Dates

• Existence: 1853-1937
• Existence: 1853 - 1937

Biographical Note

William Pitt Mason was born in New York, NY, on October 12, 1853, the son of James and Emma (Wheatly) Mason. After preparing at Bernard French Institute, New York City, he entered R.P.I. in 1870, and graduated in as a civil engineer in 1874. In 1875, after a year of travel and study in Europe, Mason was appointed assistant in chemistry and natural science at R.P.I. He advanced to assistant professor in 1882, professor of analytical chemistry in 1885, and head of the chemistry department in 1895. In 1912, when the department of chemical engineering was established at RPI, he became its first head and remained in that position until his retirement in 1925. Through his years of teaching, Mason continued his own studies in the U.S. and Europe. He received a BS degree from RPI in 1877; an MD degree from Albany Medical College in 1881; studied bacteriology at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, in 1889 and 1893; and received an LL.D. degree from Lafayette College, PA, in 1908. Mason devoted himself to the field of analytical chemistry and sanitary engineering and became internationally known for his research in water analysis and his advocacy of pure water. He became the first academic president of the American Water Works Association, a member of the U.S. Assay Commission in 1896, a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and an honorary member of several European societies of municipal and sanitary engineers. Mason married Emilie Harding in 1866. Emilie died in 1899, leaving one son, William Pitt, Jr. In 1908 Mason married Margaret Betts. William Pitt Mason died January 25, 1937.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: