Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-10
Prof. Ernest Fox Nichols Unani,
mously Elected by Board Of
Trustees Tuesday Night.
PROFESSOR AT COLUMBIA
Was Formerly Head Of the Department
of Physics mt Dartmouth md Won
International Distinction for
Hiniself ana the College,
Dartmouth AIumnus.

Concord, y. r., June s.-Prof. Erno7t
Fox Nichols. D. Sc, formerly head e
| nc department Of physics at Dartmouth
| College and now professor Of experiment
| tai physics at Columbia University was
tonight unanimously elected president
| of Dartmouth to succeed DR.. william
Tucker, who resigned May r. 1857 on
account Of i'll health. This action was
taken at meeting OF the trustees Of ths
College held in this city tonight.
Prof. Nichols, although not a graduate
OF Dartmouth College. is an honorary
alumnus of tho institution, having been
given the degree of Doctor Of Science IN
| 1905. and from 1895 10 1909 was at the head
Of the physics department Of Dartmouth.
| His work as member Of the faculty
| brought international distinction to tho
college and himself, and throughout the
five years he evrced a thorough know
| ledge Of the college equalled only by
the affection of the faculty and stu
dents for him
The selection of Prof Nichols to be-
come the tenth president Of Dartmouth
| Is the result OF over two years of ASST
duous effort on the part Of the trustees
to ind q man to succeed President
Tucker, who would be acceptable to the
same time fulnll the traditional require
ments Of the institution.
| DR. Nichols. born in 1863 at Ieaven-
worth, graduated at the age Of I 0 from
the Kansas Agricultural College. Sub
sequently as graduate student in
mathematics and physics at Cornell
University he held the Erastus Brooks
fellowship. He received from Cornel1
20 &.
1893 and of doctor OF science in 1897.
both taken IN course.
In 1892 he was appointed to the
chair of physics and astronomy in
Colgate University. DIR. Nichols was
at colgate for six years but two and
half years OF the time was spent on
leave Of absence. studying under Pro-
fessors Planck and Rubens Of the Uni
versity OF Berlin. While a student in
the Berlin laboratory he made several
discoveries which were received and
published by the Royal Prussian
Academy Of Science.
In Berlin Prof. Nichols devised a new
form of the radometer by means of which
radiant energy would be measured with
great precision. After his return TO
America he used this instrument at tin,
| NS'"'S N''Vl dNtEy tlllU INC Mount
Wilson Observatory California. IN at
| tempts largely successful to measure the
| heat from the stars and planets
In 1898 DR.. Nichols was called 70 IRA
professorship Of physics in Dartmouth
College. During the first two years at
Dartmouth he made the first measure
ments of the heat received from several
OF the brighter stars and planets, bv
using his own radiometer. These ex-
periments are admittedly the most
sensitive and delicate measurements Of
heat which have ever been made.
Professor Nicols. working with Pro-
lessor Gordon r. Hull In 1901, discov-
cred the pressure Of a beam OF light.
This discovery and the difficult and
accurate measurement Of the new
fierce won immediate and worldwide
recognition for both men. After five
years at Dartmouth DR.. Nichols was
called to the chair OF experimental
physics IN Columbia, but before he as
sumed his new duties. Dartmouth gave
him the honorary degree Of doctor Of
science
DR.. Nichols in 1894 married Rather
Inc Williams West Of Hamilton. y. Y.
They have one child daughter.
PRES. TUCKER PLEASED.
Hanover n. H., June S.-President Wa
liar J. Tucker Of Dartmouth College to-
night said IN relation 10 the election If
Prof. Z. F. Nichols as the new head Of
the institutions:
DIR. Nichols Is essentially man of
ina stnation. He things that are 10
be. we'll things that are. For this
reason I anticipate from him as brilliant
| a service In administration as he bas
rendered in research or instruction"