Robert E. Ogilvie, Professor Emeritus of Metallurgy in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, passed away after brief illness on September 3. He was 89.
Professor Ogilvie’s academic foundation in metallurgy and his insatiable curiosity led him to become a world-renowned expert in the detection of art forgeries, the construction of samurai swords, and the analysis of meteorites. His diverse research interests connected him to many communities where he formed strong friendships.
In remarks that he gave at Professor Ogilvie’s memorial service at the MIT Chapel on 28 September 2013, Professor Yet-Ming Chiang said “Bob was an MIT original. To me, he embodied the unique meritocracy that is one of MIT’s core values, where you can come from anywhere, including rural Idaho, and by virtue of scientific ability, rise to the very top of your profession. He also epitomized that combination of scientific curiosity, technological practicality, lifelong self-learning, love of discovery, and love of teaching that represents the best of MIT.”
Born in Wallace, Idaho, in 1923, Bob served in the Navy during World War II, and then pursued undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University and the University of Washington. He came to MIT for graduate school in 1950, studying x-ray absorption analysis with Professor John T. Norton.
“In the mid 1960s, he built one of the very first electron microprobes, launching the field of electron probe microanalysis, or EPMA. This is a technique that uses a finely focused electron beam to measure the elemental makeup of materials at micrometer length scales by exciting the emission of X-rays that are characteristic of the elements within. In many ways, EPMA was to that era what nanotechnology, and the enabling nanometer-scale probes are to us today. It allowed for the first time the analysis of materials constitution at length scale that were then unprecedented. It is fair to say that without microanalysis, nanoanalysis would not exist today. EPMA is still in widespread use today, for instance in the field of geology, as is a methodology for quantitative analysis that bears Bob’s name. The Ziebold-Ogilvie analysis, developed with Bob’s student Tom Ziebold and published in two papers in 1963 and 1964, enabled the precise quantification of unknown compositions using appropriate reference standards. Based on this early research, Bob became a cornerstone of the Microbeam Society, in which he was active for many years, including serving as its President.”
His graduate research led to the development of the electron microbeam probe and the founding of AMR, Inc. with Professor Norton. Also at that time, he began working with William Young, founder of the Research Lab at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and developed a long collaboration and supportive relationship with what is now the Department of Conservation and Collections Management at the MFA and with conservators and conservation scientists there and elsewhere. He was instrumental in establishing the series of workshops and publications on the Application of Science in the Examination of Works of Art. His use of the electron microprobe in detecting forgeries and authenticating art was the subject of cover stories in Technology Review and Saturday Review.
“Bob was also instrumental in fostering the growth of transmission electron microscopy within our Department starting in the early 1970’s. … He came into possession of a valuable and then state- of-art TEM, the Philips EM300. Bob subsequently donated this instrument to help launch the Central Facility for electron microscopy that continues to this day within our Center for Materials Science and Engineering.”
Another application of the electron microanalyzer was the examination of meteorites; the instrument could determine the objects’ thermal history and the size of the original body of which the meteorite was a fragment. Bob was a member of the Harvard-Smithsonian Meteorite Discussion group, and in 2000 he was recognized for his long-time involvement and contributions with a named minor planet, 3973 Ogilvie.
Bob had a long fascination with the creation and structure of samurai swords, leading him to visit swordmakers in Japan, including the famous Gassan family. His extensive collection of samples and data has been invaluable for students and scholars. “Bob loved scientific mysteries. For a number of years, he attempted to reproduce the Chinese magic mirror in his laboratory. This device is a cast hand-mirror in which you can see your image like any ordinary mirror, but if light is reflected off of it and onto the wall or ceiling, an artistic pattern or writing appears in the projected image. If you asked Ogilvie how it worked, the answer was always ‘It’s magic!’”
At MIT, Bob taught “Fundamentals of Crystallography and X-Ray Diffraction,” “Electron Optics,” “Materials Laboratory,” and “Celestial Navigation.” “Bob helped to establish, and then taught for many years, one of the legacy courses of our Department, an undergraduate course on the characterization of materials known that was known for 30 years by its MIT course number 3.081, and which continues today as Course 3.014. With Bob, you would remember the core principles of materials science and engineering because you could not forget his stories, delivered with such wonder, wit, and humor.”
He directed the X-Ray and Electron Optics Lab at MIT and served as President of the Electron Probe Analysis Society of America. An avid sailor, he sailed “Op-Tiki,” a 36-foot Cheoy Lee ketch, around the world with his son Rob.
Bob is survived by children Claudia Ogilvie of Pittsfield, MA, Marylee Bergin of Ridgewood, NJ, and Rob Scott Ogilvie of Nashville, TN, as well as grandchildren Robert C. Ogilvie, John G. Ogilvie, Alex Bergin, and Zoe Bergin. Donations may be made to the St. Labre Indian School, 1000 Tongue River Rd., Ashland, Montana.