FROM
IMMIGRANT TO INVENTOR
FROM
IMMIGRANT TO INVENTOR
BY
MICHAEL PUPIN
PROFESSOR OF ELECTRO-MECHANICS, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK
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 ormore during which I have been writing it, it seems to me that I cannotbetter express the end I have had in view than to repeat here what Iwrote at the beginning of Chapter XI:
“The main object of my narrative was, and still is, to describe therise of idealism in American science, and particularly in physicalsciences and the related industries. I was a witness to this gradualdevelopment; everything that I have described so far was an attempt toqualify as a witness whose testimony has competence and weight. Butthere are many other American scientists whose opinions in this matterhave more competence and weight than my opinion has. Why, then, shoulda scientist who started his career as a Serbian immigrant speak ofthe idealism in American science when there are so many native-bornAmerican scientists who know more about this subject than I do? Thosewho have read my narrative so far can answer this question. I shallonly point out now that there are certain psychological elements in thequestion which justify me in the belief that occasionally an immigrantcan see things which escape the attention of the native. Seeing isbelieving; let him speak who has the faith, provided that he has amessage to deliver.”
Michael Pupin.