Rising, Justus (1890-1981)
Dates
- Existence: 1890 - 1981
Biographical Information
Justus Rising graduated from Cornell University with a mechanical engineering degree in 1913. After earning his degree, Rising worked at the Ingersoll Rand Company, the Corning Glass Works, and International Harvester. In 1919, he went to Michigan State to teach drawing and design. In 1923, Rising filled O.E. Monninger’s vacant position as head of the drawing division in the College of Engineering’s Practical Mechanics Department.
In 1922, Rising saw several instructional films made by the US Department of Agriculture about the mechanics of automobiles. These films inspired Rising to explore and research motion pictures as a new medium for instruction and education. In 1926, he created his first film in a series of instructional engineering drawing films. Rising’s engineering drawing films were successful and were utilized by instructors at Purdue and other universities.
In 1936, the Audio-Visual Aids Committee was formed to cultivate and centralize audio-visual activities at Purdue. Rising was the chair of this committee from its inception to its dissolution in 1950.
On December 13, 1941, Rising and the Audio-Visual Aids Committee helped establish the Visual Education Fellowship #178 through the Purdue Research Foundation. This fellowship provided funds to stimulate greater interest and progress in the development of educational films.
The culmination of Audio-Visual Aids Committee’s work helped convince President Frederick Hovde to give $10,000 in grant funding to Purdue Director of Libraries, John H. Moriarty to centralize and formalize audio-visual services on campus. In 1950 the Audio-Visual Center was established as a division of Purdue Libraries. The Audio-Visual Center provided departments and individuals with audio-visual resources, consultation, and instruction.
Rising became a Technical Coordinator for the Audio-Visual Center while continuing as an engineering professor. As a technical coordinator, Rising assisted faculty, staff, and students in producing films and developing audio-visual based curriculum.
Outside of teaching, Rising lived on Waldron Street and was a member of the Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education (SPEE), Triangle social fraternity, and the Masonic Order. In the summer Rising was a consultant for the Marmon Motor Company. He and his wife would occasionally volunteer as chaperones for university dances.
Rising retired from Purdue in 1960.
Citation:
Motion Pictue Production Facilities of Selected Colleges and Universiities. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, 1963. :Retrieved June 8, 2020 fromMSS 2, David Moses Collection of Purdue University Libraries, Audio Visual Center records, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.
The Purdue Exponent, Volume XXXIV, Number 212, 7 June 1923
Purdue Engineer, Volume XXVIII, Number 8, 1 May 1933
Fundamentals of Engineering Drawing: For Technical Students and Professional Draftsmen: Warren J. Luzadder [Visual Aids in Engineering Drawing -Justus Rising appendix
Purdue Alumnus, Volume 47, Number 9, 1 June 1960
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Department of Engineering Graphics records
The Department of Engineering Graphics Records documents the history and activities of the Department of Engineering Graphics and its predecessors. Included in the collection are administrative, instructional, and reference materials. Also included are engineering drawings films created at Purdue and used in Purdue courses.
Justus Rising papers
The collection consists of one folder which contains articles by Justus Rising.