ERNEST FOX NICHOLS
It was to a greatly shocked community that the tragic news came on April 29 of the sudden death of Dr. Nichols. Some of us had just returned from attending the scientific meetings in Washington where we had met him and Mrs. Nichols. As we had conversed frequently with him and had noted the evidences of returned vigor and increased strength we were spreading the news of his recovery to nearly normal health when the telegram came announcing that he had passed away while addressing the National Academy of Sciences.
Most of .the chief facts concerning Dr. Nichols' educational history are known to readers of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. When scarcely nineteen he received the B. S. degree from the Kansas Agricultural College. This was preliminary to an extended training. For three years (1889-1892) he was a graduate student in Cornell and for two years (1894- 1896) he was in Berlin. He received the degree of M. S. and D. S. from Cornell in 1893 and 1897. In the meantime, in 1892, when only twenty-three years of age he had been appointed professor of physics in Colgate University and continued his connection with that institution, though for a time on leave of absence, until 1898 when he was called to Dartmouth. The corner stone of Wilder Hall was laid in the same year. Both were events of great significance to the work in physics in Dartmouth and indeed in New England.
It was in Berlin that Dr. Nichols may be said to have found himself. It was there that his skill as an experimental scientist was discovered. He was associated with Professor Rubens in a notable extension of the infra red spectrum. That is to say they were able to detect and measure longer heat or light waves than had up to that time been measured. For this purpose Dr. Nichols designed and constructed a sensitive radiometer. Later he used this instrument at the Yerkes and Mount Wilson observatories in measuring for the first time the heat from certain stars and planets. To Dartmouth he thus brought a zeal for research as well as skill for its successful prosecution.
Wilder Hall was occupied in the fall of 1899. For many of the details connected with the design and construction of the laboratory Dr. Nichols was responsible. He directed the equipping of the laboratory as well as the organization of the new courses of instruction. It is a tribute to his judgment in the selection of substantial and well designed apparatus that we have today in use in the laboratory a good deal of the equipment then installed.
The years 1899-1903 were strenuous and exhilarating years for the department of physics. New equipment was constantly being added, new courses were being offered and very exacting research was being carried on. Vacations, except for tramping trips in the mountains, were largely given up to research. In all of this work Dr. Nichols was the invigorating spirit. The successful completion of certain research work, notably that having to do with the detection and measurement of the pressure of light, together with his breadth as a teacher gave Dr. Nichols a prominent place in the educational world. Naturally he was wanted elsewhere and in 1903 he was offered and he accepted a professorship of physics in Columbia University. Before he severed his connection with Dartmouth, howrever, he was given the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in recognition of the significant service he had rendered to science and to Dartmouth. In further recognition of his work he was made a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1903 and received the Rumford Medal of the American Academy in 1905.
While on leave of absence from Columbia Dr. Nichols spent the year 1904- 05 in Cambridge where J. J. Thomson and his school were carrying on brilliant researches in connection with the nature of matter and electricity. During that year in England he became acquainted with many prominent English scientists with several of whom he formed lasting friendship. After his return to Columbia from England Dr. Nichols found his time rather largely taken up with teaching , with the directing of investigations which were being carried on by his graduate students and with important administrative and committee activities. About this time the Trustees of Dartmouth were looking for an outstanding man to succeed Dr. Tucker who had resigned in 1907 but who at the insistent request of 'the Trustees agreed to continue in office until his successor was appointed. The choice fell upon Dr Nichols who in June, 1909 became the tenth president of Dartmouth.
