Emerson, Harrington, 1853-1931

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1853-08-02
Death 1931-09-02
Britons,
English,

Biographical notes:

Harrington Emerson was one of America's pioneers in industrial engineering and management and organizational theory. His major contributions were to install his management methods at many industrial firms and to promote the ideas of scientific management and efficiency to a mass audience.

From the description of Harrington Emerson papers, 1848-1931. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 47439120

1853 Born Trenton, N. J. Son of Edwin and Mary Louise Emerson. Educated in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Greece. 1870's Married Florence Brooke, one son, Raffe 1876 Headed Modern Language Department, Univ. of Nebraska 1882 Left university to engage in banking and real estate with his brother, S.D.I. Emerson 1885 91 Did special economic and engineering research work for the Burlington Railroad 1895 Married Mary Crawford Supple, 3 daughters, Louise, Isabel and Margaret 1895 99 Served as U.S. representative of a British syndicate Investing in America - investigated finances and operations of many industrial plants and mines, in Mexico, the U.S. and Canada 1899 01 Managed a glass manufacturing company 1901 07 Active as professional consulting management engineer 1904 07 Carried out the reorganization of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RR; introduced a bonus plan, standard costs, accounting by tabulating machines, and planned maintenance for equipment and rolling stock 1907 11 Called one of the principal witnesses in the "Eastern rates case' 1911 Named to Civilian Expert Board on Industrial Management of U.S. Navy Yards to investigate the functions and conditions of the yards 1921 Appointed member of the Hoover Committee for the Elimination of Haste in Industry; assigned to cover the coal and railroad Industries 1929 Attended the International Management Congress in Paris 1931 Died on Sept. 2, aged 78, in New York City

From the guide to the Harrington Emerson papers, 1873-1931., (Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library)

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Subjects:

  • Business consultants
  • Industrial efficiency
  • Industrial efficiency
  • Industrial engineering
  • Industrial engineering
  • Industrial management
  • Labor unions
  • Management science
  • Presidents
  • Railroads

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