Perley G. Nutting
Encyclopedia
Perley Gilman Nutting was the founder of the Optical Society of America
and served as its first president from 1916-1917.
A graduate of Stanford University
and Cornell University
, Nutting joined the U.S. Bureau of Standards
as a physicist in 1903. It is claimed that in 1904, Nutting constructed one of the earliest, if not the first, neon sign
, which was displayed at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition
; however, this story has been disputed.
In 1910, Nutting joined the staff of Eastman Kodak Company and was the author of the 1912 book Outlines of Applied Optics, which called for an increased level of academic study in the applied optics field. In 1915, Nutting convened a series of meetings among Rochester, New York
–based physicists that resulted in the founding of the OSA in January 1916.
Nutting moved from Kodak to Westinghouse
in 1917. In 1924 he returned to government work, moving to the United States Geological Survey
where he remained until his retirement in 1943.
Nutting's son, Perley G. Nutting Jr., was the tireless grad student known as observer PGN for the demonstration of the MacAdam ellipse
.
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
and served as its first president from 1916-1917.
A graduate of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Nutting joined the U.S. Bureau of Standards
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
as a physicist in 1903. It is claimed that in 1904, Nutting constructed one of the earliest, if not the first, neon sign
Neon sign
Neon signs are made using electrified, luminous tube lights that contain rarefied neon or other gases. They are the most common use for neon lighting, which was first demonstrated in a modern form in December, 1910 by Georges Claude at the Paris Motor Show. While they are used worldwide, neon signs...
, which was displayed at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
; however, this story has been disputed.
In 1910, Nutting joined the staff of Eastman Kodak Company and was the author of the 1912 book Outlines of Applied Optics, which called for an increased level of academic study in the applied optics field. In 1915, Nutting convened a series of meetings among Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
–based physicists that resulted in the founding of the OSA in January 1916.
Nutting moved from Kodak to Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
in 1917. In 1924 he returned to government work, moving to the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
where he remained until his retirement in 1943.
Nutting's son, Perley G. Nutting Jr., was the tireless grad student known as observer PGN for the demonstration of the MacAdam ellipse
MacAdam ellipse
In the study of color vision, MacAdam ellipses refer to the region on a chromaticity diagram which contains all colors which are indistinguishable, to the average human eye, from the color at the center of the ellipse...
.
External links
See also
- Optical Society of America#Past Presidents of the OSA