Carl R. Hurtig E’48, H’74
On his Northeastern co-op job in the 1940s:
“They had co-op work, which was pretty significant. And I had worked for years at a paint factory in Dorchester.”
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On his deferment from college to enlist in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer in 1944:
“By the wisdom of the people who accepted you in the Army—although you were drafted—I was put in a combat engineering battalion. And we did all of our initial training in September of ’44 and went over to Europe.”
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Carl Hurtig receiving his honorary doctorate in engineering from President Asa S. Knowles in 1974. His daughter, Sally Hurtig Taylor, stands to his right.
On his work after college graduation:
“So there I was at graduation and I said, ‘Well what can I do now?’ They had started a new laboratory at Northeastern—I don’t know what the proper name is, probably the products research laboratory. So I said, ‘Fine, I’ll stay here. I’ll work and I’ll see what I can find out.’”
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On the founding and naming of Damon Corporation:
“We came along to—it was the '60s, I think it was—and I had gone to work at a company called Hermes Electronic Company.”
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The Hurtig Family at the dedication of Edward L. Hurtig Hall in 1969. Carl Hurtig is standing in the last row, third from right.
On the dedication of Edward L. Hurtig Hall:
“I didn’t know that there had been a new building built, and it was an engineering-type building. So, we talked at length, and I took a big risk and said ‘Yeah, let’s name it after my brother.’”
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On his first co-op job in 1943 and making cable during World War II:
“I only worked for one company in South Boston…and was given the tremendous responsibility of sweeping the floors. I kept those floors real clean. I did a sparkling job.”
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This interview is available in its entirety in the Northeastern University Archives. Photos: Carl Hurtig and University Libraries and Special Collecetions Department.
Biography
Carl R. Hurtig is an inventor and entrepreneur who founded three successful research companies: the Damon Corporation, Encor Limited, and Micronic Systems AB. He received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern and an M.S. in electrical engineering from MIT. Carl is a recognized authority on the design of crystal filters and voltage-controlled crystal oscillators. He has been granted ten patents.