Lyman James Briggs - Awards, Honors and Distinctions

Awards, Honors and Distinctions

Positions:

• Philosophical Society of Washington, President, 1916
• Washington Academy of Sciences, President, 1917
• Federal Specifications Board, Chairman, 1932
• Federal Fire Council, Chairman, 1933–1939
• National Bureau of Standards, Director, 1933–1945
• National Geographic Society, Life Trustee, 1933–1964
• Special Advisory Committee for Stratospheric Balloon Flights, Chairman, 1935–1936
• National Conference on Weights and Measures, Chairman, 1935
• American Physical Society, President, 1938
• Uranium Committee S-1 of the National Defense Research Committee, Chairman, 1939
• Research Committee of the National Geographic Society, Chairman, 1937
• National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Vice-chairman, 1942
• National Bureau of Standards, Director Emeritus, 1945–1963

Honorary doctorates by the following institutions:

• Michigan State College in Science (1932)
• South Dakota School of Mines, Engineering (1935)
• University of Michigan, Law (1936)
• George Washington University, Science (1937)
• Georgetown University, Science (1939)
• Columbia University, Science (1939)

Briggs received the following honors:

• American Philosophical Society, Magellanic Premium (1922)
• National Academy of Sciences, Elected Member (1942)
• Medal of Merit by President Harry S. Truman (1948)
• Franklin R. Burr Award, National Geographic Society (1954, 1962)

Served as president of:

• American Physical Society
• Washington Academy of Sciences
• Philosophical Society of Washington
• Cosmos Club, Washington, D.C.
• Federal Club, Washington, D.C.