University Libraries Promotion and Tenure Recognition

This book is a history of the development of modern heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning technology for homes from roughly 1920 through 1955 at my alma mater, the University of Illinois. It was a "quiet revolution" that with little fanfare changed the way we live. My father played a significant role in that effort and many of the characters in this story, including the author, were family friends, teachers, and colleagues--in some cases, all three. The impact of this research program on the quality of life of millions of people and the enduring nature of the contribution are unique. There is a lesson for those laboring in the indoor environmental control field today, including me, about how much is owed to, and can be learned from, our predecessors. Many would be surprised to know how long ago some of the "newest" developments in air conditioning were being studied in Champaign-Urbana. The non-specialist who may pick up this book will find an impressive and accessible story of what can be accomplished by a community of scholars working together for the betterment of humanity.