Morris Llewellyn Cooke
Encyclopedia
Morris Llewellyn Cooke (May 11, 1872- March 5, 1960) was an influential American engineer born in Carlisle Pennsylvania. Cooke was born one of eight children to William Harvey Cooke and Elizabeth Richmond Marsden. He attended Lehigh University in 1895 and it was here that he obtained his degree in Mechanical Engineering. Cooke is most notably known for his work on Scientific Management
and Rural Electrification. He is also notably recognized for his work in obtaining inexpensive electricity for residential use, facilitating better labor-management relations, and the conservation of land and water resources. As he wrote in 1913, "We shall never fully realize . . . the dreams of democracy until the principles of scientific management have permeated every nook and cranny of the working world" (quoted in Business Week, 18 Apr. 1964, p. 132).
Just six years later in 1911, Cooke was appointed director of the Department of Public Works
by Philadelphia's reform mayor, Rudolph Blackenberg.It was here that Cooke began to implement Taylor's principles of Scientific Management in order to change what he considered inefficient management practices in several departments. This change saved taxpayers thousands of dollars. This work was later reflected during World War I when he served on several boards. While serving on these boards Cooke was able to improve the storage of military goods. He also reorganized the Quartermaster Corps, and provided more electrical service to shipyards. Between 1923 and 1925, Cooke administered a survey under Pennsylvania governor Gifford Pinchot
. This survey "emphasized public support for rural electrification and state-directed reorganization of the electric industry."
, Cooke shifted his support and became a liberal democrat. Morris Cooke was selected for several committees by President Roosevelt, these included; the Upstream Engineering Conference,the Great Plain Drought Area Committee, and the Mississippi Valley Committee. However, Cooke was most influential in his appointment as the director for the Rural Electrification Administration. This agency had been newly organized by the Roosevelt Administration and it was set up to finance the construction of several power distribution systems that lied within rural areas. Many of these rural areas had no available electricity, so it became Cooke's duty to work towards Rural Electrification.
Cooke served as the director of the Rural Electrification Administration from May 1935 through March 1937. In March 1937, Cooke resigned and was succeeded by John Carmody
.
Scientific management
Scientific management, also called Taylorism, was a theory of management that analyzed and synthesized workflows. Its main objective was improving economic efficiency, especially labor productivity. It was one of the earliest attempts to apply science to the engineering of processes and to management...
and Rural Electrification. He is also notably recognized for his work in obtaining inexpensive electricity for residential use, facilitating better labor-management relations, and the conservation of land and water resources. As he wrote in 1913, "We shall never fully realize . . . the dreams of democracy until the principles of scientific management have permeated every nook and cranny of the working world" (quoted in Business Week, 18 Apr. 1964, p. 132).
Life
After Cooke had completed college and earned his degree from Lehigh University in Mechanical Engineering he went into the work force to become a machinist. In 1903 Cooke met a man with principles that would later become very influential in Cooke's work, Frederick W. Taylor. A man most notably known for his theories on Scientific Management. Taylor chose four men to implement his theories of scientific management in the work force, Cooke was one of these men. It was in this moment that Cooke and Taylor developed a professional relationship, Taylor's principles influenced Cooke to believe that, "the application of scientific management principles to industry would benefit all of society". This belief later led to the creation of Cooke's own scientific consultant firm in 1905.Just six years later in 1911, Cooke was appointed director of the Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works
Department of Public Works is a common name for government departments responsible for public works. It may refer specifically to:* Public Works and Government Services Canada* Department of Public Works and Highways...
by Philadelphia's reform mayor, Rudolph Blackenberg.It was here that Cooke began to implement Taylor's principles of Scientific Management in order to change what he considered inefficient management practices in several departments. This change saved taxpayers thousands of dollars. This work was later reflected during World War I when he served on several boards. While serving on these boards Cooke was able to improve the storage of military goods. He also reorganized the Quartermaster Corps, and provided more electrical service to shipyards. Between 1923 and 1925, Cooke administered a survey under Pennsylvania governor Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot
Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief of the United States Forest Service and the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania...
. This survey "emphasized public support for rural electrification and state-directed reorganization of the electric industry."
Influential Work in Rural Electrification
Morris Cooke had been interested in and began working toward the idea of rural electrification beginning in the 1920s.Cooke had been a progressive republican prior to 1930, but following the election of Franklin D. RooseveltFranklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, Cooke shifted his support and became a liberal democrat. Morris Cooke was selected for several committees by President Roosevelt, these included; the Upstream Engineering Conference,the Great Plain Drought Area Committee, and the Mississippi Valley Committee. However, Cooke was most influential in his appointment as the director for the Rural Electrification Administration. This agency had been newly organized by the Roosevelt Administration and it was set up to finance the construction of several power distribution systems that lied within rural areas. Many of these rural areas had no available electricity, so it became Cooke's duty to work towards Rural Electrification.
Cooke served as the director of the Rural Electrification Administration from May 1935 through March 1937. In March 1937, Cooke resigned and was succeeded by John Carmody
John Carmody
John Carmody is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .Carmody, the son of Collingwood premiership player Jack Carmody, was a rover, half forward and wingman...
.
Legacy
- 1940 Cooke became a technical consultant for the Office of Production Management.
- led an American technical mission to Brazil.
- 1943 headed the War Labor Board panel to mediate a coal miners' strike
- 1946-1947 member of a committee to survey the patent system.
- 1950 President Harry S. TrumanHarry S. TrumanHarry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
appointed Cooke chairman of the Water Resources Policy Commission
Publications and Contributions
- Academic and Industrial Efficiency (1910)
- Scientific Management of the Public Business (1915)
- Our Cities Awake (1918)
- Brazil on the March (1944)
- Organized Labor and Production (1940)
- Giant Power: Large Scale Electrical Development as a Social Factor (1925)
- Modern Manufacturing: A Partnership of Idealism and Common Sense (1919)
Further reading
- The Life and Times of a Happy Liberal: A Biography of Morris Llewellyn Cooke (1954), Kenneth E. Trombley
- Morris Llewellyn Cooke, Progressive Engineer (1983), Jean Christie