Memorial letter

              September 8, 1915

Mr. Kempton Taylor,
Philadelphia, Pa.

My Dear Sir:

My acquaintance with your father dates from 1900, at which time he expressed interest in a series of articles which I had contributed in that year to the engineering magazine under the title of "The Commercial Organization of Machine Shop." Subsequently I had the pleasure of coming into closer personal contact with him at the meetings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and later at the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education. I was always impressed by his cordial democratic attitude, and the spirit of comradship and appreciation of interest in a common cause which led him to establish acquaintanceship and friendship with others interested in the same fields of work in which he was doing such notable service. In this respect his attitude was far broader and more generous than that of many of the younger workers in the same field who seem to guard jealously and secretively anything which they have worked out for themselves, or secured from others.

An incident showing his dislike for snobishness is the following: Sometime after the honorary doctor's degree had been conferred on him, I addressed him as "Doctor Taylor." He responded, "Diemer don't call me Doctor; if you don't want to call me Taylor, just call me Fred."

On the occasion of a visit to State College he took a walk through our shops and had a few talks with some of our assistants and mechanics in the shops. Later he delivered a lecture before the engineering studnts, in the course of which he was relentless in his criticism of the shortcomings of the average college graduate. Finally he took luncheon at my house with a group of other distinguished visitors who happened to be at the College. The interesting feature of it all was without exception, individual members from each of the above groups voted him a most wonderfully interesting, inspiring and delightful person to meet, showing what a splendid mixer he was.