Hoffman, James D. (James David), 1868-
Person
Dates
- Existence: January 23, 1868 - August 14, 1938
Biographical Information
James Hoffman graduated from Purdue University in 1890 with a BME, receiving the ME in 1893. He entered the graduate school at Cornell in 1894 and remained one year. Returning to Purdue, he taught practical mechanics and machine design until 1911, when he went to the University of Nebraska as head of the mechanical engineering department.
In 1917 he returned to Purdue, serving as head of the Practical Mechanics Department. James D. Hoffman succeeded Michael Golden as head of Practical Mechanics. He was characterized by Dean A.A. Potter as "the salt of the earth." Hoffman was faced during much of his tenure with a shortage of funds for equipment and insufficient space for instruction to be carried on as it should be. One change he was able to make during his leadership was to decrease elementary exercises and prepare advanced courses that led in the direction of industrial engineering.
He retired in 1938 and passed away August 14, 1938.
In 1917 he returned to Purdue, serving as head of the Practical Mechanics Department. James D. Hoffman succeeded Michael Golden as head of Practical Mechanics. He was characterized by Dean A.A. Potter as "the salt of the earth." Hoffman was faced during much of his tenure with a shortage of funds for equipment and insufficient space for instruction to be carried on as it should be. One change he was able to make during his leadership was to decrease elementary exercises and prepare advanced courses that led in the direction of industrial engineering.
He retired in 1938 and passed away August 14, 1938.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
James D. Hoffman papers
Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSF 179
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of seven folders which contain publications by James Hoffman. Most of the material appears to be the original copy, so publication information is not available for many of the articles.
Dates:
1907 - 1922