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Stratton, Julius Adams, 1901-1994

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1901 May 18 - 1994 June 22

Biography

Julius Adams Stratton, 1901-1994, S.B. 1923 and S.M. 1926 in electrical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sc.D. in mathematical physics, 1928, Eidgenossiche Technische Hochshule, Zurich, Switzerland, was the eleventh president of MIT, 1959-1966. He joined the faculty of MIT as an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1928; in 1930 he transferred to the Department of Physics where he became associate professor in 1935 and full professor in 1941. Much of his research at that time was conducted at the MIT field station at Round Hill, South Dartmouth, Mass., on the propagation of short electromagnetic waves. During World War II at the MIT-based Radiation Laboratory he worked on the development of LORAN (Long Range Navigation), which enables airplanes and ships to determine their location. In 1942 he became an expert consultant to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. In this post he chaired committees to improve the effectiveness of all-weather flying systems and ground radar, fire control, and radar bombing equipment. He also helped plan the use of radar in the Normandy invasion. He was awarded the Medal of Merit for his services.

After the war he became the first director of the new interdisciplinary Research Laboratory of Electronics at MIT. He was a member of the Committee on Educational Survey, appointed in 1947 to review the state of education at the Institute; one of the recommendations of the committee led to the creation in 1950 of the School of Humanities and Social Science. In 1949 he was appointed MIT’s first provost, and in 1951 he received a concurrent appointment as vice president. He became MIT’s first chancellor in 1956, acting president in 1957, and president in 1959. At his retirement in 1966 he was elected a life member of the MIT Corporation. A trustee of the Ford Foundation, 1955-1971, he served as its chairman from 1966 to 1971. His government service included membership on the National Science Board, 1956-1962 and 1964-1967, and an appointment by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 as chairman of the Commission on Marine Science, Engineering and Resources. Among his many publications is the book Electromagnetic Theory, first published in 1941. His research focused on communications and theoretical physics.

*Prepared by the Institute Archives, MIT Libraries (November 1995)

Occupations

Found in 284 Collections and/or Records:

Julius Adams Stratton papers

 Collection
Identifier: MC-0431
Scope and Contents of the Collection This collection documents the activities of Julius Adams Stratton, former president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The collection is arranged in six series by original file groupings. Series 1 contains biographical and genealogical material about Stratton's family, including correspondence, diaries, and reminiscences by his father about his trip west in the mid-nineteenth century. The subject files, Series 3, document Stratton's professional and government activities...
Dates: 1854 - 1994; Majority of material found within 1907 - 1994

Karl T. Compton Memorial Convocation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 Collection
Identifier: AC-0171
Scope and Contents note This collection consists of an audio recording of speeches and music presented at an Institute wide Convocation at the Massachusetts Institute of Techology (MIT) commemorating former president and former chair of the Karl T. Compton. A memorial service had been held earlier in the year in June, but the convocation was held on October 4, 1954 so that students could participate. Speakers included chair of the facult Martin J. Buerger, Dean of Science George R. Harrison; Provost Julius A....
Dates: 1954 - 1954

Leo Szilard Appointed Arthur Dehon Little Memorial Lecturer, 1958 April 25

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195804_006
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 April 25

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Announcing a Convocation, 1957 November 14

 Item — Box 5: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140086]
Identifier: AC0069_195711_019
Scope and Contents note

News Release Issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1957 November 14

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Announcing Christmas Convocation, 1957 December 5

 Item — Box 5: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140086]
Identifier: AC0069_195712_013
Scope and Contents note

News Release Issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1957 December 5

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Cancelling a Convocation, 1957 November 18

 Item — Box 5: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140086]
Identifier: AC0069_195711_014
Scope and Contents note

News Release Issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1957 November 18

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding 1958 Visiting Professors, 1958 August 13

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195808_017
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 August 13

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding August 1958 Assistant Professor Appointments, 1958 August 12

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195808_018
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 August 12

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding August 1958 Faculty Appointments, 1958 August 21

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195808_011
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 August 21

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding August 1958 Faculty Appointments, 1958 August 13

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195808_016
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 August 13

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding Establishment of Center for Urban and Regional Studies, 1957 November 14

 Item — Box 5: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140086]
Identifier: AC0069_195711_020
Scope and Contents note

News Release Issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1957 November 14

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding Establishment of Department of Nuclear Engineering, 1958 February 11

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195802_014
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 February 11

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding May 1958 Faculty Promotions, 1958 May 5

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195805_038
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 May 5

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding May 1958 Faculty Retirements, 1958 May 14

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195805_026
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 May 14

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding Military and Air Science Requirements and Term and Cumulative Ratings, 1958 January 16

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195801_009
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology



Dates: 1958 January 16

Letter from Acting President Julius A. Stratton Regarding MIT Corporation Elections, 1958 July 10

 Item — Box 6: Series 1a [Barcode: 39080032140094]
Identifier: AC0069_195807_008
Scope and Contents note

News release issued by the MIT Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dates: 1958 July 10