WILLIAM EMERSON: M.I.T.
DEAN OF ARCHITECTURE, UNITARIAN SERVICE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT
1873-1957
by Caroline
Shillaber, M.I.T. School of Architecture and Planning
 The
close of World War I found the M.I.T. Department of
Architecture with a new leader, William Emerson, who
remained until the beginning of the next war. His span
of office, 1919 to 1939, covered a period that brought
both opportunities and problems, as he himself wrote
many years later. Emerson was a logical successor to
the office once occupied by William Robert Ware, as
he had studied for two years at Columbia University
during Ware's administration after graduating from Harvard.
He then went to Paris for three years of study at the
Ecole des Beaux-Arts. Returning to New
York City, Emerson opened an office and built numerous
private houses and tenements. To the latter he gave
much thought and study in order to improve the living
conditions of low-salaried workers.
An active
member of the American Institute of Architects, Emerson
brought to his position two years' experience as chairman
of the Committee on Education.
New
subjects were then added to the curriculum: theory of
color, architectural administration, architectural humanities,
and town planning; others, architectural history and
theory of architecture, were transferred to the first
year in order to present to the student the essentials
of his profession at the very beginning of his career.
Architectural humanities, town planning, and landscape
architecture formed a group of studies primarily for
graduate students.
"That
a carefully considered policy in the teaching of design
was essential to the future success of the Department
was obvious," Emerson wrote in his first report as head
of the Department, "and a matter of agreement between
the staff and President Maclaurin."
In an
annual report written toward the end of Emerson's term
as dean, President Compton reviewed the program of the
School in relation to the profession of architecture
and future requirements of its practitioners. Design
was to remain the "central theme of all good architecture,"
but it was acknowledged that "the techniques of its
application must continually adapt themselves to the
evolution of the technical and social environment."
The School had made the last of its four moves into
a new building adjoining the Cambridge group in 1938,
and President Compton recommended that in its new location
closer to the technological and scientific schools of
M.l.T., the School "capitalize and coordinate as effectively
as possible our existing strong programs in design and
in the various technical aspects of construction and
equipment of buildings."
Emerson
took initial steps to adjust design courses to
conditions encountered in actual practice by means
of specialized seminars and projects. The Department
of Building Engineering and Construction cooperated
in the technical aspects of constructing a Faculty
Club. Other problems involved lighting, building
materials, and other elements basic to a new theory
of architectural design. Emerson sought also to
provide opportunities for office experience for
undergraduates during the summer months. The conservative
ideal of design as the dominant subject in architectural
education that had ruled M.l.T., as well as other
American schools, was beginning to yield to contemporary
trends in actual practice.
During
Emerson's term of office the field of city planning
was introduced. The following statements, from
a description of courses in city planning published
in 1935, described the philosophy of the program:"
The purpose of the courses in city planning at
the Institute is to provide a basic training in
the fundamental principles and technique of city
planning and civic design. The curriculum is based
on a recognition of the fact that the solutions
of all planning problems -- whether of city, region,
or state -- depend on the proper co-ordination
of all the factors involved -- not only those
in the fields of architecture and engineering
but also the economic, sociological, and governmental
factors."
In
1938, one year before his retirement, Emerson
also saw the completion of a project that he had
been urging for ten years. An appropriation was
made for first- and second-year students, supervised
by faculty members, to buy a plot of land and
design a small family house. Every step -- surveying
the land, preparation of working drawings and
specifications, and erection of the house -- was
student-directed for the purpose of gaining practical
experience.
Emerson
retired in 1939 after directing the School through
twenty years of changes and innovations.
DR.
WILLIAM EMERSON DIES
from The Unitarian Register, Midsummer 1957
 The
man responsible for development of the Unitarian Service
Committee, Dr. William Emerson, died May 4 at the age
of 83.
Dr.
Emerson was chairman of the USC when it was a standing
committee of the American Unitarian Association, from
1940 to 1948. When the USC was incorporated in 1948,
Dr. Emerson became president and served until 1953.
He was honorary president from 1953 to the time of his
death.
Under
Dr. Emerson's leadership, the USC program was established.
He is considered the man most instrumental in the development
of the committee and its "moving spirit."
In 1949,
Dr. Emerson was presented the first annual AUA award
for "distinguished service to the cause of liberal religion."
In 1956, the USC presented him an award for this outstanding
service.
Born
October 16, 1873, Dr. Emerson received his A.B. degree
from Harvard University in 1895; studied architecture
at Columbia University, 1895-97, and at Ecole des
Beaux Arts, Paris, 1897-1901, and received an honorary
doctor of the arts degree in 1939 from Harvard.
An architect,
Dr. Emerson specialized in the design of bank buildings
and model tenements. As chairman of the educational
committee of the American Institute of Architects, he
was known for his contributions to architectural education.
Joining
the staff of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
1919, Dr. Emerson was professor of architecture, chairman
of the faculty, and dean of the school of architecture.
Upon his retirement in 1939, he was appointed dean emeritus
of the MIT school of architecture.
During
World War I, Dr. Emerson served as director of the Bureau
of Construction of the American Red Cross in Paris,
and was presented the Chevalier Legion of Honor by the
French government.
The
noted architect was advisory architect of Radcliffe
College; a life member of the corporation of MIT; former
chairman of the corporation of Simmons College; president
of the Boston Society of Architects, 1940-42; former
vice-president of the Society Beaux Arts Architects;
elected honorary Phi Beta Kappa, Harvard, 1928; president
of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture,
1921-23; and vice-president of the Byzantine Institute,
1935.
Dr.
Emerson devoted himself to collective security by supporting
the League of Nations Association, by helping to organize
and serving as chairman of the Committee to Defend America
by Aiding the Allies in 1940, and by serving as president
of the American Association for the United Nations.
WHO'S
WHO IN THE NEW UNITARIAN SERVICE COMMITTEE
from The Christian Register, June 15, 1940
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The
Unitarian Service Committee in action:
Mothers and children at a clinic in Nigeria
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The Board of Directors
of the American Unitarian Association at its 115th
annual meeting on May 23 announced the personnel
of the new Unitarian Service Committee. This group
of distinguished leaders from many realms of American
activity will direct the Association's projects
for humanitarian service at home and abroad.
The
projects of the Unitarian Service Committee are
being planned and executed by Unitarians -- for
men, women and children in need, no matter what
their race, nationality, or religious beliefs
may be. The Committee is developing important
and long-range plans by which it may offer men
and women of liberal beliefs opportunity to use
their time, energy, and good will in constructive
projects for human welfare.
Professor
William Emerson, former chairman of the faculty
and dean emeritus of the School of Architecture
of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
is chairman of the Committee. Dr. Emerson has
done distinguished work in education, architecture,
and Red Cross activities. Before the war he specialized
in model tenements; and as professor of architecture
and dean at Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
and advisory architect of Radcliffe College, has
been a leader in his field. From 1917-1919, he
served as major and director of the Bureau of
Construction of the American Red Cross at Paris,
and was made a Chevalier in the French Legion
of Honor for his services. He is a Unitarian who
has expressed the best of social ideals through
his profession.
Roots
and Visions: The First Fifty Years of the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee by Ghanda Di Figlia (Cambridge:
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, 1990).
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