Page - 28 - in Nikola Tesla and the Graz Tech

28 Nikola Tesla did thus not complete his studies at the I. R. College of Technology. In his later journey through life, however, Tesla accomplished such monumen- tal achievements that the title and rank of an honorary doctor of technical sciences was bestowed on the former student 60 years after his studies. Up to that point Nikola Tesla had received many awards. Thus, appropriate tribute was envisaged at the Graz Tech (most probably on the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1936). Apart from that, at this time (from 1935 to 1937), the College of Technology at Graz had been merged with the Institute of Mining in Leoben to create the Graz-Leoben College of Technology and Mining. For this reason it is stated in the document drawn up on 23 January 1937: ‘By the power of the rights vested in the College of Technology, by way of a unanimous resolution of the Professorial Council and with the authorisation of the federal government, the Graz-Leoben College of Technology and Mining, on behalf of Graz under the Rectorate of Dr. techn. Architekt Friedrich Zotter, o.ö. Professor of Architecture, confers on Nikola Tesla, Dr. techn. e. h. etz., the title and the rank of a honorary doctor of technical sciences and all the rights associated with it in recognition of his outstanding merit in the development of polyphase current machines and high-frequency technology. Awarded in Graz on 23 January 1937.’ The academic officials on the occasion of the bestowal of this honour were: • Rector: Dr. techn. Architekt Friedrich Zotter, Professor of Architecture • Dean of the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics: Dr. phil. Bernhard Baule, Professor of Mathematics • as properly appointed promoter: Dr. techn. Karl Federhofer, Professor of Mechanics. In response to a petition from Professor Dr. Fritz Kohlrausch, the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Physics passed a unanimous resolution on 30 Octo- ber 1936 to go ahead with the honorary doctoral graduation. Dean Professor Dr. Bernhard wrote the following report: ‘Rector, as we passed review on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the foundation day of the Joanneum and allowed the history of our College of Technology with all its teaching staff and students to pass in front of our eyes, our attention was caught by the name of one man who, exactly 60 Nikola Tesla: Honorary doctor of technical sciences