Cyril Manton Harris (June 20, 1917 – January 4, 2011) was

Professor Emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

Architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...

and Charles Batchelor Professor Emeritus of

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 ...

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

. He received his B.S. in

mathematics Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...

and his

M.S. A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medicine ...

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

from

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...

, and his Ph.D. in physics 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 ...

(MIT), where he specialized in

acoustics Acoustics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including topics such as vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician ...

. He co-authored with Vern Oliver Knudsen the book ''Acoustical Designing in Architecture'', and edited several others, including ''Handbook of Noise Control'', ''Shock and Vibration Handbook'', ''Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture'', ''Dictionary of Architecture and Construction'' and ''American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia''. These books are recognized as authoritative references in their field. As a consultant, Harris participated in the design and construction of more than 100 halls, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Minnesota Orchestra Hall, Lincoln Center Metropolitan Opera House, Abravanel Hall, Benaroya Hall and Conrad Prebys Concert Hall in

University of California, San Diego The University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego in communications material, formerly and colloquially UCSD) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in San Diego, California, United States. Es ...

. Harris was a Fellow of the

Acoustical Society of America The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is an international scientific society founded in 1929 dedicated to generating, disseminating and promoting the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications. The Society is primarily a voluntary org ...

. He served on the Executive Council (1954–1957), was vice president (1960–1961) and president (1964–1965) of the society, and was an associate editor of the

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America The ''Journal of the Acoustical Society of America'' (JASA) is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering all aspects of acoustics. It is published by the Acoustical Society of America. The editor-in-chief is James F. Lynch (Woods Hole O ...

(1959–1971). He was a member of the

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...

National Academy of Engineering The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is an American Nonprofit organization, nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. It is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), along with the National Academ ...

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

and several other professional societies and advisory boards. Harris served as president (1993) and chairman of the Board (1994) of the

New York Academy of Sciences The New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), originally founded as the Lyceum of Natural History in January 1817, is a nonprofit professional society based in New York City, with more than 20,000 members from 100 countries. It is the fourth-oldes ...

. His achievements in auditorium acoustics were recognized by the Wallace Clement Sabine Medal of the Acoustical Society of America, the

Franklin Medal The Franklin Medal was a science award presented from 1915 until 1997 by the Franklin Institute located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country ...

(1977), the AES Gold Medal (1984), the

Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology The Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology is given annually to recognise important members of the science and engineering communities in New York City. Candidates must live or work in the city. Nominations are submitted in five ca ...

(1985) and the ASA Gold Medal (1987). He held honorary doctorates from the

New Jersey Institute of Technology New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a Public university, public research university in Newark, New Jersey, United States, with a graduate-degree-granting satellite campus in Jersey City. Founded in 1881 with the support of local indust ...

and from

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

References

External links

* Cyril M. Harris paper finding aid
Held by the Department of Drawings & Archives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Cyril M. Columbia School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty 1917 births Academics from Detroit 2011 deaths Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences Members of the United States National Academy of Engineering Fellows of the Acoustical Society of America ASA Gold Medal recipients University of California, Los Angeles alumni Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Recipients of Franklin Medal