Background
Adams, Comfort Avery was born on November 1, 1868 in Cleveland. Son of Comfort Avery and Katherine Emily (Peticolas) Adams.
Adams, Comfort Avery was born on November 1, 1868 in Cleveland. Son of Comfort Avery and Katherine Emily (Peticolas) Adams.
Bachelor of Science, Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland, 1890, Electrical Engineer, 1905, Doctor Engineering, 1925. Honorary Doctor Engineering, Lehigh University, 1938. Student mathematics and physics, Harvard, 1891-1893.
"Doc Adams", as he was commonly addressed by his colleagues and friends, received his Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from his alma mater, Case School of Applied Science, in 1925 after having been on the faculty at Harvard College and dean of their engineering school for almost 35 years. He later received his second honorary doctorate from Lehigh University in 1939. By that time he had retired from Harvard.
In terms of an all-around American engineer in the early 20th century, Comfort A. Adams comes the closest to being America"s answer to Britain"s I. K. Brunel.
Adams was president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the American Welding Society. He organized and chaired the Welding Research Council.
American Institute of Electrical Engineers American Society of Mechanical Engineers American Society of Civil Engineers American Standards Association American Engineering Council American Society for Metals American Society for Testing and Materials Society for Promotion of Engineering Education American Physical Society British Institute of Electrical Engineering Verband Deutscher Electrotechniker Société Française des Electriciens Sigma Xi Tau Beta Pi Harvard Faculty Club, Cambridge, Massachusetts Engineers Club, New York Engineers" Club of Philadelphia Cedarbrook Country Club, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.
Member International Jury of Awards (department electricity), Saint Louis Exposition, 1904. Fellow American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Institute Electrical Engineers (president 1918-1919), American Society Mechanics
Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Member National Academy of Sciences, Institution Electrical Engineers, Societe Francaise ’des Electricienes, American Society of Civil Engineers, Society Promotion Engineering Education, American Physical Society, American Welding Society (president 1919-1920), American Bureau Welding (director 1919-1936), Engineering Foundation (honorary chairman welding research council since 1949), American Engineering Standards Committee (chairman 1918-1920).
Member John Fritz Medal Board of Award (president 1922), Edison Medal Board of Award (chairman 1920). Chairman General Engineering Committee of Council National Defense, during war period, also as chairman Welding Committee of Emergency Fleet Corporation.
Clubs: Engineers (Philadelphia) (New York).
Married Elizabeth Challis Parsons, June 21, 1894. Children: John, Clayton Comfort.
