Charles Felton Scott papers

Charles Felton Scott, born on September 19, 1864, in Athens, Ohio, was the son of William Henry and Sarah Felton Scott.

Scott received his B.A. degree from Ohio State University in 1885 and began graduate work in mathematics at Johns Hopkins University. While studying at Johns Hopkins, Scott taught mathematics and elementary science at the Baltimore and Ohio railroad apprentice school in Baltimore.

In 1887, having decided to pursue a career as an electrical engineer, Scott went to work for a construction company that was building an alternating current plant for the Baldwin Locomotive works in Philadelphia. In the summer of 1888, Scott began working at the Westinghouse Electric Company in Pittsburgh. At Westinghouse, Scott gained expertise in the application of the science of engineering to electrical problems and soon was recognized for his work on alternating currents.

Scott's first position at Westinghouse was as Nicholas Tesla's assistant. Tesla was the first person to develop a method of utilizing undulating current. Scott assisted Tesla in the development of a new inductor motor which used alternating current to transmit power. In 1890, Scott designed the first commercial polyphase alternating current motor. During this period, he was also involved in improving the transformers manufactured by Westinghouse. It was in this area that Scott made his best known technical contribution. In 1892, he designed the T-transformer, which could transform electric current from a two-phase system to a three-phase system. This transformer was used to develop the Niagara power project.

Scott welcomed the opportunity to show others the growing importance of electrical engineering. In the early part of the twentieth century, he turned from the practical application of his engineering skills to the challenge of imparting theoretical knowledge of electrical engineering to the generations which would apply electricity to all facets of their lives. As a step in this direction, he and others in the field felt it would be useful to have a single center for all existing engineering societies. In 1903, Scott took part in negotiations with Andrew Carnegie to plan the construction in New York City of a headquarters for all engineering societies in the United States. He also organized the Electric Club and founded a magazine for engineering students entitled Electric Journal.

Scott's interest in education deepened, and in 1911, he accepted a professorship in the new electrical engineering department of the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University. Yale awarded Scott an honorary Master of Arts degree that same year. From 1911 to 1933, Scott taught in the electrical engineering department. During his tenure as chairman (1920-1933), the department expanded its reputation and acquired a separate building.

Scott was a member of most of the major engineering organizations in the United States and actively promoted the field whenever possible. From 1919 to 1920 he served on the committee that formulated plans for the Federated American Engineering Societies. He represented the American Institute of Electrical Engineers on the American Engineering Council from 1920 to 1933. Scott was president of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers from 1921 to 1923.

Charles Felton Scott retired from Yale University in 1933. He died on December 17, 1944.