Childhood interests and family background; studies; undergraduate at Dartmouth College, 1911-1915; graduate research on vacuum spark spectra under Robert Millikan at University of Chicago, 1915-1917 and 1918-1919; faculty positions at University of Michigan, 1919; role of Harrison Randall at Michigan in continuation of vacuum spark work; WWI optical work for Bureau of Ordnance, 1917-1918; research interests in atomic spectra and structural analysis as result of work with Friedrich Paschen at Universitt̃ Berlin, 1926, 1931; impressions of Paschen's laboratory and intellectual ferment at the Universitt̃ Berlin; spectroscopic analysis applied to industrial problems at University of Michigan, 1930s-1940s; role as World War II naval research administrator, 1941, 1942-1945, sets tone for remaining career as administrator; Dean of Graduate Studies at Michigan, 1946-1950. Sawyer's role in Optical Society of America; comments on Arthur Hardy and OSA internal crises; changing conceptions of the Optical Society reflecting changing nature of the field in the 1930s; relation to the American Institute of Physics (AIP) as Chairman of the Board and Acting Director; disputes over Institute functions, role of Elmer Hutchisson; comments on role of director, overviews on AIP orientation.