Frank E. Burpee
Frank Eugene Burpee was born at Beloit, Kansas, on May 16, 1872. His family later moved to Pennsylvania. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell in 1901 and a Master of Arts degree in 1902.
After graduation, he was Professor of Greek and Assistant in Mathematics at Leland University, New Orleans, Louisiana. He returned to Lewisburg and served as Instructor in Greek and Latin in the Academy from 1902 to 1905. In 1905 he was appointed “…Instructor in Mathematics in the College, at a salary of $1,200.00 per annum.” At the same time he was also “…. appointed superintendent of buildings and grounds, with control of all persons employed in the care of the buildings, including the heating and lighting plant.” In 1908, he became Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. He did graduate work at the University of Michigan from 1906 to 1908 and at the University of Chicago in 1909. President John Howard Harris selected him to develop a department of mechanical engineering and in 1913 he was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering. In 1931, John B. Stetson University awarded Professor Burpee an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree. Until 1936, Professor Burpee “…. served as a professor carrying a full load of teaching, and in addition the work of Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds.” He retired from teaching in 1937 but continued to serve as Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds until his final retirement in 1944. Frank Eugene Burpee died on November 29, 1958 at the age of eighty-six.
He was involved in many building projects on the campus. He supervised the building of Carnegie Library, Harris Hall, East College, the Foundry, the First Wing of the Engineering Building, Hunt Hall, the Women’s Dining Hall, and the Botany Building. He was also a consulting engineer for the construction of Memorial Stadium.
Frank Eugene Burpee was very active in community affairs. He was a member of the Lewisburg Borough Council for many years and served as its president. He also served as the Burgess of Lewisburg. He was a member of the William Cameron Engine Company and the Lewisburg Baptist Church.
This photograph is from the 1920 L’Agenda.