Hollis Godfrey (1874 – January 17, 1936) was an American writer, teacher, engineering consultant, and president of the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry.

Early life and education

Hollis Godfrey was born in 1874 in

Lynn, Massachusetts Lynn is the eighth-largest municipality in Massachusetts and the largest city in Essex County. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, north of the Boston city line at Suffolk Downs, Lynn is part of Greater Boston's urban inner core. Settled by E ...

. He was educated at

Tufts College Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. ...

and

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

, receiving degrees in Engineering. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Engineering from

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has played a key role in the development of modern technology and science, and is one of the ...

in 1889. After graduation Godfrey stayed on to teach at his Alma Mater, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1906 to 1910 Godfrey was the administrator of scientific studies at the Girl's High School of Practical Arts in Boston.

Writing career

While employed at the School of Practical Arts in Boston Godfrey published several literary works. These works include the "ingenious scientific novel" ''The Man Who Ended War'' in 1908 and ''Elementary Chemistry'' in 1909. Published after ''Elementary Chemistry'' Godfrey started the series "Young Captains of Industry" the first book, ''For The Norton Name'', being printed in 1909. His article "The Air of the City," was selected for admission into the Hodgkins Library of Atmospheric Air.

Drexel Institute

Sometime after moving to Philadelphia Godfrey was commissioned to survey the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry's facility. The original intent of the survey was possibly to see if the Institute would be appropriate for the "training fcity employees." As a result of his survey he recommended that the institute be restructured internally. He was then offered the presidency of the Institute by the Board of Trustees and assumed office on December 1, 1913. During his presidency, per his survey, Godfrey reorganized the Institute by consolidating departments, creating three schools, and standardizing the programs of study into two- and four-year programs. In January 1919 Godfrey developed the cooperative educational system in the School of Engineering. Godfrey resigned on October 1, 1921.

Advisory commission and later life

In 1916, during his tenure at Drexel, Godfrey was selected by President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

to be an advisory member for the

Council of National Defense The Council of National Defense was a United States organization formed during World War I to coordinate resources and industry in support of the war effort, including the coordination of transportation, industrial and farm production, financial s ...

, an organization formed to coordinate resources and industry for national security. Godfrey served in that capacity, advising in the area of engineering and education, from 1916 to 1918. In his last year at Drexel he established the Council of Management Education in Boston in March 1920, following his resignation at Drexel he became chairman of the council. He later went on to be president of the Engineering-Economics Foundation. He died on January 17, 1936.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Godfrey, Hollis 1874 births 1936 deaths Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences alumni MIT School of Engineering alumni People from Lynn, Massachusetts Tufts University School of Engineering alumni Writers from Massachusetts Presidents of Drexel University Council of National Defense