Alfred Norton Goldsmith | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Goldsmith in 1922 | |
| Born | (1888-09-15)September 15, 1888 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 2, 1974(1974-07-02) (aged 85) |
| Alma mater | College of the City of New York Columbia University |
| Awards | IEEE Medal of Honor (1941) IEEE Founders Medal (1954) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Electrical engineering |
Alfred Norton Goldsmith (September 15, 1888 – July 2, 1974) was a noted Americanelectrical engineer.
Goldsmith was born inNew York City, received his B.S. in 1907 from theCollege of the City of New York and in 1911 his Ph.D. fromColumbia University where he studied underMichael I. Pupin. He taught at City College from 1906 to 1923. In 1912 Goldsmith co-founded theInstitute of Radio Engineers (IRE) and was the first editor of itsproceedings, serving for 42 years. In 1914 he consulted as a radio engineer for theAtlantic Communication Company, and for theGeneral Electric Company from 1915 to 1917. DuringWorld War I he was Technical Director of theUnited States Army Signal Corps School of Communication and the U. S. Naval Radio School at City College.
After the war, Goldsmith became director of research for theMarconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America and in 1919RCA's director of research. In 1923 he was named RCA's Chief Broadcast Engineer and in 1927 Chairman of the Board of Consulting Engineers of theNational Broadcasting Company. He remained with RCA as vice president and general manager until 1931, and was awarded RCA's first productiontelevision tube with an inscription reading "RCA Laboratory’s Award for Outstanding Work in Research presented to Alfred Norton Goldsmith for his early recognition of the importance of a tri-colorkinescope and for his concept of means for accomplishing it."
Goldsmith was made anIRE Fellow in 1915, its president in 1928, and served on its board of directors for 51 years. In 1941 he was awarded theIRE Medal of Honor "for his contributions to radio research, engineering, and commercial development, his leadership in standardization, and his unceasing devotion to the establishment and upbuilding of the Institute and its proceedings", theIEEE Founders Medal in 1954,[1] and the firstIEEE Haraden Pratt Award in 1972, to honor "outstanding service to the IEEE."[2]
Goldsmith was also a Fellow of theAcoustical Society of America, theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science, theAmerican Rocket Society, theInstitution of Radio Engineers, Australia, theInternational College of Surgeons, theNew York Academy of Sciences, theOptical Society of America, and was a Benjamin Franklin Fellow of theRoyal Society of Arts (London). He was also a senior member in theAmerican Astronomical Society, as well as a member of theAmerican Physical Society, and an honorary member of theSociety of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.
Since 1975 the Alfred N. Goldsmith Award for Distinguished Contributions to Engineering Communication Award has been given byIEEE Professional Communication Society in his honor.
