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improvement of the
Service under his direction so that the public might thereby be better served. He was positive in responding personally to whatever seemed necessary to advance each class of work and always cooperated with those of his associates who were making progress. He spared himself no amount of effort and toil to attain the things he thought were right and needful to be done. He had a humane and sincere sympathy for all who requested his assistance. Although firm in his opinions, yet he was considerate of the views of others. He was loyal alike to those whom he served and to those who served under him, and also to his own promises and obligations in that he gave the best that was in him in all his endeavors.
420:"Ernest Lester Jones, Director, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, the oldest scientific agency of our Government, writer on our coastal waterways bordering the Pacific Ocean, a resourceful administrator, increasing largely our supply of reliable maps and supervising the use of new devices for making our waters safer, notably by detecting the perilous submerged pinnacle rocks; a Colonel in the Army during the war, on active service in France and Italy, decorated by the King of Italy, awarded the Diploma of Merit by the Aerial League of America, recommended for the French
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315:(France). Immediately following the cessation of the war, when men's minds everywhere were turned toward matters of rehabilitation, Colonel Jones was among the first to consider the welfare of those who had been at the battle front in Europe and thus it came about that he was the organizer of the first post of the American Legion (George Washington Post, Washington, D.C.), and also an organizer and incorporator of the National Legion.
28:
203:. He was appointed head of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1915. In addition to his work with that body, he was a member of a number of important government and scientific missions. He served as a delegate to the International Geographic Survey of 1928, at Cambridge, England, where he delivered an address that was translated into many languages and printed in periodicals all over the world.
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important part in securing remedial legislation. The great improvement in the efficiency of the personnel of the
Federal Service, as a result of this legislation, has amply justified the wisdom of his efforts. Furthermore, Colonel Jones fought in congress to ensure the establishment of a commissioned officer corps. This corps was the precursor to today's NOAA Commissioned Corps.
508:
409:," Elements of Chart Making," Safeguard the Gateways of Alaska," Earthquake Investigations in the United States," and The Neglected Waters of the Pacific." In addition, he also was the author of the following (unofficial) papers: "Evolution of the National Chart," Science and the Earthquake Perils," and "Aerial Surveying."
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instruments and equipment. These things he achieved in a large measure, the good effects of which are reflected in a larger and better volume of work and a finer spirit of performance by the entire personnel, so that the Bureau now meets the purposes of its being with a growing satisfaction and increased efficiency.
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It was a part of his philosophy of human affairs that the best work can be done only when men have the best tools and appliances for doing it and so it was among his basic endeavors while
Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey that the Bureau's engineers be supplied with adequate ships and modern
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During his residence in
Washington, D.C., Colonel Jones served in the District of Columbia Militia, from private to major. During a portion of 1918 and 1919 he was on furlough from the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Signal Corps. Later, he became
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In addition to his duties as
Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Colonel Jones was also Commissioner of the International Boundary between the United States and Canada and Alaska and Canada, from February 1921 until his death. He was a member of the Aerial Patrol Commission of the United
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Throughout his administration of the Bureau, Colonel Jones exemplified high executive ability. He was outstanding in his loyalty to the work of the organization and to his associates and subordinates, and in turn he engendered in them such sentiments toward himself. He worked constantly for the
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As the efficient administrator of a
Federal Bureau, Colonel Jones early came to see the need for better conditions and more adequate salaries for employees in the Federal Service, and his advocacy of their cause in bringing these urgent needs to the attention of the proper authorities had an
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His death was attributed to the effects of his war service as a colonel in the division of military aeronautics in France and Italy (where he was decorated by King Victor
Emanuel). He was badly gassed and had been receiving treatment for the last 10 years of his life.
188:(USC&GS) and in that capacity used his talent and energy to promote scientific work and investigation. Much of the increased activity and interest in hydrography, geodesy, seismology, and terrestrial magnetism may be traced directly to his influence.
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Colonel Jones was a member of a large number of organizations and societies, which included scientific, engineering, social, patriotic, and outdoor recreations purposes, showing thereby a wide range of active human interest of usefulness.
217:, and rendered valuable services both to the Washington post and to the national organization. He served as Vice-President of the Post in 1924, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Society in 1925, 1926, and 1928.
210:. He was its first post and first department commander and was also instrumental in the formation of the Legion abroad. Through his influence in its work, he secured positions for thousands of veterans of the World War I.
277:. He remained in this position until April 14, 1915, when he became Superintendent (title changed to Director in 1919) of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, which position he held until his death.
311:. For exceptional services during the war period he was decorated by the King of Italy as Officer of the Order of S.S. Maurizio and Lazzaro, and Fatigue de Guerre (Italy); he was also an Officer of the
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Following the completion of his studies at
Princeton University, Mr. Jones was engaged in research, secretarial work, and business for a number of years. Early in 1913 he entered the service of the
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States, and a member of a number of
Government and scientific missions, one of the last of which was a delegate to the International Geographic Congress in Cambridge, England in 1928.
