William Emerson (October 16, 1873 – May 4, 1957) was an American architect and the first dean of the MIT School of Architecture from 1932 to 1939. He was instrumental in establishing a city planning department at MIT.
Emerson was born in New York City. His parents, of English and Dutch descent, were Susan Tompkins and John Haven Emerson, a medical doctor.[1] His father's family included poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, the young Emerson's great uncle.[2]
In 1919, Emerson returned to the United States and took a faculty appointment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1932 he became the dean of the newly formed School of Architecture. In his first year, he oversaw the creation of a Department of City Planning, commissioning planner Thomas Adams to create its curriculum.[3] In conjunction with the planning program, Emerson's seven-year deanship shifted the school from pure design practice to a broader focus on public policy and social issues.[2] At MIT, his students included Robert Van Nice and I.M. Pei.[2][4]
^ abcChamberlain, Joshua L.; Wingate, Charles E. L., eds. (1900). Universities and their Sons; History, Influence and Characteristics of American Universities. Vol. 5. Boston: R. Herndon Company. p. 4. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
^ abcdefgBayley, Betsy (10 March 2014). "The Influential Friendship of William Emerson". Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives blog. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
^Vale, Lawrence (2008). Changing Cities: 75 Years of Planning Better Futures at MIT(PDF). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. p. 14. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
^Wiseman, Carter (2001). I. M. Pei: A Profile in American Architecture. Harry N. Abrams. p. 35. ISBN9780810934771.
January 06, 2023
william, emerson, american, architect, this, article, about, american, architect, professor, earlier, shingle, style, american, architect, william, ralph, emerson, british, architect, william, emerson, british, architect, william, emerson, october, 1873, 1957,. This article is about the American architect and MIT professor For the earlier Shingle Style American architect see William Ralph Emerson For the British architect see William Emerson British architect William Emerson October 16 1873 May 4 1957 was an American architect and the first dean of the MIT School of Architecture from 1932 to 1939 He was instrumental in establishing a city planning department at MIT William EmersonWilliam Emerson at MIT 1922Born 1873 10 16 October 16 1873New York City USDiedMay 4 1957 1957 05 04 aged 83 Cambridge Massachusetts USEducationHarvard CollegeColumbia UniversityEcole des Beaux ArtsOccupation s Architect professorEmployerMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyBiography EditEmerson was born in New York City His parents of English and Dutch descent were Susan Tompkins and John Haven Emerson a medical doctor 1 His father s family included poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson the young Emerson s great uncle 2 Emerson in his student years Emerson graduated from Harvard College in 1895 where he was a Harvard Crimson editor and Hasty Pudding Club comedian 1 He completed architectural training at Columbia University and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris 2 He began his practice in 1899 in New York focusing on social housing and bank buildings 2 1 At the end of World War I Emerson returned to Paris for two years as director of the Bureau of Construction of the American Red Cross 2 In 1919 Emerson returned to the United States and took a faculty appointment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge Massachusetts In 1932 he became the dean of the newly formed School of Architecture In his first year he oversaw the creation of a Department of City Planning commissioning planner Thomas Adams to create its curriculum 3 In conjunction with the planning program Emerson s seven year deanship shifted the school from pure design practice to a broader focus on public policy and social issues 2 At MIT his students included Robert Van Nice and I M Pei 2 4 Emerson served as the chair of the Unitarian Service Committee in the 1940s and as Vice President of the Byzantine Institute of America 2 He died on May 4 1957 in Cambridge Emerson married Frances White and they resided at her grandfather s house on Brattle Street She died shortly before him on March 10 1957 They are buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord Massachusetts References Edit a b c Chamberlain Joshua L Wingate Charles E L eds 1900 Universities and their Sons History Influence and Characteristics of American Universities Vol 5 Boston R Herndon Company p 4 Retrieved 23 February 2016 a b c d e f g Bayley Betsy 10 March 2014 The Influential Friendship of William Emerson Image Collections and Fieldwork Archives blog Dumbarton Oaks Research Library Retrieved 23 February 2016 Vale Lawrence 2008 Changing Cities 75 Years of Planning Better Futures at MIT PDF Massachusetts Institute of Technology p 14 Retrieved 23 February 2016 Wiseman Carter 2001 I M Pei A Profile in American Architecture Harry N Abrams p 35 ISBN 9780810934771 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Emerson American architect amp oldid 1075670381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
