HONORARY

Thomas Benjamin Doolittle, who received the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in 1909, died of uremia at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, April 4, 1921.

The son of Benjamin and Betsey C. (More) Doolittle, he was born in Woodbury, Conn., June 30, 1839. In early life he was a manufacturer of brass articles in Bridgeport, Conn., and made many inventions in connection with the manufacture of barbed wire; he was the originator of the buffer platform and coupler, of which modified types are in general use on passenger cars. Many years ago he became connected with the Bell Telephone Company, and originated the first telephone switchboard, the hard drawn copper wire which has made long distance telephony possible, the telephone call bell, the first fare-registering device for street cars, and other inventions. In June, 1909, he retired from active service with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. In 1898 he received the Edward Longstreth medal from the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia for the origination of the process of producing hard drawn copper wire.