Charles Franklin Brooks

Biography

Abstract

Charles Franklin Brooks is best known as the founder of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). His passion for meteorology and climatology are said to be the only reason AMS and the Mount Washington Observatory exist today. He was also affiliated with Clark University, Harvard University, Yale University, the U.S. Weather Bureau, the Association of American Geographers, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture throughout his career.

Important Dates

May 2, 1891Birth, Saint Paul (Minn.).

1911Obtained A.B. degree, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1912Obtained A. M. degree, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1914Obtained Ph.D. in Meteorology, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1914Worked on Atlas of American Agriculture, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington (D.C.).

1915 – 1918Instructor of Geography, Yale University, New Haven (Conn.).

1918Instructor, Signal Corps School of Meteorology, College Station (Tex.).

1918 – 1921Editor, Monthly Weather Review, U.S. Weather Bureau, Washington (D.C.).

1919 – 1954Founder (1919); Editor of Bulletin (1919- approx. 1938) and Secretary (1919-1954), American Meteorological Society.

1921 – 1931Associate Professor in Meteorology and Climatology, Clark University, Worcester (Mass.).

1931Professor of Meteorology, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1931Director, Blue Hill Meteorology Observatory, Harvard University, Milton (Mass.).

1932 – 1958Re-established weather observatory atop Mount Washington and served as President (1932-1958) and Meteorological Director (1932-1946), Conway (N.H.).

1935Published book, "Why the Weather".

1939Visiting Professor, University of Chicago., Chicago (Ill.).

1947 – 1948President, Association of American Geographers.

January 8, 1958Death.

Occupation

Meteorologist and climatologist.

Places

Birth

Saint Paul (Minn.)

Undergraduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Employment

Washington (D.C.)

New Haven (Conn.)

College Station (Tex.)

Washington (D.C.)

Worcester (Mass.)

Cambridge (Mass.)

Milton (Mass.)

Conway (N.H.)

Subjects

Climatology.

Geography.

Meteorology.

Relationships

People

Family

Brooks, Eleanor Stabler (1892-1986)

Spouse, married 1914.

Advisors & Collaborators

Rotch, Abbott Lawrence,

Advisor, Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory.

Ward, Robert DeCourcy, 1867-1931

Advisor, Harvard University.

Additional

Conrad, Victor, 1876-1962

Elsasser, Walter M., 1904-

Houghton, Henry G.

Malone, Thomas F.

Merewether, Arthur F.

Spilhaus, A. F. (Athelstan Frederick), Jr.

Institutions

Major Positions

Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory

Research assistant; and Director.

Clark University (Worcester, Mass.)

Associate Professor, Meteorology and Climatology.

Harvard University

Obtained A.B. (1911); A.M. (1912); and Ph.D in Meteorology (1914); and Professor of Meteorology.

Mount Washington Observatory

President; and Meteorological Director.

United States. Department of Agriculture

Worked on Atlas of American Agriculture.

United States. Weather Bureau

Editor, Monthly Weather Review.

Yale University

Instructor of Geography.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Meteorological Society

Founder (1919); Editor of Bulletin; and Secretary.

Association of American Geographers

President.

University of Chicago

Visiting Professor.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Charles Franklin Brooks memorandum on meteorology and climatology at Harvard University, 1945 September 13.

Pusey Library

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Charles Franklin Brooks papers, circa 1937-1945.

Pusey Library

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Subject

Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory records, 1884-1960.

Pusey Library

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory records, 1885-1939 (bulk).

Historical Scientific Instruments Collection

Harvard University

Science Center B-06, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.

Harry Wexler papers, 1929-1962.

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA

Oral history interview with Arthur F. Merewether, 30 July 1991.

Archives

National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA

Oral history interview with Thomas F. Malone, 1995 January 4.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Walter M. Elsasser, 1986 March 12.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Walter M. Elsasser, 1986 March 12.

Archives

National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

PO Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society article, "Dr. Charles Franklin Brooks founder of the American Meteorological Society."

Science article, "Charles Franklin Brooks, Meteorologist."

The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory chapter, "Charles Franklin Brooks becomes Director; the Observing Program is Restored and Mount Washington Reoccupied: 1931–1934."

The Harvard Crimson obituary for Professor Brooks.