IN APPRECIATION OF JOHN MERRILL POOR
JOHN MERRILL POOR was born January 28, 1871, at West Newbury, Massachusetts. His parents, John Merrill Poor and Mary Alice Merrill, came from New England families long resident in West Newbury and Newburyport; his ancestor in the direct line being Samuel Poor who came from England in 1635. A great uncle on his mother's side, John Merrill of the class of 1800, died in Hanover in 1797 and is buried in the little row of student graves near the grave of Eleazar Wheelock in the Old Cemetery.
John Poor finished his public schooling at West Newbury in 1888. During the succeeding three years he remained at home except for the time spent with an orchestra in which he played the clarinet. While still continuing his music he decided to prepare for college and finally entered, Dartmouth in 1893, graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1897.
He was the principal of the Hanover high school in 1897-98, while doing graduate work at Dartmouth. He was an instructor in astronomy and mathematics 1898-1900. In the tall of 1900 he went to Princeton University to study under Professor C. A. Young, for the first two years as Thaw Fellow in astronomy. The summer of 1902 found him in astronomical research at the Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago, working with Professor E. B. First. Returning to Princeton for the year 1902-03 he completed his work and in 1904 received the Ph. D. degree in astronomy.
In the fall of 1903 he returned to Hanover as instructor in astronomy. In 1906 he became assistant professor, in 1915 associate professor and in 1917 professor of astronomy. In 1911-12 he spent a sabbatical year working at Lund University, Sweden, with Professor Charlier who later visited him in Hanover. Except for this interruption he spent the years working diligently at the Shattuck Observatory on the hill, teaching and carrying on numerous researches in astronomy.
He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the American Mathematical Society, the American Meteorological Society, and the Astronomical Society of Belgium, as well as of the New Hampshire Academy of Science, and the Dartmouth Scientific Association. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Theta Delta Chi, and Gamma Alpha. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of London.
His researches include the definite orbit of comet 1900 b, orbits of asteroids, analysis of periodic errors in measuring-engine screws, the latitude of the Shattuck Observatory, photographic observations for positions of asteroids and orbit planes of double stars. He spent the summer of 1932 preparing the telescope and spectrograph for making flash spectrum photographs at the observatory during the August eclipse. Cloud conditions were unfavorable for this work but his only comment was "At least we were ready." He then proceeded to correlate observations obtained under his direction from which it is possible to determine the exact position of the southern margin of the path of totality, a matter of considerable importance in the correction of computed lunar positions.
IN HIS COURSES in astronomy, meteorology, navigation and astrophysics students of varying degrees of ability obtained benefit in proportion to their capacity. If a man showed interest but lacked background, Professor Poor was always ready to seek out the beginnings of the man's difficulty and set him straight. Such a student after a few conversations with Professor Poor at the end of lectures generally became a frequent visitor at the Observatory. Professor Poor's breadth of interest and depth of learning made him an inspiring host. Many students coming with specific questions departed later with their questions answered and their outlook broadened by his inclusion of other topics in the discussion. In fact many men continued their stimulating associations with Professor Poor long after the completion of the courses in which they came to know him.
A few years ago a Classics major wishing to read in Greek the astronomical writings of Aristarchus, sought Professor Poor's help. They worked regularly at the Observatory, the student doing the bulk of the translating with Professor Poor explaining all of the mathematics in the light of his knowledge of mathematical procedure as practiced during that period. That is but an isolated case. Year after year Professor Poor worked with men at the Observatory, giving them the aid they sought, each according to his need.
John Poor's library in the north wing of the Observatory plainly tells of his interest in English literature, the Classics, ancient history, political science, present-day problems and affairs, and contains an unusually large collection of mathematical, meteorological, and astronomical works.
Now THAT Professor Poor has gone we are beginning to get hints from various people as to the numerous ways in which he helped the needy, without his identity coming into the picture. Thanks-giving and Christmas baskets and frequent and regular gifts of money to relieve distress are but instances—there were many more. He went about it all so quietly that one, knowing the modesty of the man, hesitates to do more than touch upon it now.
A characteristic case of his thoughtfulness is cited. A few days ago a student commented that during the concert of the previous night the performance had been interrupted by nine booming strokes from the bell of the Dartmouth Hall clock. The boy realized then that that had never happened while John Poor was alive. He climbed to the top floor of Dartmouth Hall before each concert and tied fast the striking device of the clock, making another trip after the concert to release the mechanism.
He continued the series of meteorological observations of the Shattuck Observatory, supplying data to the United States Weather Bureau, and carrying on what, because of its duration in years, is considered one of the most valuable series of weather observations in this part of the country. By daily checking and almost daily adjustment he so regulated the Dartmouth Hall clock that it gave the most dependable time service in this region. When there was a request for statistics as to record temperatures for a period, or as to prevailing winds, he would spend hours deriving the data from the records, without thought of anything but being helpful. He helped to organize the community orchestra, of which he was president and in which he took part year after year. When the bells were installed in the Baker Library tower, he spent many weeks mastering the history and theory of "change" ringing so that he might prepare the copy from which the playing records of changes are made. He was for years a member of the Outing Club Council. Many of us remember his participation in introductory trips for freshmen and how much his presence at a cabin contributed to the success of the week-end. Canoe Club members recall his help and encouragement in the early days of the club when help and encouragement meant so much.
MANY DARTMOUTH men who came to know Professor Poor in the classroom or because of common interests quite apart from the curriculum, found that a trip back to Hanover in later years came to mean more and more another opportunity to see and talk with Professor Poor. His friendship, his kindly and sympathetic interest, and his helpful comments and suggestions have meant a great deal to many men for years. A portion of a letter from Andrew Foster of the class of 1925 to one of his friends in Hanover will illustrate. It expresses so well the general feeling of his friends that I offer it in conclusion:
"It is good to be able to write to youabout how I feel, because I think you willunderstand better than anyone else. Thememory of four years of my life is centeredin him, and he is a reality which has grownstronger and stronger while the buildingsand trees and paths of Hanover have fadeddim. There will never be a way of replacinghim, because there is no other man withsuch gentle kindliness, such rare humor,such unobtrusive modesty, such sweetreasonableness and understanding. Whatshall one say of his whimsicalness, of hisdelightfully preposterous theory that hissuccess in life had depended directly on his'not getting caught'? And what of that halfmelancholy, half sardonic quality whichbrought out the full flavor of his personality? In whatever he said you could sense awisdom that came from thinking long anddeeply about life, of not expecting verymuch from it, yet not being in the leastembittered thereby."
