Richards, Howard, 1877-1940.

Howard Richards was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on June 27, 1877. He graduated with the degree of Ph.B. from Yale University in 1900. After graduating, he resided in New York City for a number of years before moving to China, where he was a teacher of physics and chemistry. While in China, he organized the Metric Association of China and performed a study of provincial weights and measures and standardized them on metric standards. He did the same in India. After returning to the United States in 1916, he became secretary of the American Metric Association, which he had helped organize. He was married on December 7, 1912, to Maud Ashhurst, with whom he had three sons. Richards died on September 25, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan.

From the description of Howard Richards papers, 1907-1959 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702169411

Howard Richards was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on June 27, 1877. He graduated with the degree of Ph.B. from Yale University in 1900. After graduating, he resided in New York City for a number of years before moving to China, where he was a teacher of physics and chemistry. While in China, he organized the Metric Association of China and performed a study of provincial weights and measures and standardized them on metric standards. He did the same in India. After returning to the United States in 1916, he became secretary of the American Metric Association, which he had helped organize. He was married on December 7, 1912, to Maud Ashhurst, with whom he had three sons. Richards died on September 25, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan.

Howard Richards, Ph.B. 1900.

Born June 27, 1877, in Elizabeth, N.J.; Died September 25, 1940, in Detroit, Mich.

Father, Howard Richards (Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Law 1859-62), a lawyer in New York City; son of Benjamin Wood Richards (B.A. Princeton 1815) and Sarah Ann (Lippincott) Richards of Philadelphia. Mother, Harriet (Mayo) Richards; daughter of Edward Carrington Mayo (B.A. 1811) and Adelaide (Marx) Mayo of Richmond, Va. Yale relatives include an uncle, William C. Mayo (B.A. 1852).

Lawrenceville (N.J.) School. Electrical engineering course; Freshman Football Team; University Football Team Senior year; Class deacon; Class Day Committee; member Yale Corinthian Yacht Club and St. Elmo and Delta Phi.

Associated with Metropolitan Street Railway Company 1900-01 and New York Edison Company 1901-02; attended Columbia University 1902-03 (E.E. 1903); secretary Earl Hall, Columbia University, 1903-04; attended General Theological Seminary a few months 1904; teacher of physics and chemistry and in charge science department Boone College, Wuchang, China, 1905-16; organized Metric Association of China 1910; made a study of provincial weights and measures and standardized them on metric standards for Chinese government; at request of Indian government did similar work for provinces of that country; an organizer American Metric Association 1916 and secretary 1916-40; contributed articles on metric weights and measures to periodicals; made Officier d'Académie République Française 1919; director Laurel Hill Cemetery; member Yale Engineering Association, Trade Executives Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Society of Industrial Engineers, and Trinity Church (Episcopal), Pottsville.

Married December 7, 1912, in Philadelphia, Maud, daughter of John Ashhurst, Jr. (B.A. Univ. of Pennsylvania 1857, M.D. 1860), and Sarah Stokes (Wayne) Ashhurst. Children: Howard Ashhurst, ex -'36 S., John Ashhurst, '37 E., and Owen, '40 S.

Death due to pyonephrosis. Buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. Survived by wife, sons, a sister, Miss Sara Lippincott Richards of Westport, Conn., and a brother, Edward C. M. Richards, '09 S., '11 F.

(Taken from Yale University Obituary Record, 1940-43, p. 198).

From the guide to the Howard Richards papers, 1907-1959, (Manuscripts and Archives)