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CARL C OVALT C HAM B E RS
1907-1987
WRITTEN BY S. REID WARREN, JR.
SUBMITTED BY THE NAE HOME SECRETARY
CA1lL COVALT CHAMBERS died suddenly on November 25, 1987,
in Palm Harbor, Florida, where he had lived with his wife,
Margaret Morrison Chambers, since his retirement from the
University of Pennsylvania in 1975.
Dr. Chambers' wide-ranging career included contributions to
the fields of teaching, research, consulting, and administra-
tion in his university and in several national and international
professional societies.
Dr. Chambers received his B.S. from Dickinson College in
1929; he majored in mathematics. He worked in research and
development for RCA in Camden, New Jersey, (three years) and
in research at the Bartol Research Foundation of The Franklin
Institute (one year), before his appointment as an instructor of
electrical engineering in the Moore School of Electrical Engi-
neering, University of Pennsylvania, in 1933. At that time he had
already completer! most of the course work for the D.Sc. (elec-
trical engineering) at the university; the (legree was awarded in
1934.
Dr. Chambers designed and presented both undergraduate
and graduate courses and courses organized for special purpos-
es during World War II. He was known and respected for his
unconventional but effective methods of stimulating his stu-
dents to learn for themselves rather than to be instructed by
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48
MEMORIAL TRIBUTES
lecture and examination. He was one of the first to present
courses in physical electronics.
In research he was particularly versatile. His work at RCA and
Bartol was essentially scientific research in the held of cold
emission from metal surfaces at high field gradients. In contrast,
during World War II he participated in and directed classified
projects in short-range communication and radio interference
under grants from the Office of Scientific Research and Devel-
opment and the Office of Naval Research. At the same time, he
supervised a program of courses offered at the university under
the Engineering, Science, and Management War Training Pro-
gram.
Dr. Chambers was supervisor of research in the Moore School
from 1947 to 1949. He had been promoter] through the several
ranks to become professor of electrical engineering in 1947. He
became clean of the Moore School in 1949. He served as vice-
president for engineering affairs from 1953 to 1972, when he
fostered a reorganization of the engineering departments into
a more unified structure.
Carl Chambers served as consultant to many companies,
including Brooke Engineering Company t1934-1954), auto-
matic industrial controls; Edward Stern & Company (1936-
1954), research into improved methods of photoengraving and
lithography; International Resistance Company (1944-1954),
design of an automatic bridge to sort resistors to preselected
tolerances; and Hazeltine Corporation (1939-1940), extensive
consultations cluring an extended research planning confer-
ence on FM and TV system designs. As a result of this work, he
was awarded eight patents.
In spite of the demands of his academic position, Dr. Cham-
bers welcomed opportunities to contribute to the activities of
professional societies including the American Institute of Elec-
trical Engineers (fellow 1932~; Institute of Radio Engineers
(fellow 1929~; Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
(life fellow 1963~; National Society of Professional Engineers;
Engineers Joint Council; American Society for Engineering
Education (fellowl946,presidentl968-69~.Hewasparticularly
interested in the International Electrotechnical Commission
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CARL COVALT CHAMBERS
49
(IEC) (1946-70~. He served as member and chairman of two
technical committees of IEC, helped to organize the 1954 and
1970 IEC meetings in the United States, and was a delegate to
many IEC meetings throughout the world.
Car! Chambers was honored by election to membership in
several engineering honor societies; by his selection as Engineer
of the Year in the Delaware Valley in 1966; and in particular, by
his election into membership in the National Academy of Engi-
neering in 1970.
Carl Chambers was a careful, even-handed, unbiased admin-
istrator. He would discuss problems with his colleagues, state
what he thought should be done, and listen to responses. After
a decision had been reached, he expected the responsible
colleagues to implement it. Thus, as indicated above, his innate
ability to manage led to his selection for positions of high
responsibility.
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