465:"The Brewster genealogy, 1566–1907; a record of the descendants of William Brewster of the "Mayflower." ruling elder of the Pilgrim church which founded Plymouth colony in 1620"
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Colonel Jones had a long and notable career. Early in his
Washington experience, he achieved recognition through his leadership in the settling of the
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Colonel Jones was elected an Associate Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on April 3, 1922, and a member on October 12, 1925.
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His membership in various clubs and civic organizations, also eloquent evidence of his wide interest in his fellow man, included the
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In 1919, he was granted the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Princeton University with the following citation:
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Among the organizations of which he was an active member may be mentioned in the Washington Academy of Sciences; the
479:"Ernest Lester Jones: Athlete, Idealist, Leader of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and Father of the NOAA Corps"
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359:; the Meteorological Society; the American Fisheries Society; the National Association of Audubon Societies; the
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177:. In addition to extended study abroad, he held an A. B. degree and an honorary A. M. degree conferred by
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424:; most recently instrumental in helping to form the American Legion to perpetuate American Liberty."
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Colonel, Division of Military Aeronautics, and served with the American forces in France in
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Colonel Jones inaugurated the movement that eventually ended in the organization of the
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He was the author of the following Government publications: "Alaska Investigations," "
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in the Class 1898, from which institution he received the Bachelor of Arts Degree.
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Ernest Lester Jones, the son of Charles Hopkins and Ida (Lester) Jones was born in
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Commemorative plaque in honor of Jones from George Washington Post No. 1 of the
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stating his role in founding the American Legion. The plaque was placed on the
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NOAA History – Tools of the Trade/Ships/C&GS Ships/LESTER JONES
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On September 28, 1897, he was married to Virginia Brent Fox, of
239:. He received his educational training at the High School in
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Colonel Jones was for 14 years the directing head of the
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Superintendent, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
446:, in service from 1940 to 1967, was named for Jones.
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Superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey
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American Association for the Advancement of Science
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625:United States Coast and Geodetic Survey personnel
567:Director, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
273:having appointed him Deputy Commissioner of the
213:Colonel Jones was an enthusiastic member of the
517:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
162:(April 14, 1876 – April 9, 1929) was born in
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229:on April 14, 1876, and was a descendant of
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369:General Society of Mayflower Descendants
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434:United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
355:, Washington Society of Engineers; the
290:United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
186:United States Coast and Geodetic Survey
361:Society of American Military Engineers
215:Society of American Military Engineers
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620:People from East Orange, New Jersey
349:Philosophical Society of Washington
635:Military personnel from New Jersey
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275:United States Bureau of Fisheries
511: This article incorporates
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365:Military Order of the World War
630:Mathematicians from New Jersey
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605:Princeton University alumni
357:National Geographic Society
247:. Later he matriculated to
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267:United States Government
494:at www.history.noaa.gov
437:auxiliary survey vessel
293:auxiliary survey vessel
227:East Orange, New Jersey
193:Alaska boundary dispute
166:and was commissioned a
164:East Orange, New Jersey
101:East Orange, New Jersey
577:Raymond Stanton Patton
513:public domain material
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73:Raymond Stanton Patton
615:Newark Academy alumni
532:Otto Hilgard Tittmann
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61:Otto Hilgard Tittmann
463:Jones, Emma (1908).
387:Aero Club of America
249:Princeton University
179:Princeton University
139:Princeton University
610:American geodesists
524:Government offices
379:National Press Club
160:Ernest Lester Jones
20:Ernest Lester Jones
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241:Orange, New Jersey
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574:Succeeded by
554:Military offices
546:Succeeded by
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559:Preceded by
529:Preceded by
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385:(New York), the
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237:William Brewster
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83:Personal details
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442:E. Lester Jones
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422:Croix de Guerre
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413:Honorary degree
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313:Legion of Honor
298:E. Lester Jones
286:American Legion
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117:Washington D.C.
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245:Newark Academy
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114:(aged 52)
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428:Commemoration
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395:Federal Club
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269:. President
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195:between the
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168:hydrographic
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112:(1929-04-09)
68:Succeeded by
45:
600:1929 deaths
595:1876 births
391:Cosmos Club
339:Memberships
309:World War I
56:Preceded by
589:Categories
571:1919–1929
543:1915–1919
407:Hypsometry
393:, and the
367:; and the
256:Louisville
235:passenger
145:Occupation
134:Alma mater
94:1876-04-14
232:Mayflower
123:Education
50:1915–1929
46:In office
302:in 1939.
260:Kentucky
175:engineer
172:geodetic
158:Colonel
148:engineer
502:Sources
243:and at
389:, and
381:, the
363:; the
351:; the
271:Wilson
221:Career
201:Canada
450:Notes
401:Works
561:none
548:none
432:The
199:and
170:and
107:Died
88:Born
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