Lamb, George G., 1906-1977

George G. Lamb was born April 26, 1906, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of John C. and Helen Goodrich Lamb. He obtained his B.S. (1927) and M.S. (1928) from the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. (1935) from New York University, all in chemical engineering. From 1935 to 1941 Lamb did research and design work for the Standard Oil Company (Indiana) at Whiting, Indiana. During World War II he served in the United States Navy, working primarily on aviation fuel projects. Lamb came to Northwestern University in 1946 as professor of chemical engineering, remaining until retirement in 1971.

He taught abroad three times: in Finland, 1954-1955; Indonesia, 1958-1959; and the Sudan, 1962-1965. Lamb went into semi-retirement in 1965 to devote half his time to the interdisciplinary study of societal change. Northwestern named Lamb emeritus professor in 1971 although he continued to teach part-time until 1975.

Lamb married Esther Bolitho on September 10, 1930. The couple had two children, Douglas P., born November 21, 1931, and William B., born May 6, 1937. Lamb died in California on February 24, 1977, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

From the guide to the George G. Lamb (1906-1977) Papers, 1935-1977, (Northwestern University Archives)