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including progress on the Newton Hall project, expansion of the
Electrical Engineering department, and a proposal that funds be
provided for inspection trips made by students and instructors during
the college year. He offered no comments on his successor, whose
qualifications were to be considered at this April meeting.
Dr. Mendenhall went to Europe soon after leaving Worcester, and lived
abroad for the next eleven years. On his return he went back to
Columbus, Ohio, where he devoted much of his time to Ohio State
University. He became a member of its board of trustees in 1919, and
chairman of the board in 1923. His vigorous and fruitful life of
eighty-two years came to an end March 22, 1924.
The search for Dr. Mendenhall's successor led the trustees to various
parts of the country, finally to St. Louis, where they found Edmund
Arthur Engler, dean of the Engineering School at Washington
University. He was highly recommended in letters from prominent
citizens of St. Louis, many of whom expressed the hope that he would
not leave their city. He did, however, accept the call to become
fourth President of the Institute.
Dr. Engler was born at St. Louis, December 23, 1856. A graduate of
Washington University in 1876, he had returned for further study and
teaching, earning a Ph.B. degree in 1877, an A.M. degree in 1879, and
a Ph.D. degree in 1892. All his subsequent experience had been in the
halls of his alma mater, where he became professor of Mathematics in
1881, and subsequently dean of Engineering. He had spent much time in
Europe, in periods of from three to nine months, and had studied at
the University of Berlin. He had also served as president of the
St. Louis Academy of Science, and had written numerous articles on
mathematical and astronomical subjects.
So with the passing of the physicist and the advent of the
mathematician, the Institute presidency took on a new aspect, and
another ten-year epoch began.
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