The inauguration of President Nichols will always be remembered by those who witnessed it as a most impressive function. The presidents of nearly one hundred colleges and universities including the historic institutions of the East and the-great state universities of the Central West gathered to do him honor. A galaxy of scholars among whom were Ambassador James Brice, Ex-president Eliot, Woodrow Wilson of Princeton, gave addresses which have become historic. The many events of that crowded day moved with such precision and such dignity as to call forth the highest praise from the illustrious guests. It may be. observed in passing that the arrangements for all the details of that occasion were directed by the secretary of the College of that time—Ernest Martin Hopkins. Ihe presidency of Dr. Nichols so auspiciously opened continued to move along smoothly and satisfactorily. It was with surprise therefore that the assembled faculty in November, 191"5 heard from Dr. Nichols that he had tendered his resignation to the Trustees to take effect at the end of the following June. In September, 1916, he entered upon his duties as professor of physics in Yale. '
President Nichols' administration was characterized by a high idealism for the scholarship of the College. Means were found for giving larger recognition to the best students. The closer association of faculty and students was urged and an organization to bring this about was set up. Productive scholarship was encouraged on the part of the faculty and notable professorial appointments were made. On the other hand the business part of the administration was enlarged and separated from that of the educational executive. The College grew. It may be that increase in endowment and student numbers is due to the onward march of a number of forces which the president of a college can neither wholly arrest nor greatly accelerate. However, it is a matter of record that the number of students, the productive funds, and the value of the college plant were all substantially increased during President Xichols' administration.
We may pause for a moment to examine the nature of the obligation which he assumed when Dr. Nichols accepted the presidency of Dartmouth. Since 1893 Dr. Tucker had been president. He was loved and reverenced by all Dartmouth graduates. He was regarded as "America's greatest exemplar of effective idealism in education." Dr. Nichols held this view and shared with the alumni these feelings of love and reverence. For him to accept the presidency showed conspicuous courage and substantial confidence in his ability to render a great service to the college. It was a challenge he accepted—a challenge to service. It would not have been surprising had he failed. That he succeeded is our common testimony. It is inscribed in the records of the trustees in part as follows:
In difficult processes of readjustment >ou (Dr. Nichols) have brought to bear a high order of administrative ability enriched with a large tolerance, an exhaustless patience, a noble dignity, and generosity. You brought to your task trained powers of analysis coupled with the loftiest ideals of scholarship. You have thus built up in the College an educational and administrative organization adequate and harmonious."
Space will not permit us to follow Dr. Nichols in his scientific work at Yale, as scientific expert for the Navy during the war and as director of the Nela Research Laboratory. Suffice it to say that his contributions were of worth. They will be listed in due time by the National Academy of Sciences and by the other scientific bodies of which he was a member. But the scientific historian may not record a fact which strikingly illustrated Dr. Nichols' tenacity of purpose.—The last experimental problem upon which he worked, the results of which he was presenting to the National Academy when he was stricken down was one which came to him with his first experimental work in Berlin. This problem was not lost sight of during his administrative years. Equipment for it could not be obtained until he was connected with a large industrial research laboratorv. Then although his health had been shattered he with the assistance of his associates carried it to a successful conclusion.- To undertake it required dogged determination. To succeed required rare experimental skill.
In 1921 Dr. Nichols was elected president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology but his health broke just as he faced the great opportunity of combining his widely varied experience as scholar and administrator. Resigning from this position he again took his position as Director of the Research Laboratory of the National Electric Light Association and with slowly returning health devoted himself to science. Thus he carried on valiantly to the end.
As a scientist Dr. Nichols- was intuitive rather than analytical. There was in him a rare combination of superior scientific imagination and manipulative skill. These characteristics together with a spirit of adventure made him thoroughly enjoy research.
In manner he was dignified, perhaps austere. Yet there was no lack of warmth of friendship for, nor of wholehearted comradeship with, his worthy associates. His friends may be found in many parts of the world.
In 1894 Dr. Nichols was married to Katherine West of Hamilton, N. Y whose family had long been prominently connected with Colgate University. No account of Dr. Nichols' work could fail to record her complete devotion to his interests whether scientific or administrative. She was his helpmeet and advisor. Her home was a center of hospitality where there was always found charm and dignity and friendly warmth. To her and to her daughter Esther our community is reaching out hands of sincere sympathy.
Tuck Drive
