Searching for something in an box of old Public Affairs material, I opened a folder that held two images of the same man. They were labeled–both said “A.P. McDonald, Associate Professor of Engineering Graphics.” This was very lucky because I’d never seen him before nor ever heard his name.
It looks like the photos were taken two different days but the same room, which I’m guessing must have been in the Engineering Annex where Ryon Lab is today. Here’s what I know after some research: McDonald came to Rice in 1953 and seems to have been hired into the Civil Engineering Department (although I’m not completely sure about that). He retired sometime in the early to mid-1970s, which means that if (as I assume) he was teaching engineering drawing he must have taught a whole lot of students. Odd that I’d never heard of him. As always, if you know anything I’d love to hear from you.
Oh, and one more thing. In the fall of 1964 he was appointed director of reproduction services. It’s just the type of dry technical matter that sets my pulse racing:
Bonus:
