Benedict Frederick Raber 1882-1949

RABER, LEESE

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 9/9/2004 at 22:08:03

1949, University of California: In Memoriam

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Benedict Frederick Raber, Mechanical Engineering: Berkeley
1882-1949

Benedict Frederick Raber served the University of California as Associate Professor and Professor from 1915 to his retirement in 1949. He brought to engineering instruction at Berkeley the philosophy, methodology and practices of Purdue University, his Alma Mater, which was making large contributions to engineering education. Professor Raber served under Dean C. L. Cory (Purdue 1889) and he contributed in ways similar to those of Cory in strengthening and continuing the tie between the two engineering institutions.

One of his first contributions was the planning and development of two of the mechanical laboratories, the Heat Power Laboratory and the Automotive Laboratory. His long-range plans for these laboratories were noteworthy as was also the execution with very limited funds. His concept of the place of laboratory experience in the education of the engineering student included critical ideas as to what should be contributed by that experience. In collaboration with his colleague, R. S. Tour, he made this philosophy real in the College of Engineering. His ability to introduce ideas into existing educational philosophy and practice had a strong influence in building the present position of the University of California in engineering education.

Professor Raber was known for his orderly thinking and habits. He was a direct and meticulous instructor who impressed students with the importance for the engineer of direct, detailed and orderly thinking. The students who came under his influence would later recognize the excellence of his approach to understanding the job of the engineer. He was a leader in the use of classroom teaching aids, especially charts (plates, as he called them) and sectioned models.

During the period 1924-1930, Professor Raber served the University as a consultant in the use and adaptation of campus buildings and in the programming of buildings under construction. He emphasized the wisdom of constructing buildings to serve not merely the needs of the departments housed, their research and public service, but also some general needs of the University. He was skillful in designing for efficient use, in providing for changing needs, and in appraising the role of buildings as a determinant in University policy. Many results of his analyses and designs are to be found on the Berkeley, Davis, and Los Angeles campuses. The heating plants at Davis, Berkeley, and Los Angeles illustrate his professional design. As a service contribution to the State, he designed and inaugurated the work of a photometric laboratory on the campus for headlamps and signals in 1919 at the request of the State of California.

During World War I Professor Raber was commissioned by President Benjamin Ide Wheeler to receive instruction from the Military on the establishment of a U. S. Army School of Military Aeronautics on the Berkeley campus. Throughout the war years he served as one of the principal directors of instruction in this school, supervising instruction in airplane engines and related subjects.

As a practicing engineer, Professor Raber was responsible for the equipment in the city water supply pumping plant of the City of Sacramento. He also served as a consultant to the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce on power and pumping problems.

In the 'thirties, Professor Raber directed his studies to the field of air conditioning. He served as consultant on numerous projects. In 1912 he had assisted in the preparation of the Handbook for Heating and Ventilating Engineers by J. D. Hoffman, published by McGraw-Hill Book Corporation. He and Baldwin M. Woods were co-authors of Air Conditioning for California Homes, California Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 589, March 1935. He wrote with F. W. Hutchinson Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering (Wiley) and Panel Heating and Cooling Analysis (Wiley). Professor Raber was a leader in the art and science of improving the climate of the enclosures in which men live and work.

During World War II, he served as Chairman of the Department and Division of Mechanical Engineering from 1943-1946. During this period the Department experienced the impact of war and began its plans for the postwar period. As chairman he earned wholehearted support of his colleagues through his sympathetic understanding of their problems and his concern for high standards of engineering performance and scholarship.

Professor Raber was born in Farmington, Iowa, on October 8, 1882; was graduated by Purdue University in 1907 with honors in Mechanical Engineering. He was married to Clara Leese on December 31, 1922. He died on August 15, 1949, soon after his retirement. Only a few days before, he had boxed some of his engineering magazines for use in the Engineering Library on the Los Angeles campus.

Professor Raber was a member of the honor societies--Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, and Sigma Tau--and the following engineering and scientific societies: American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society for Engineering Education and Pacific Coast Gas Association. His work in these organizations was active and served as a constant stimulus to him in his class work.

His excellent paper (with F. W. Hutchinson) entitled Rational Analysis of Panel Heating and Cooling Systems was the basis of a medal award by the International Heat Congress in 1947.

Professor Raber was a kindly man but one of deep convictions. He believed in the responsibilities of the teacher and labored unceasingly to attain the standards he visualized as sound. He contributed to the professional development of students, supplementing their scientific studies with observations and conclusions concerning trends in the engineering profession, its requirements and its ethical standards. He continued professional development to the end of his life and was in the midst of preparations for two books in the field of air conditioning at the time of his sudden death. Faculty and students of the College of Engineering were fortunate to have his able collaboration and services for more than a generation.

Baldwin M. Woods
Everett D. Howe
Llewelyn M. K. Boelter

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