Robert Van Arsdale Norris (May 2, 1864 – April 20, 1928) was an American mining engineer and consultant.

Early life

Robert Van Arsdale Norris was born on May 2, 1864, in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...

, to Mary Latimer (née Ruxton) and Thomas Baldwin Norris. He was descended from governor William Bradford. He graduated from the Collegiate School. He graduated with a E.M. from

Columbia School of Mines The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (also known as SEAS or Columbia Engineering; historically Columbia School of Mines) is the engineering and applied science school of Columbia University, a private research university i ...

in 1885.

Career

Following graduation, Norris was an assistant instructor in mining and surveying at the Columbia School of Mines. He then was inspector of dredging and a chemist for the federal government. In June 1886, Norris was assistant engineer of coal mines for Susquehanna Coal Company, part of the

Pennsylvania Railroad Company The Pennsylvania Railroad (reporting mark PRR), legal name as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, also known as the "Pennsy," was an American Class I railroad that was established in 1846 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At its p ...

. In 1893, he was promoted to principal assistant engineer. In 1900, he was promoted to chief engineer. He remained there until 1904 and then worked in private practice. He consulted for a variety of large coal companies. He lectured at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

and was graduate lecturer at

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 was senior member of his consulting engineering firm R. V. Norris & Co. During

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 ...

, he was an engineer with the

United States Fuel Administration The United States Fuel Administration was a World War I-era agency of the Federal government of the United States established by of August 23, 1917, pursuant to the Food and Fuel Control Act. The administration managed the use of coal and oil ...

. In September 1918, he was selected as a member of the price-fixing commission of the

War Industries Board The War Industries Board (WIB) was a United States government agency established on July 28, 1917, during World War I, to coordinate the purchase of war supplies between the War Department (Department of the Army) and the Navy Department. Becaus ...

, representing the Fuel Administration. He was an inspector of the Markle Banking & Trust Company skyscraper in the Hazleton area when it was built. Norris was a member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Canadian Mining Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia School of Mines Alumni Association.

Personal life

Norris married Esther Wadhams Shoemaker of

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre ( , alternatively or ) is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It ...

on June 7, 1893. They had three children, Robert V. Jr., Jane and Esther. He was a member of the

Cosmos Club The Cosmos Club is a 501(c)(7) private social club in Washington, D.C., that was founded by John Wesley Powell in 1878 as a gentlemen's club for those interested in science. Among its stated goals is, "The advancement of its members in science, ...

and

Chevy Chase Club Chevy Chase () is the colloquial name of an area that includes a Town#Maryland, town, several Village#Incorporated villages, incorporated villages, and an unincorporated census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland; and one adjo ...

in Washington, D.C. He was a member of St. Stephen's Church. Norris died on April 20, 1928, at his home on South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre. He was buried in Forty Fort Cemetery.

Awards

Norris received an honorary

Master of Science 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 medici ...

in 1914. In 1920, he received the triennial medal from the Columbia School of Mines class of 1885 for his work with the Fuel Administration.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, R. V. 1864 births 1928 deaths Collegiate School (New York) alumni Engineers from Newark, New Jersey People from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Columbia School of Mines alumni American mining engineers