Arthur Newell Talbot
Encyclopedia
Arthur Newell Talbot was an American
civil engineer
. He made many contributions to several engineering fields including structures, sewage management, and education. He is considered to be a pioneer in the field of reinforced concrete.
, Illinois
. His elementary education was in Cortland, and he attended high school in nearby Sycamore
. After graduation from high school, he taught in a country school for two years.
He enrolled at Illinois Industrial University (now the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
) in 1877 to study civil engineering. He was a brilliant student and also participated in many extracurricular activities. He was secretary, vice president and president of the Philomathean Literary Society, associate editor of the Illini delegate to the Interstate Oratorical Association, class essayist, a leading officer in the student government, and an officer in the Cadet Corps. He graduated from the university in 1881.
, Idaho
, Kansas
, and New Mexico
. In September 1885, he returned to the University of Illinois as an assistant professor of engineering and mathematics. He taught a wide range of subjects, which at different times included mathematics, surveying, engineering drawing, contracts and specifications, roads and pavements, railroad engineering, mechanics and materials, hydraulics, tunneling and explosives, and water supply and sewerage.
In 1890, he was named Professor of Municipal and Sanitary Engineering in charge of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. Around this time engineering schools began expanding rapidly, and engineering materials and mechanics began to attract his attention even more than sanitary engineering. Without ever changing title, the emphasis of his work continued to be placed on mechanics and materials.
In 1926, he retired and was named Professor of Municipal and Sanitary Engineering, Emeritus.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
. He made many contributions to several engineering fields including structures, sewage management, and education. He is considered to be a pioneer in the field of reinforced concrete.
Early life and education
Talbot was born on October 21, 1857 at CortlandCortland, Illinois
Cortland is an incorporated town in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,270 at the 2010 census, up from 2,066 at the 2000 census...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. His elementary education was in Cortland, and he attended high school in nearby Sycamore
Sycamore, Illinois
Sycamore is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. It has a commercial district based and centered on Illinois Route 64. The population was 17,519 at the 2010 census, up from 12,020 at the 2000 census.-Early settlement:...
. After graduation from high school, he taught in a country school for two years.
He enrolled at Illinois Industrial University (now the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
) in 1877 to study civil engineering. He was a brilliant student and also participated in many extracurricular activities. He was secretary, vice president and president of the Philomathean Literary Society, associate editor of the Illini delegate to the Interstate Oratorical Association, class essayist, a leading officer in the student government, and an officer in the Cadet Corps. He graduated from the university in 1881.
Career
After graduation, Talbot headed west and did railroad construction and maintenance in ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. In September 1885, he returned to the University of Illinois as an assistant professor of engineering and mathematics. He taught a wide range of subjects, which at different times included mathematics, surveying, engineering drawing, contracts and specifications, roads and pavements, railroad engineering, mechanics and materials, hydraulics, tunneling and explosives, and water supply and sewerage.
In 1890, he was named Professor of Municipal and Sanitary Engineering in charge of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. Around this time engineering schools began expanding rapidly, and engineering materials and mechanics began to attract his attention even more than sanitary engineering. Without ever changing title, the emphasis of his work continued to be placed on mechanics and materials.
In 1926, he retired and was named Professor of Municipal and Sanitary Engineering, Emeritus.
Personal life
Talbot married Virginia Mann Hammet in Camargo, Illinois on June 7, 1886. They had 4 children together. She died on December 4, 1919.Honorary Doctorates
- Doctor of Science, University of Pennsylvania, 1915
- Doctor of Engineering, University of Michigan, 1916
- Doctor of Laws, University of Illinois, 1931
Medals
- George Henderson Medal from the Franklin InstituteFranklin InstituteThe Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
, 1931 - John Fritz MedalJohn Fritz MedalThe John Fritz Medal is since 1902 yearly awarded by the American Association of Engineering Societies for "outstanding scientific or industrial achievements". The medal was created for Fritz's 80th birthday, who lived between 1822 and 1913.- Recipients :...
, 1937
External links
- Biography of Arthur Newell Talbot - Prepared & presented six months after his eightieth birthday