FROM IMMIGRANT TO INVENTOR [Illustration: _From a photograph, copyright by Underwood & Underwood_ MICHAEL PUPIN] FROM IMMIGRANT TO INVENTOR BY MICHAEL PUPIN PROFESSOR OF ELECTRO-MECHANICS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK [Illustration] CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS NEW YORK · LONDON 1949 COPYRIGHT, 1922, 1923, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS Printed in the United States of America Published September, 1923 Reprinted November, 1928; January, March, 1924 July, 1924 TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER PREFACE Looking back over the development of this volume throughout the year or more during which I have been writing it, it seems to me that I cannot better express the end I have had in view than to repeat here what I wrote at the beginning of Chapter XI: “The main object of my narrative was, and still is, to describe the rise of idealism in American science, and particularly in physical sciences and the related industries. I was a witness to this gradual development; everything that I have described so far was an attempt to qualify as a witness whose testimony has competence and weight. But there are many other American scientists whose opinions in this matter have more competence and weight than my opinion has. Why, then, should a scientist who started his career as a Serbian immigrant speak of the idealism in American science when there are so many native-born American scientists who know more about this subject than I do? Those who have read my narrative so far can answer this question. I shall only point out now that there are certain psychological elements in the question which justify me in the belief that occasionally an immigrant can see things which escape the attention of the native. Seeing is believing; let him speak who has the faith, provided that he has a message to deliver.” MICHAEL PUPIN. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. WHAT I BROUGHT TO AMERICA 1 II. THE HARDSHIPS OF A GREENHORN 43 III. THE END OF THE APPRENTICESHIP AS GREENHORN 72 IV. FROM GREENHORN TO CITIZENSHIP AND COLLEGE DEGREE 100 V. FIRST JOURNEY TO IDVOR IN ELEVEN YEARS 138 VI. STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 167 VII. END OF STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE 192 VIII. STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN 218 IX. END OF STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN 247 X. THE FIRST PERIOD OF MY ACADEMIC CAREER AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 279 XI. THE RISE OF IDEALISM IN AMERICAN SCIENCE 311 XII. THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 349 INDEX 389 ILLUSTRATIONS Michael Pupin Frontispiece