George Winchester Barnwell (August 22, 1888 – May 26, 1958) was an American

electrical engineer Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

, Professor of Production Practice at the

Stevens Institute of Technology Stevens Institute of Technology is a Private university, private research university in Hoboken, New Jersey. Founded in 1870, it is one of the oldest technological universities in the United States and was the first college in America solely de ...

, and recipient of the

Taylor Key The Taylor Key Award is one of the highest awards of the Society for Advancement of Management. This management awards is awarded annually to one or more persons for "the outstanding contribution to the advancement of the art and science of managem ...

award in 1937, presented for conspicuous service.

Biography

Youth, education and early career

Barnwell was born in

Hawkinsville, Georgia Hawkinsville is a city in Middle Georgia and the county seat of Pulaski County, Georgia, United States. As of 2020, it has a population of 3,980. The city is known as the "Harness Horse Capital of Georgia" and holds an annual Harness Horse Fest ...

in 1888, to Allard Barnwell and Nina (Graham) Barnwell. He obtained his BSc degree in

Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

Georgia Institute of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology (commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, GT, and simply Tech or the Institute) is a public university, public research university and Institute of technology (United States), institute of technology in Atlanta, ...

in 1909. In 1914 he obtained another BSc degree in Electrical Engineering from

Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...

,Stephen B. Barnwell. ''The story of an American family.'' 1969. p. 385 with the thesis, entitled ''An investigation of the electric light and power requirements of a technical school.'' After his graduation from Georgia Tech, Barwell had started his career in the industry. In Atlanta he worked for

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston. Over the year ...

, in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

for the Southern Oil Company, and in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

for the Jackson & Moreland, construction engineering company. In

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Barnwell served in the U.S. Army at the

75th Field Artillery Brigade The 75th Field Artillery Brigade (75th FAB) is an artillery brigade in the United States Army. It is currently based in Fort Sill, Oklahoma and supports the III Armored Corps. The brigade is officially tasked to train and prepares for combat; o ...

, where he was commissioned a

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...

in August 1917. From 1919 to 1921 Barnwell was an engineer at the

Victor Talking Machine Company The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American recording company and phonograph manufacturer, incorporated in 1901. Victor was an independent enterprise until 1929 when it was purchased by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and became ...

in Camden, New Jersey. In 1921 he was appointed an instructor in Electrical Engineering at

Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the e ...

, and continued his studies obtained his M.A. in

economics Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the Production (economics), production, distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics), consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interac ...

from the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

in 1926.

Further career and honours

After his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in 1926, Barwell was an associate professor at the

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School ( ) is the business school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia. Established in 1881 through a donation from Joseph Wharton, a co-founder of Bethlehem Steel, the Wharton ...

. In 1929 he moved to the

in Hoboken, where he would spend the rest of his career until his retirement in June, 1948. Barnwell started at the Stevens Institute of Technology as assistant Professor in Economics of Engineering, and was later in the 1930s on in the Professor of Production Practice. In 1941 he was also put in charge of the work of shop practice at the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1937 Barnwell was awarded the

, one of the highest awards of the

Society for Advancement of Management The Society for the Advancement of Management, commonly known as SAM, is the oldest among professional management societies. On November 11, 1910 colleagues of Frederick W. Taylor met at the New York Athletic Club to discuss and promote the prin ...

Personal

Barwell was married to Margaret K. (Cromwell) Barnwell (1895-1976). He died May 26, 1958, and was buried at the Beverly National Cemetery.George W Barnwell
findagrave.com. 2017.

Selected publications

* Barnwell, George W. ''An investigation of the electric light and power requirements of a technical school.'' Diss. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering, 1914. * Barnwell, W. ''Engineering economics and practice. Solutions to the university of the state of New York past examinations for professional engineers.'' pt. 3, group A. (C) May 1, 1939 * Barnwell, George W. ''New encyclopedia of machine shop practice; a guide to the principles and practice of machine shop procedure.'' 1941. ;Articles, a selection * Barnwell, George W. "Engineering Economics, Why? Where? What?," ''Proceedings,'' Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education (U.S.), Volume 43. 1935.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnwell, George Winchester 1888 births 1958 deaths American electrical engineers 20th-century American educators Georgia Tech alumni MIT School of Engineering alumni University of Pennsylvania School of Arts and Sciences alumni Swarthmore College faculty Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania faculty Stevens Institute of Technology faculty People from Hawkinsville, Georgia Burials at Beverly National Cemetery