Professor Silas W. Holman

Silas Whitcomb Holman was born in Harvard, Massachusetts on January 20, 1856. He received his S.B. degree in Physics from MIT in 1876, and then joined the MIT Department of Physics as an Assistant. He became Instructor in Physics in 1880, Assistant Professor in 1882, Associate Professor in 1885, and Full Professor in 1893. Throughout this period, he struggled with increasingly severe rheumatoid arthritis. At length, he was defeated, becoming Professor Emeritus in 1897 and dying on April 1, 1900.

Holman's light burned brilliantly before his tragic and untimely death. He published extensively in thermal physics, and authored textbooks on precision measurement, fundamental mechanics, and other subjects. He established the original Heat Measurements Laboratory. Holman was a much admired teacher among both his students and his colleagues. The reports of his department and of the Institute itself refer to him frequently in the 1880's and 1890's, in tones that gradually shift from the greatest respect to the deepest sympathy.

Holman was a student of Professor Edward C. Pickering, then head of the Physics department. Holman himself became second in command of Physics, under Professor Charles R. Cross, some years later. Among Holman's students, several went on to distinguish themselves, including: the astronomer George E. Hale ('90) who organized the Yerkes and Mt. Wilson observatories and who designed the 200 inch telescope on Mt. Palomar; Charles G. Abbot ('94), also an astrophysicist and later Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; and George K. Burgess ('96), later Director of the Bureau of Standards.

A contempory account of Holman's life follows.

From the Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. 36, 1900-1
Author: Professor Charles R. Cross

SILAS WHITCOMB HOLMAN

Silas Whitcomb Holman was born at Harvard, Massachusetts, January 20, 1856, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1876, having made a specialty of the study of physics throughout his course. He was thereupon appointed to a position as assistant in the physical laboratory of that institution, but on account of illness did not enter upon his duties until a year later. Continuing in the service of the Institute, he was promoted to more advanced positions, and was made Professor of Physics in 1893. Even at this date, his health, never firm, had become much impaired, and a few years later it became necessary for him to relinquish active work. In 1897 he was made Emeritus Professor of Physics. He died April 1, 1900.

Professor Holman was elected to membership in this Academy March 14, 1893. His original contributions to science were of high merit, and give evidence of both great skill in manipulation and of remarkably clear insight into the choice of methods for conducting a difficult investigation. The most important of his researches are those upon the viscosity of air and carbonic acid as affected by temperature, which were published in the proceedings of this Academy in 1876 and 1875; the first of which was based upon his graduating thesis at the Institute of Technology. These contain by far the most complete study of this difficult subject which had been made up to their date, and the results are still of standard value. Indeed within the past few years they have played an important part in the advancement of the kinetic theory of gases.

In the Proceedings for 1888 is found a further noteworthy paper written in conjunction with one of his pupils, upon the determination of fixed reference points for thermometric measurements at high temperatures, in which several points are established.

A number of years later, in 1895, appeared another group of papers, the last published by him, relating to the thermo-electric measurement of high temperatures, and a single paper upon calorimetry, which subjects had occupied much of his attention for some time previously. Of these, the one entitled "Thermo-electric Interpolation Formulæ" is particularly valuable for its critique of the various methods of interpolation which have been employed in dealing with the results of high temperature observations, and that upon the "Melting Points of Aluminum, Silver, Gold, Copper and Platinum," published in collaboration with his pupils, Lawrence and Barr, contains what are undoubtedly the best measurements of the points of fusion of these metals that had been obtained at the time of their publication. A third paper contains a description of a novel method of calibrating the Le Chatelier thermo-electric pyrometer, and the fourth a new method of applying the cooling correction on measurements of the heat of combustion.

The papers of Professor Holman thus far referred to have all been published in the Proceedings of this Academy. Several others of minor importance have appeared in different scientific journals. An extended critique upon thermometry of precision presented at the Boston meeting of the American Association of the Advancement of Science in 1880 unfortunately was never printed.

Besides his published researches, Professor Holman was the author of several valuable scientific works. The two volumes of "Physical Laboratory Notes," prepared for the use of his pupils in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, embody the results of many years of successful experience in teaching and form an important contribution to the literature of that subject. They contain much original matter and exhibit a rare discrimination on the selection and comparison of the methods of measurement, which are discussed. This is particularly the case with the volume relating to electrical measurement and testing.

In 1892 he published a treatise upon "The Discussion of the Precision of Measurements," the basis of which constituted of the notes of lectures given to his classes. This volume, which is quite unique in its contents, contains in convenient form a very compendious and lucid consideration of the application of the principles of least squares to the theory of observations, the calculation of their precision and the choice of proportions on designing physical apparatus to be used for measurement. Its value as a textbook has been very great.

The collection of four and five place logarithmic tables prepared in 1896 embodies several features of marked originality, and is prefaced by a brief, but exceedingly useful discussion of the fundamental principles of computation, which contains many useful suggestions for the economizing of labor.

The last work written by Professor Holman, entitled "Matter, Energy, Force and Work," appeared in 1898, and is of a character widely different from any of those that preceded it. It is a philosophical study of the fundamental concepts of modern physics in which the subject approached from the point of view that matter and energy rather than matter and force are the primary entities with which physics has to deal, and that matter itself may be dependent upon energy for its own existence. While not technical in its character, and intended especially for the help of teacher not wholly familiar with modern views, it is distinguished throughout by great clearness, and is a remarkable presentation of the newer modes of viewing the subjects which it considers.

Valuable as are his scientific publication, however, Professor Holman's great work was that of a teacher of young men in the laboratory. From the beginning of his service as an assistant in the Rogers Laboratory of Physics, his influence was marked, and his patient labors, extending through years, he brought the work that was under his charge to a high state of development. He possessed great skill in the planning of apparatus and methods, and rare judgment as to the process best suited either for purposes of instruction or for the securing of accurate scientific results. To the development of the Laboratory of Electrical Measurements in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he gave for years his best endeavors, and to him is due the success of its work. He was also placed in charge of the newly-instituted Laboratory of Heat Measurements, and though prevented by failing health from developing this, as he would have chosen, he laid a solid foundation for those coming after him.

Professor Holman was born a teacher, and never grew weary in his profession. His personal relations with his pupils were very intimate. By that example which is better than the wisest precept, he impressed upon them the pre-eminent necessity of thoroughness, accuracy, and honesty in all work which they might be called upon to perform, either as students, or in professional life. He is remembered by them with the most affectionate regard.

Reference has already been made to the interference of ill-health with the prosecution of the labors of Professor Holman. In fact, after reaching manhood, he was never in good health, and during almost the whole of his active life as a teacher, he struggled with a painful chronic disease, which gradually, though with some intermissions, sapped his strength. His cheerful disposition and persistence in carrying on his work were such that none but those who knew him well were aware of the fact that it was only his indomitable courage which prevented him from yielding to his malady for some years before it finally overcame him. In the spring of 1890, he was obliged to discontinue work for a time. He spent the following abroad, and came home much improved in health, but the relief was only temporary. In 1895, he finally gave up his work of instruction. For some years after this, however, though confined to his chair, and at last even deprived of sight, he continued to labor diligently, and published the tables of logarithms and the work on Matter and Energy mentioned above. His mind was clear to the last, and his cheerfulness never forsook him. His latest years were his best ones, and his whole life was a fine illustration of the manner in which a noble spirit may rise superior to circumstances and produce the best results under conditions to which an ordinary mind would utterly succumb.

Return to Rohsenow Kendall Heat Transfer Lab homepage

Accessibility