Treatise on Masonry Constructionedit
As an author, he was widely known for his 1889 Treatise on Masonry Construction which was the first comprehensive book on the subject.[4][1] He also collaborated with William A. Radford.[4] At the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition he led the division on engineering education, which formed the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education (SPEE).[5]
A contemporary review in the New York Engineering and Building Record described the Treatise as a broad and satisfactory treatment of the subject, with a few areas worthy of improvement.[6] The reviewer called Baker's "almost unqualified approval of dolomites" questionable, noting that New York engineers found local sources of such material substandard.[6] The reviewer also took issue with the illustrations for kinds of masonry and finished surfaces, which Baker had taken from a report of the American Society of Civil Engineers, observing that they were not up to the quality of the other illustrations in the book, and were somewhat misleading as rather than being illustrations of good quality work were in fact pictures of farm fences in Connecticut.[6] Other points that the reviewer took issue with were the use of concrete to make pneumatic foundations watertight, the reviewer asserting that "no amount of concrete will do this".[6]
The reviewer observed an omission of a 1889 expert Report of the New York Aqueduct Commission, and the lack of a chapter on inspection, given the likelihood that the engineering students that the book was originally aimed at would likely find themselves doing masonry inspection after graduation.[6] Conversely, the book's index, and its various tables and diagrams were described as "good"; with theoretical problems "simply and clearly stated" and typical specifications "well selected".[6]
By 1909, the book was in its tenth edition, revised and enlarged from the first.[7] An example of a professional engineer's use of the Treatise was published as Fisher 1896 in the same Engineering and Building Record.[7]
Talbot, Arthur N. (December 1933). Pask, Joseph A. (ed.). "The College of Engineering". The Technograph. Vol. 48, no. 2. Urbana: Illini Publishing Company.
"BAKER, IRA OSBORN: 1853–1925". Indiana Authors. Indiana University.
Belanger, Dian Olson (1998). "Engineering: An American Tradition". Enabling American Innovation: Engineering and the National Science Foundation. Purdue University Press. ISBN9781557531117.
Meyer, Henry C., ed. (1889-12-07). "Baker's Masonry Construction". The Engineering and Building Record and The Sanitary Engineer. Vol. 21, no. 1. New York.
Hess, Jeffrey A. (1986). Historic Highway Bridges in Wisconsin. Vol. 1. Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Further readingedit
Baker, Ira Osborn (1889). A Treatise on Masonry Construction. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Finch, James Kip (1978). "Baker: Masonry and Roads". In FitzSimons, Neal (ed.). Engineering Classics of James Kip Finch. Cedar Press.
Fisher, J. F. (1896-10-24). Meyer, Henry C. (ed.). "Building a small Stone Highway Bridge". The Engineering and Building Record and The Sanitary Engineer. Vol. 34, no. 21. New York. p. 380.
May 02, 2024
osborn, baker, engineering, professor, university, illinois, author, contents, biography, treatise, masonry, construction, cross, reference, sources, further, readingbiography, editbaker, born, linton, indiana, 1853, amanda, osborn, baker, hiram, walker, baker. Ira Osborn Baker was an engineering professor at the University of Illinois and author Contents 1 Biography 2 Treatise on Masonry Construction 3 Cross reference 4 Sources 5 Further readingBiography editBaker was born in Linton Indiana on Sep 23 1853 the son of Amanda Osborn Baker and Hiram Walker Baker Baker enrolled at the University of Illinois in March 1871 and graduated in civil engineering in 1874 to become an assistant in civil engineering and physics and then in charge of the department in 1878 1 2 3 He was in charge of the civil engineering department for 39 years with an overall teaching career spanning 48 years 1 2 His married his first wife Emma Burr on 1877 08 05 and his second wife Angie Ewing Ritter on 1913 08 07 and died on 1925 11 08 3 Treatise on Masonry Construction editAs an author he was widely known for his 1889 Treatise on Masonry Construction which was the first comprehensive book on the subject 4 1 He also collaborated with William A Radford 4 At the 1893 World s Columbian Exposition he led the division on engineering education which formed the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education SPEE 5 A contemporary review in the New York Engineering and Building Record described the Treatise as a broad and satisfactory treatment of the subject with a few areas worthy of improvement 6 The reviewer called Baker s almost unqualified approval of dolomites questionable noting that New York engineers found local sources of such material substandard 6 The reviewer also took issue with the illustrations for kinds of masonry and finished surfaces which Baker had taken from a report of the American Society of Civil Engineers observing that they were not up to the quality of the other illustrations in the book and were somewhat misleading as rather than being illustrations of good quality work were in fact pictures of farm fences in Connecticut 6 Other points that the reviewer took issue with were the use of concrete to make pneumatic foundations watertight the reviewer asserting that no amount of concrete will do this 6 The reviewer observed an omission of a 1889 expert Report of the New York Aqueduct Commission and the lack of a chapter on inspection given the likelihood that the engineering students that the book was originally aimed at would likely find themselves doing masonry inspection after graduation 6 Conversely the book s index and its various tables and diagrams were described as good with theoretical problems simply and clearly stated and typical specifications well selected 6 By 1909 the book was in its tenth edition revised and enlarged from the first 7 An example of a professional engineer s use of the Treatise was published as Fisher 1896 in the same Engineering and Building Record 7 Cross reference edit a b c Talbot 1933 p 18 a b ChE a b IU a b Vogel 1993 p 24 Belanger 1998 p 13 a b c d e f Meyer 1889 p 10 a b Hess 1986 p 178 Sources editTalbot Arthur N December 1933 Pask Joseph A ed The College of Engineering The Technograph Vol 48 no 2 Urbana Illini Publishing Company Vogel Neal September 1993 William Radford Old House Journal Vol 21 no 5 Active Interest Media ISSN 0094 0178 Ira O Baker Chi Episilon UIUC Chapter BAKER IRA OSBORN 1853 1925 Indiana Authors Indiana University Belanger Dian Olson 1998 Engineering An American Tradition Enabling American Innovation Engineering and the National Science Foundation Purdue University Press ISBN 9781557531117 Meyer Henry C ed 1889 12 07 Baker s Masonry Construction The Engineering and Building Record and The Sanitary Engineer Vol 21 no 1 New York Hess Jeffrey A 1986 Historic Highway Bridges in Wisconsin Vol 1 Wisconsin Department of Transportation Further reading editBaker Ira Osborn 1889 A Treatise on Masonry Construction New York John Wiley amp Sons Finch James Kip 1978 Baker Masonry and Roads In FitzSimons Neal ed Engineering Classics of James Kip Finch Cedar Press Fisher J F 1896 10 24 Meyer Henry C ed Building a small Stone Highway Bridge The Engineering and Building Record and The Sanitary Engineer Vol 34 no 21 New York p 380 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ira Osborn Baker amp oldid 1191648310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
