RES News - Rochester History
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A Sampling from the Archives of the Rochester Engineering Society. 1897 - 1975 by Lee M. Loomis Continuing with the historical sampling of the earlier writings on behalf of the Rochester Engineering Society, the years following "The Great War", into and through the “Great Depression”, continued to be a time of reaching out for the maturing Society, both locally and nationally. The meeting minutes describe a series of technical discussions and presentations intended to broaden the technical horizons of the membership (especially the CE's, ME's and EE's). The RES affiliated itself with a number of National technical societies, adopted local Affiliated Societies, frequently held joint meetings with them and continued taking action on a growing list of public matters. Certain issues of standardization, some crucial to public safety, became the responsibility of the RES and its affiliates. In the pervasive economic downturn of the “Great Depression”, the magazine offered classified advertising for unemployed engineers, technicians and draftsmen and took other steps to try to deal with the crisis. Still, it continued its effort to shape the function, focus and infrastructure of the City of Rochester, and beyond. World War, again affected the Society, taking away many of its leaders while providing opportunities for others to step forward to fill these vacancies. In an effort to provide even greater perspective on the happenings and concerns of the day, a synopsis, featuring selected items from "The Rochester Engineer" has become an integral part of this series. The Second World War and the Korean Conflict are now history, and the Vietnam War has recently become a focal point. These experiences have changed the face and, no doubt, the future of the community. The Rochester municipal leadership and the industrial community have become immersed in the cold-war, growth economy.
“The Rochester Engineer” (January 1975)
Certainly not a “first look” at the problem, this issue featured the reprint (Science magazine, 1972) of an article, “Careers in Science and Engineering for Black Americans”, by Adolph Y. Wilburn, Associate VP for Academic Affairs, University of Wisconsin. It provided an in-depth review of the 8 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2022
circumstances and statistics of that time that had resulted in racial and ethnic minorities (16% of the US population), accounting for only 7% of higher education enrollment and just 5% of the annual output of baccalaureate degrees. The article decried the pervasive economic discrimination that was keeping minority students from becoming aware of, becoming prepared for, and gaining access to careers in engineering and science. Aiming at the root of the problem, it recommended that a national effort be undertaken to ensure that ethnic minorities be helped to understand enough about the nature of the various aspects of scientific and technical employment to enable those with interest and ability to access these opportunities. It also suggested that current primary and secondary level institutions were not adequately meeting this need. Editor’s note: It would be many years later, but eventually the RES would undertake the support of local/regional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs, and also initiate an RES Tutoring Team at a City of Rochester School District elementary school, Dr. Walter Cooper Academy (RCSD School #10). The RES luncheon speakers for January and February 1975 were announced: “The Rochester Section of the NYS Barge Canal”, by Alexander Kopczynski, NYSDOT Regional Director of Transportation, “The Nuclear Alternative”, by Richard E. Kelley, RG&E, Manager of Special Projects, “Matrix Management”, a special “satellite luncheon” at Kodak Park’ s Bldg. #28, by James Littwitz, of Eastman Kodak’s US and Canada Photographic Division.
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